Last night, Australian Neil Robertson became the World Snooker Champion at the Crucible, defeating the 2006 champion Graeme Dott at the Crucible in Sheffield, 18-13. It was a tense final and a pleasant success for the Aussie. However, the final of Snooker's showpiece event has been clouded with a betting scandal that has rocked the sport to the utter core.
It is involving the colourful John Higgins, the world No.1 and three-time World Snooker Champion. Higgins, who won the title in 1998, 2007 and more recently, last year, was videoed by the News of the World, agreeing to accept a six-figure bribe to throw four frames in another match later on this year. Higgins and his manager, Pat Mooney insist they did nothing wrong, going with the lines of accepting the bribe, as they were unsure who they were dealing with and feared for their lives in Kiev last Friday.
On Sunday, Higgins was suspended by the governing body of Snooker, the WPBSA, whilst a severe investigation begins. Higgins has said that “My conscience is 100% clear.” Mooney has stepped down as a member of the WPBSA board, whilst its chairman Barry Hearn, is considering his future in the troubled sport. If Hearn goes, many of the well-known players, including the likes of Ken Doherty and Peter Ebdon are threatening to leave the game as well. Another player who is considering his future is the 52-year old veteran Steve Davis. Davis, who memorably beat Higgins in the second round of this year’s tournament at the Crucible, summed up the game’s feelings at the moment. “I’m gobsmacked. The integrity of the game has been put in question. It’s at the lowest ebb it’s ever been.”
This latest turmoil is going to hurt the game significantly, especially as it is desperate to seek out new sponsorship and investment opportunities. Betfair, the sponsors of the World Snooker Championship have come out in support of Higgins and the WPBSA, but other potential deals could now be wiped underneath the carpet. It is widely known that snooker was also looking for more TV revenue, with reports they are unhappy with the BBC’s commitment to the game. The BBC has refused to comment on this story, but it would be the perfect get-out clause, if they were looking for one, to withdraw it from its popular sports portfolio. Plus, other interested parties like Sky and ITV could well put off to bid for snooker’s main rights with these damming allegations.
In an 18-year professional career, in which he has collected £5million in prize money, John Higgins is one of the most well respected names in the game of snooker. Now, he faces his biggest battle yet, clearing his name, whilst the sport he loves, attempts to recover from what could well turn out to be a knockdown blow too far.
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