World snooker to investigate Burnett defeat
The WPBSA wants to investigate the suspect 9-3 scoreline
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Wednesday, 17, Dec 2008 09:25
World snooker has launched an investigation into betting irregularities surrounding Jamie Burnett's first-round loss to Stephen Maguire at the UK Championships.
A number of bets were placed on Maguire to beat Burnett 9-3 in their first round match in Telford, causing the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) to suspend betting on the match on Friday night.
Maguire did indeed beat Burnett by that scoreline, with Burnett missing a relatively straightforward black to make it 8-4 in the 12th frame and thus allowing the Scot to claim the match 9-3.
A statement from the WPBSA insisted it was "committed to taking all steps within its power to protect the integrity of the sport of snooker" and that it would seek information from everyone involved.
The statement added: "At approximately 16:50 GMT on Friday 12 December, the WPBSA received a telephone call from a bookmaker, reporting an unusual pattern of bets on Stephen Maguire to beat Jamie Burnett by a frame score of 9-3 in a match due to take place on Sunday 14 December.
"Now that the match has been played, the WPBSA will move forward with a formal investigation. It has already instructed specialist external legal counsel to assist it in pursuing the investigation robustly and efficiently, so as to protect the integrity of the sport while at the same time respecting its obligation to treat those being investigated fairly."
The two players, the match officials and bookmakers will all be expected to provide the investigation with information.
Burnett said he missed the black because he knew the scrutiny he was under during the match and could not handle the pressure.
The world number 45 told the BBC: "On the black I said to myself, 'I need to get this, I need to get this' in case some people start talking. I just felt so under pressure, probably the most pressure I have felt in my life. Then to come off was the lowest feeling, I felt terrible."