Snooker: Stephen Lee found guilty of match-fixing

Sep 17, 2013
Snooker: Stephen Lee found guilty of match-fixing
Stephen Lee has been found guilty of match-fixing. Officials have called this "the worst case of snooker corruption we've seen". His penalty will be announced on 24 September, snooker's governing body seems keen on a life ban. Lee denied the allegations, which concerned seven games in 2008 and 2009, including a World Championship match. But the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association said more than £40,000 was paid to his wife's account. Lee has been suspended since October 2012, when he was ranked eighth in the world. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chairman Jason Ferguson said in a statement: "His future participation in the sport is now in real doubt as he will face a significant sanction." The tribunal concluded that Lee deliberately lost matches against Ken Doherty and Marco Fu at the 2008 Malta Cup and agreed to lose the first frame against both Stephen Hendry and Mark King at the 2008 UK Championship. Moreover, Lee lost matches by a pre-determined score to Neil Robertson at the 2008 Malta Cup and to Mark Selby at the 2009 China Open. Lee also conspired to lose his 2009 World Championship first round match to Ryan Day, going on to be defeated 10-4. "This is the worst case of snooker corruption that we've seen," WPBSA disciplinary chairman Nigel Mawer said. "Stephen Lee was working with three different groups who were betting on multiple platforms and the exact score and frame outcomes for matches he played in those tournaments. The worst case is the World Championship because that is an iconic event. To think that someone could play in that and to arrange the outcome is more than shocking." The bets placed on the seven matches were "substantially successful". One group associated to Lee earned towards £60,000 and another £35,000 on internet gambling alone, although these figures are likely to be higher as a result of bets placed with high-street bookmakers. Payments of £40,000 were paid into Lee's wife's bank account between January 2008 and April 2009, while other deposits of £600, £1,000 and £2,000 have also been made. There probably were some cash payments as well. Hoping that match fixing would be gone for some time, you can already bet on the winner of the 2014 World Championship, here are the odds at Bet365: Ronnie O'Sullivan - 4/1 Judd Trump - 11/2 Mark Selby - 7/1 Neil Robertson - 7/1 Ding Junhui - 10/1
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