Strathclyde Police are now involved in the investigation into the Stephen Maguire v Jamie Burnett match at last December's UK Championship.
This match is the subject of an investigation by the Gambling Commission following a heavy volume of bets for Maguire to win 9-3, which was the final result.
And the Glasgow Evening Times reports that the investigation has moved a step further.
A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police told the newspaper: "After consultation with the Procurator Fiscal's Office, our Economic Crime Unit is carrying out inquiries."
The police are likely to interview both players as well as tournament staff and other parties.
Maguire plays Burnett again in the Betfred.com World Championship at the Crucible next week.
The Evening Times story is here.
Any news on the Ebdon-Liang affair?
ReplyDeleteI suppose this new development is an indication that there must be strong elements of suspicion?
What I wonder is how this is going to affect both of them next week. Will JB start missing straightforward frame balls and point to this as evidence of his nerves taking over on vital shots?
ReplyDeleteThis has always merited police involvement, not only on the correct score which I've always thought was a detraction from the outright match betting where perhaps there may have been real money made.
monique
ReplyDeletereally this is so stupid on the eve of the world snooker championship the police is called in to investigate a match that took place 5 months ago.....
are they this incompitant...
Wild, I don't see why this is "stupid". Investigations and police work go on their own pace independantly of the snooker season. It certainly is something that needs care and caution, hence time. It's unfortunate timing. It's also unfortunate the two are playing each other again. But I don't see why it's "stupid". Really not at all.
ReplyDeletewildJONESEYE
ReplyDeleteThe police have to prove there is a case before they can act.
They have done - and quicker than the game's governing body who haven't been able to find any wrongdoing - probably because they don't want to find any wrongdoing.
The Police would only act after a complaint or complaints, which is somewaht surprising coming four months after the incident.
ReplyDeleteDave, is it possible that the WPBSA have passed the case to them to investigate?
Anon at 12:17 not sure I understand your point with regards the outright match betting as Maguire was clearly big odds-on to win the match which he did. Only way match betting could have been profitable would have been if Burnett had won or Burnett had taken a big lead and then subsequently lost. The issue here is definately match score betting.
ReplyDeleteif they take 5 months to do theire job they are useless....
ReplyDeleteYet more bad news to blight our sport. What next?
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, Scotbet in Edinburgh, and a few other local firms, have stopped taking correct score bets on next weeks tie after a few hefty wagers were laid on a 10-4 result in Maguire's favour.
Paddy Power and Blue Square aren't pricing-up this match. I wonder why?
Ah yes.
ReplyDeleteThe Fine Arts.
Totally relevant to the title thread.
You're right.
ReplyDeleteCall the police!
Great news, because I wanted to see someone end up in cuffs over this.
ReplyDeleteBut also a horrible news story for snooker generally.
Monique - the Gambling Commission are still investigating the Liang v Ebdon match
ReplyDeleteAre World Snooker investigating Liang v Ebdon?
ReplyDeleteWhat's the chances of Burnett being taken into custody on the morning of the tie and Maguire winning by default?
ReplyDeleteIt's a serious crime, match fixing.
I'm sure if Burnett is taken in for police questioning then Maguire will be to then what happens's to the match as you say Sergey, all this happen's on the morning of the match.
ReplyDeleteI saw someone trying to place £300 on a 10-4 result for Maguire today, but was told by the betting shop manager they would only accept £80.
ReplyDeleteMakes my £10 bet on O'Sullivan to win seem tiny!
To RichP
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily when it comes to the exchanges and trading, laying Burnett at any price from the beginning would have given any layer with a big bank a very tidy profit. I think they should be looking to see the level of trading done on this game on the various exchanges and see if this throws up anything unusual too. The scoreline betting may just be a smokescreen to where the real money was made. They have to look at it is all I'm saying.