Things That Make You Go Hmm !

Bob Jewett

AZB Osmium Member
Staff member
Gold Member
Silver Member
I think that as long as the chance of getting caught and the resulting punishment is less than the advantages of arranging match outcomes, there will be problems. If all the horses in a race knew that last place would be turned into dog food, they might refuse to slow down when their jockey/trainer/owner asked them to.
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Bob !

I think that as long as the chance of getting caught and the resulting punishment is less than the advantages of arranging match outcomes, there will be problems. If all the horses in a race knew that last place would be turned into dog food, they might refuse to slow down when their jockey/trainer/owner asked them to.

I've got to agree Bob .

Wait until you read the next post ! ;):p:rolleyes::D
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Snooker star Stephen Lee charged for teaching without permit at Hong Kong billiards h

Immigration raid led to arrests of British former world number five player and two others at newly opened facility in Jordan

PUBLISHED : Saturday, 14 April, 2018, 8:01pm

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...r-stephen-lee-charged-teaching-without-permit

Quote .

“Lee came to Hong Kong as a tourist, which means he was barred from taking any jobs regardless of whether he was paid or unpaid,” the source said. “But the authority suspected he was paid to teach people to play snooker at the premises. We also arrested the person responsible for the club and another staff member for illegal employment.”

Lee could face up to two years in jail and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,300).

Employing a worker illegally or without a proper work permit is punishable by a maximum sentence of three years in jail and a HK$350,000 fine.

On March 4, Au posted on his personal Facebook page that he had just opened the billiards hall involved in the case. Au could not be reached for comment.

The hall posted a message on Facebook at 10pm on Friday, saying it had been forced to close temporarily because the facility was under “emergency maintenance”.

Hmm , how much of a dumbass is Stephen Lee but on Snooker Threads people wan't to see this man with the 'Roll's Royce' cue action back playing professionally !
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Wpbsa statement – cao yupeng and yu delu

http://www.worldsnooker.com/wpbsa-statement-cao-yupeng-and-yu-delu/

World Snooker suspends David John, Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng over match-fixing concerns :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/44259369

Snookerbacker http://www.snookerbacker.com/


May 25, 2018
Match Fixing: Cao Yupeng, Yu De Lu and David John Suspended

Quote .

" Another one of ‘those days’ in snooker today as not one, not two, but three players have been suspended from the sport with immediate effect pending further investigation of match fixing, amongst other things.

In the case of Yu Delu, this relates to manipulating the outcome of five matches he was involved in since 2015, failing to report two approaches to fix a match, betting on snooker and failing to fully cooperate with the WPBSA enquiry.

I think in poker terms that’s known as a full house.

In the case of Cao Yupeng, this relates to manipulating the outcome of three matches in 2016 and failing to fully cooperate with the WPBSA enquiry.

I think that’s probably three aces.

In the case of David John, this relates to manipulating the outcome of matches he was involved in since 2016 and failing to fully cooperate with the WPBSA enquiry.

More of a two-pair.

You can read about the Chinese players here and about the Welsh player here. All have cases to answer and cannot compete until these are concluded, in one case at least you feel that the right to compete ever again has to be in doubt.

My understanding is that there are more investigations ongoing, so let’s hope we’re continuing to see this kind of thing eradicated from the sport. "
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ronnie takes on twitter about match fixing

https://ronnieo147.com/2018/05/27/ronnie-takes-on-twitter-about-match-fixing/

Please take time to read this article in full , it is brilliant and covers so much I could quote the lot in full !

It's times like this Scaramouche would've given me a debate on this subject so it's over to Bob and pt109 etc if you want a debate on gambling in Snooker etc .

What do I have to say on this ?

When Emperor Barry 'Bums On Seats' Hearn reign at the top ends please take the reigns Ronnie O'Sullivan ! :cool::thumbup:
 

drsnooker

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Part of that is certainly true. Only a few players can make a decent living playing snooker, the rest are scraping by. In some other cases (*cough* John Higgins *cough*) it's a different story.

The flip side of essentially being sponsored by gambling sites, the seedy underbelly of that world will always try to get an edge.
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi drsnooker !

Part of that is certainly true. Only a few players can make a decent living playing snooker, the rest are scraping by. In some other cases (*cough* John Higgins *cough*) it's a different story.

The flip side of essentially being sponsored by gambling sites, the seedy underbelly of that world will always try to get an edge.

Agreed !

Take Da' Bookie away from Sports Sponcorships and there no rush from other companies to take over .

I guess we wait to see how this saga plays out but it would be no shock if top 32 ranked players are struggling to meet costs also .
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Jamie Jones Suspended

http://www.snookerbacker.com/2018/10/11/jamie-jones-suspended/


October 11, 2018
Jamie Jones Suspended
Filed under: Snooker News — snookerbacker @ 11:27 am
Some surprising snooker news emerged this morning as Welshman Jamie Jones is the latest player to be suspended from the sport pending further investigation by the WPBSA. The suspension is in place with immediate effect meaning that he will miss his planned match up with Zhao Xintong tomorrow in Barnsley, which at least saves on the petrol I suppose.

“Following the investigation into alleged breaches of the WPBSA Rules by David John, a decision has been taken today that Jamie Jones has a case to answer.”

“The allegation is that Jamie Jones was party to, or facilitated the manipulation of, the outcome of David John’s match with Graeme Dott that was played at the International Championship Qualifiers in Preston on 29th September 2016.”

The WPBSA also stress that there are no matches that Jamie played which form any part of the investigation, which seems to indicate that this is focusing solely on the fact that he may have known in advance about Mr John’s plans and perhaps even may have had a hand in them.

Remember David John was suspended back in May alongside Chinese players Cao Yupeng and Yu De Lu.

The fact that, like the three players above, Jamie has been suspended immediately would suggest that the investigation is not focusing on betting alone.

Remember, we have seen a few players investigated for betting who have been allowed to continue playing while the investigation is being carried out, namely Stuart Bingham, who was later served with a ban and Alfie Burden and Joe Perry who both were given suspended suspensions and fined.

It’s part of the current crackdown on breaches of betting rules and regulations that is being undertaken by the WPBSA sniffer dogs. My understanding is that there are several other investigations ongoing so it’s really not a good time for snooker in this regard. Anyone who claims to be unaware of the rules nowadays would I’m sure be given short shrift by the firing squad before they pulled the trigger.

It would sound to me like Jamie may be facing a longer ban, but we’ll have to wait and see. Meanwhile the Zhao Xintong fan club are celebrating as he was due to play him in the English Open next week aswell. Every cloud…..
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng match-fixing: Chinese pair banned in snooker corruption scanda

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/46383380

Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng Suspended for Match Fixing:

https://snookerhq.com/2018/12/01/yu-delu-cao-yupeng-suspended-match-fixing/

WPBSA STATEMENT :

Saturday 1 Dec 2018 08:00AM
WPBSA Disciplinary Hearing Result :

http://www.worldsnooker.com/wpbsa-statement-9/

WORLD PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER ASSOCIATION LIMITED
-andYU
DELU
DECISION ON SANCTION :

http://www.worldsnooker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPBSA-v-Yu-Delu-Decision-on-Sanction.pdf

WORLD PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER ASSOCIATION LIMITED
-andCAO
YUPENG
DECISION ON SANCTION :

http://www.worldsnooker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/WPBSA-v-Cao-Yupeng-Decision-on-Sanction.pdf
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Chinese duo Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng banned from snooker due to match-fixing

https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/chinese-duo-banned-from-snooker/155590

Quote .

" The tribunal found that, on one of the matches Yu fixed, the stakes placed on the result were £65,000 and would have generated a profit of £86,000.

The tribunal described Yu's actions as "a scourge to the game of snooker".

I bet they regret the match fixing now . :wink:
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng snooker match-fixing: Inside story on Chinese pair

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/46411743

Quote .

" One televised tournament. One day. Two matches. Both fixed.

That is the stark reality of what happened on the opening day of the 2016 Welsh Open - one of the darkest moments in snooker's history.

Two talented professional Chinese players were corrupting the game - Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng deliberately fixing the outcome of their matches.

Now Yu is suspended from the sport until early 2029, while Cao must serve a 30-month ban after admitting breaches of the sport's rules.

Here we go inside the corruption case with a special Q&A - from shady text messages to high-stakes wagers on the Asian betting markets.

We discover how Far East fixers tried to gamble £250,000 in one second through an array of betting accounts, and the sport's determination to root out cheaters.

How did we get here?
Suspicious betting patterns at different matches in which the pair played prompted the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), to launch an investigation.

The WPBSA has a dedicated integrity unit and worked with data outfit Sportradar, with support from the UK Gambling Commission.

Yu and Cao were charged in May and two hearings were subsequently held to examine the evidence before a three-person independent tribunal chaired by David Casement QC, sitting with barrister Yasin Patel and solicitor Tarik Shamel.

Both Yu and Cao admitted breaches of the rules - but their roles and cooperation with the inquiry varied greatly, which was reflected in their sentencing.

Yu Delu - banned until 24 February 2029
The tribunal found that Yu "engaged in deliberate and premeditated corruption to secure substantial financial gain for his friends/associates and himself".

Over a period of 30 months he fixed five matches at five different tournaments. He also admitted lying to investigators, failing to cooperate with the investigation and betting on snooker when prohibited from doing so.

The 31-year-old, like English player Stephen Lee - the former world number six - faced a 12-year ban but this was reduced to 10 years and nine months after a late guilty plea.

Lee has never admitted the offences he was convicted of in 2013 and will be 50 before he can make a competitive return to snooker.

Yu, whose actions were described by the tribunal panel as "a scourge to the game of snooker", was also ordered to pay £20,823.80 towards the WPBSA's costs.

Cao Yupeng - banned until 24 November 2020
The 28-year-old admitted to fixing three matches in 2016 and failing to fully cooperate with the WPBSA inquiry.

A suspension of eight years was initially considered before he was given credit for his plea of guilty which reduced it to six.

He will serve a suspension of two and a half years unconditionally. The remaining three and a half years are suspended - on condition he complies with a written agreement to "provide significant assistance to the WPBSA in its anti-corruption work".

After stonewalling his initial interviews, he made a full confession and expressed his sorrow for being involved.

"He explained that he had been involved in fixing matches as a result of his financial difficulties although he maintained he had not fixed any matches since 2016 but admitted he received £5,000 for each fixed match," said the tribunal panel report.

He was ordered to pay £15,558 towards the WPBSA's costs.

How big was the scandal?
Pretty big. On that day of the Welsh Open, 38 different betting accounts in the Far East - using sophisticated computer software - attempted to place a total of £250,000 in one second on the result of Cao's match against two-time World Championship runner-up Ali Carter.

Carter won 4-1, and as with all the other opponents, there is no suggestion he was aware of the plot.

But Cao knew he had to fix the match; for example, for the match to only last a certain number of frames, or Carter to win by a particular margin.

The attempted coup, which could have netted a profit of £1m, was a non-runner once alarm bells rang with Asian-based bookies whose own computer programmes raised suspicions.

The tribunal found that, in one of the matches Yu fixed, the stakes placed on the result were £65,000 and would have generated a profit of £86,000.

Text messages were analysed which "showed discussions clearly referring to match-fixing and also his own betting on snooker matches".

One text show Yu "taking the initiative in offering match-fixing services to a person he was in communication with".

"The misconduct of Mr Delu represents a scourge to the game of snooker," the tribunal panel noted.

What were the fixed matches?
Yu Delu admitted fixing in five matches:

Indian Open qualifiers: WON 4-3 v Martin McCrudden - 12 February 2015
Paul Hunter Classic: LOST 4-1 v Dominic Dale in Germany - 29 August 2015
Welsh Open: WON 4-3 v Ian Glover - 15 February 2016
European Masters qualifiers: LOST 4-1 v Michael Georgiou - 4 August 2017
Shanghai Masters: LOST 5-3 v Kurt Maflin - 15 November 2017
Yu won two of the five fixed matches, but had arranged for the correct score to be 4-3 to either player.

Cao Yupeng admitted fixing in three matches:

Welsh Open: LOST 4-1 v Ali Carter - 15 February 2016
Indian Open qualifiers: LOST 4-0 v Stuart Bingham - 30 June 2016
UK Championship: LOST 6-1 v Stephen Maguire - 24 November 2016
Cao also failed to provide material that was requested during the investigation.

He told investigators that he received £5,000 for each of the matches he fixed.

"Cao Yupeng has shown true remorse," said WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson.

"He will assist the WPBSA in player education and in its fight against corruption, which is reflected in his reduced sanction."

Meanwhile, more allegations of corruption are being investigated
World number 43 Jamie Jones was suspended last month. He has been accused of being part of a plan to fix the outcome of a match between fellow Welshman David John and Graeme Dott in 2016.

Former professional John was suspended in May. Scotsman Dott is not under suspicion.

What of snooker's image?
"It is very sad when talented players are attracted to the opportunity to make money from fixing matches," said Ferguson.

"We have very effective prevention and monitoring processes that protect the sport. Where players ignore this, they risk their careers and they will be caught."

And this is where snooker's rulers have been smart - with a carrot and stick approach. Yu serves a four-times longer ban than Cao, who will help with educating players in China and improving integrity.

Individuals who spend long periods away from home, sometimes on their own, are vulnerable to approaches from corrupt outsiders.

But rather than brushing the issue under the carpet, or simply ignoring it, the sport has tackled it head on.

"It is appropriate that a message is sent out that this conduct is both dishonest and dishonourable and will be met with severe sanctions," said the panel.

The timing of announcing the sanctions was unfortunate - during the UK Championship sponsored by a large bookmaker, Betway.

It also meant the news came out a day after World Snooker was part of a launch in France by billiard sports to be included in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"There's never a good time for these headlines to hit the public domain, especially with the UK Championship taking place at the moment," said WPBSA vice-president Nigel Mawer, who led the investigation and is a former head of economic and specialist crime with the Metropolitan Police.

"But the most important thing snooker has shown is that it's absolutely dedicated to removing corrupt players and ensuring it is a fair sport.

"It is difficult because of the problems in gathering evidence in the Far East and this case may be a watershed moment."

Betting analysis, interviews and other methods are used to try to establish the details of a case, he told Sportsworld on the BBC World Service.

"I think the real success of this case is that the evidence we had was so strong that the players pleaded guilty so there was no need to have a trial," added Mawer.

Analysis
Jamie Broughton, 5 live snooker reporter

These two players are well known in China, and this story will be headline news there.

Lengthy bans show that the sport's world governing body, the WPBSA, has the capability and desire to investigate such cases all over the world, and not just in Europe.

Sanctions like this send out a clear message to any player tempted to get involved in match fixing that it's not worth the risk of getting caught. "

Dude's if I ever find out you've been match fixing.....I'm gonna stop posting to AZBilliards Snooker Threads unless you give me insider iinformation so as I can lay off the bets before the WPSBA disciplinary board , Barry Hearn & Jason Fergusson find out .

Remember it's just us punters that are allowed a bet and not the Players !:wink::cool::rolleyes::grin-square:
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
John Higgins says he may retire at end of season if motivation still lacking

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46530651

Quote .

" John Higgins has stressed he will "seriously" consider retiring at the end of the season if he continues to struggle for motivation.

The four-time world champion said earlier this month he felt he was "near the end" of his time in the game.

Despite reaching the 2018 world final, Higgins says he is living a "soul-destroying" existence.

"If I still feel the way I'm feeling just now I'd seriously think about it," he said.

"I just feel as though I'm stuck in the house now 24/7.

"My wife works three days, which is great because she's brought our three kids up over the years and she's got a bit of independence. She's out working which is great but now I realise how people can go stir-crazy when they're in the house.

Higgins wins with broken rib in Glasgow
"I know now there's house husbands but it can be pretty soul-destroying when you're stuck in the four walls. That's what I feel I've been doing a lot now with my practice game in the house."

If he does continue to play next year, Higgins says he would "look at" the opportunity to take part in a breakaway snooker tour.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has mooted his desire to form a "Champions League-style" format because of his dissatisfaction with the current schedule.

"If there was something like that in the future of course you would look at it," four-time world champion Higgins said.

"There are a lot of countries that want to see tournament play but a lot can't come up with the money because they've got to fund a 128-man ranking event which is tough - it takes a lot of money to do that," he said.

"So if other countries are wanting to put on smaller events for smaller fields and that would suit me, it could suit other players, who knows?"

Hmm indeed lol ! :rolleyes::grin:
 

church66

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Jamie Jones: Player cleared of match-fixing but breached snooker's rules

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/46823109

WPBSA DISCIPLINARY HEARING FINDING :

http://www.worldsnooker.com/wpbsa-disciplinary-hearing-finding/

WORLD PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER ASSOCIATION (“WPBSA”)
World governing body for Snooker and Billiards
-andDAVID JOHN
&
JAMIE JONES
Respondents
DECISION
OF
THE WPBSA DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE :

https://www.wpbsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/John-_Jones-Decision-redacted.pdf
 
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