Snooker World No. 1 John Higgins in betting scandal
- Thread starter Buckster_uk
- Start date
As I'm still relatively new to the whole pool world, I'm just curious. How is this a bigger crime against "the game" than the hustle? Getting over on unsuspecting players, taking their money. (Or cues, bikes, sausages, drugs or lingerie. See, I read all the threads!) Aren't both cheating, and throwing games for profit, at some point or other?
I realize that I'm just to simple-minded to understand the nuances of "the hustle" and why it's so important that it be glamorized. I just found this whole thread to be highly amusing, given how revered hustling stories are here.
I guess it's not that you cheat, but "how you cheat" that is important. Do I have that right? (Oh yeah, I forgot all bout the hue and cry against sandbagging, in this whole context. That'll open up a whole new can of stuff....) Or maybe its at what level you are at when you cheat. It's all very confusing.
Carry on folks. This is always entertaining. Maybe I'll learn "the game" eventually.
I realize that I'm just to simple-minded to understand the nuances of "the hustle" and why it's so important that it be glamorized. I just found this whole thread to be highly amusing, given how revered hustling stories are here.
I guess it's not that you cheat, but "how you cheat" that is important. Do I have that right? (Oh yeah, I forgot all bout the hue and cry against sandbagging, in this whole context. That'll open up a whole new can of stuff....) Or maybe its at what level you are at when you cheat. It's all very confusing.
Carry on folks. This is always entertaining. Maybe I'll learn "the game" eventually.
As I'm still relatively new to the whole pool world, I'm just curious. How is this a bigger crime against "the game" than the hustle? Getting over on unsuspecting players, taking their money. (Or cues, bikes, sausages, drugs or lingerie. See, I read all the threads!) Aren't both cheating, and throwing games for profit, at some point or other?
I realize that I'm just to simple-minded to understand the nuances of "the hustle" and why it's so important that it be glamorized. I just found this whole thread to be highly amusing, given how revered hustling stories are here.
I guess it's not that you cheat, but "how you cheat" that is important. Do I have that right? (Oh yeah, I forgot all bout the hue and cry against sandbagging, in this whole context. That'll open up a whole new can of stuff....) Or maybe its at what level you are at when you cheat. It's all very confusing.
Carry on folks. This is always entertaining. Maybe I'll learn "the game" eventually.
I guess I would say the first difference is actual league vs. pool hall. If there are players out there that hustle in the US Open, deliberately losing games in the quarterfinals to get some more coin, they are pretty ballsy. That could bite ya in the ass quick. Pool hall games have no governing body, by laws, presidents or administrators.
I could be wrong, as I don't hustle.
thats the most logical thing, they drop the bomb shell the day with world championship finals starts. It was a set up job, Higgens didnt realize it but he was set up and he is in deeper shit than Tiger is. The tabloids in the UK are brutal, just brutal. it was phony the way they said 200 or 300-"Whats the number?" the guy in the video asked like it didnt matter. So higgens and his manager said 300K, Thats where they tipped their hole card-nobody is going to just add a extra 100K Euro($132,000) that easily. And ofcourse higgens wasnt going to take the low number, we used similar tactics in telemarketing back in 1993.
Higgens admitted he idnt know who he was talking too, a good out for him., WTF were they in the Ukrain today anyways?, he is suppost to be at the finals(because he won last year) and he is in the Ukrain talking to peple he dosent know about dumping. He got a call from people he didnt know(thats certain) shows up, falls for the $$$, there was no resistance from the guys paying off(another questionalbe thing), and the media on the biggest day of the year in snooker has their #1 player shitting all over himself. Thats not a coincidence-that a perfectly set up trap for the tabloid that got the story first.
and another thing, sure they book action on snooker, but 300,000 Euros to dump 4 frames next year, thats 75,000 Euro/frame who is going to be betting that high? they would have to be betting a million to make money after the pay off to higgens-that dont make sence. the number are too big, Higgens probably made a million euro last yeat or a bit less, so thats why he jumped on this deal-the mob pushed his greed buttons. he is toast-just because he acted like wh was willing to do something out of pocket.
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Exactly my thoughts.
Yes. The tabloids here in Britain are vicious.
I feel very disappointed in Higgins. Always liked watching him play when he is on form.
On the other hand, he at least didn't cheat on his wife.
It has certainly been a year of idols falling from their pedestal.
It's a mad world. People that have everything are only greedy for more.
He got ousted from the World Championships in a surprise upset by Steve Davis, then flew to the Ukraine.
Yes - there were all kinds of clues that this thing was a set-up and I'm also surprised they fell for it. Reminds me of ther old political bribery stings 60 minutes and others used to conduct.
Chris
The postmaster where I live was making $90,000 dollars a year and got busted shoplifting $200 dollars worth of clothing at Macy's. Some people just can't help themselves. Not the first time, and they never think they will get caught.
I'm really surprised at the money, as Fatboy also mentioned. Are they really betting that much on Snooker matches that it would be profitable to bribe him with 300K Euros for losing 4 frames?
I'm not real familiar with Snooker, but isn't each match something like a race to 12 frames? If this is true, it would be like paying an American pool player 300K to lose one GAME in a race to 13 US Open match.
I'm not real familiar with Snooker, but isn't each match something like a race to 12 frames? If this is true, it would be like paying an American pool player 300K to lose one GAME in a race to 13 US Open match.
No pool player here in the states would ever throw a match for 300k.,
Yeah, maybe for 3K they would.
I have no idea about the numbers, but betting on snooker is available in lots of countries all over Europe, and I guess that the rich Russians & gambling-loving Asians bet a lot.
Snooker-matches are normally a best of 9 (race to 5) in the start of the tournaments, and I understood that Higgins "only" had to lose the 3rd frame in the 4 matches. He could still win the matches, but had to lose the 3rd frame.
If there are for example 50 people/accounts (hired by the scammers) betting online during the match, and betting between 2000 and 15000 each on the 3rd frame, spread over maybe 30+ bettingsites, the scam could definitely work.
Higgins will almost always be the favourite in the 3rd frame, because that will be his break as the highest ranked player, so the odds will be better on the opponent in that frame too.
Even his wife would probably wish he had cheated on her, rather than this. His career is over.
I thought it was funny when they were discussing the amount of the bribe initially. What about 200k or 300k? LOL, I like the 300k option better :smile:
I'm sorry to say as someone posted earlier, pool has a lot of this going on albeit in smaller amounts. How about when player A and player B are in together and player A has all of themselves in the calcutta and player B only has half. When they play each other the winner is ding ding ding player A!
I'm sorry to say as someone posted earlier, pool has a lot of this going on albeit in smaller amounts. How about when player A and player B are in together and player A has all of themselves in the calcutta and player B only has half. When they play each other the winner is ding ding ding player A!
Just my thoughts and statements.
Also, it was not done in an alley but in a luxurious hotel room, so if he'd be thinking they're white collar mafiosos and fearing for his life, then how could he later on sleep with his family knowing he has just deceived them...
Poor guy.
John Higgins' Statement
"Can I say that I have never been involved in any form of snooker match-fixing. In my 18 years playing professional snooker I have never deliberately missed a shot, never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match.
"In all honestly I became very worried at the way the conversation developed in Kiev. When it was suggested that I throw frames in return for large sums of money, I was really spooked. I just wanted to get out of the hotel and onto the plane home.
"I didn't know if this was the Russian Mafia or who we were dealing with. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out of Russia (sic).
"Those who know me are aware of my love for snooker and that I would never do anything to damage the integrity of the sport I love. My conscience is 100% clear."
"Can I say that I have never been involved in any form of snooker match-fixing. In my 18 years playing professional snooker I have never deliberately missed a shot, never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match.
"In all honestly I became very worried at the way the conversation developed in Kiev. When it was suggested that I throw frames in return for large sums of money, I was really spooked. I just wanted to get out of the hotel and onto the plane home.
"I didn't know if this was the Russian Mafia or who we were dealing with. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out of Russia (sic).
"Those who know me are aware of my love for snooker and that I would never do anything to damage the integrity of the sport I love. My conscience is 100% clear."
It's a pity (if) they don't have any footage from the previous meetings with the manager, as then it'd take the last small excuse of being surprised and spooked away from them. Not that many believes them anyway though..
NOTW said they got a hint that Mooney is doing smt like this.
Ukraine, bcos they were planning a tour in eastern europe..
Naturally there would've been ring of guys betting.
You know, 22 guys around Europe (or world), and everyone bets 10k-30k for that particular frame. Easy double up minus 75k times four. Net 1M. Organized crime.
And yes, they gamble a lot, as it's all the time on tv and a sport which attracts gamblers. Maybe not so much anymore though..
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