The number one snooker player in the world is beloved Scotsman John Higgins. With the most recent being in 2009, he has won 3 world championships. He also has ranked in the top 16 snooker players in the world for 10 consecutive years. The alleged accusations that he accepted bribes for fixing snooker matches, however threatened to destroy his legacy forever.
A British Tabloid journal, News of the World, first broke the story. The reporters of the paper posed as businessmen who were interested in discussing future snooker events with Higgins and it was actually the paper’s undercover operation. In a hotel room in Kiev, Ukraine, the meeting took place. These businessmen allegedly offered money to the world champion to throw frames in upcoming matches, during this conversation. According the News of the World, Higgins, along with his manager Pat Mooney was filmed agreeing to throw four separate frames in four different upcoming matches for $398,000.
Any and all claims of bribery were denied by Higgins and Mooney. In fear of his physical safety, he only continued with the conversation According to bet online favorite star, Higgins. Higgins says he went along with the conversation in order to get out of the room without being harmed and thought the men were Russian mafia. He has vowed to clear his name.
World Professional Billboards Association pending a full investigation, suspended John Higgins from competing professionally in snooker on May 2, 2010.