Higgins blasts corrupt snooker world

Former world champion Alex Higgins claims snooker is corrupt and players take money to throw matches for bookmakers.

Higgins revealed he was approached by betting syndicates throughout his career but resisted the temptation to go “bent”.

He believes the game is still plagued by a “sub-culture” with “gamblers leaning on players who were reluctant to help”.

“There are professional players who have thrown games for bookies. Some of them are pretty repulsive characters – because they wear a white shirt it doesn’t make them clean.

“As someone who keeps in touch with the game and the results, I know that it’s still going on.

“It’s quite easy to pick out the cheats from the genuine ones.”

Higgins claims he was offered £20,000 (€28,000) in cash to throw a match against Canadian Cliff Thorburn in the Irish Masters in 1989, and told The News Of The World: “There was a fortune to be made if they got the right score, especially if the favourite lost by a big margin.

“I’ve heard of gamblers leaning on players who were reluctant to help. It’s a sub-culture. But nobody ever got heavy with me.

“Professional snooker has a good name for being straight but there are a few dark clouds hanging over it.

“Not every player who has played has been straight.”