John Higgins faces hearing in London today

Published on Monday 6 September 2010 18:30

John Higgins will today reach the final stage in the quest to clear his name following the allegations of frame-fixing which rocked snooker.

Three-time former world champion Higgins, 35, will face an independent tribunal at a hearing due to last two days, and hopes it will conclude with a judgment in his favour, allowing the Scot to return to the sport with immediate effect.

On 2 May, the first day of the World Championship final, the News of the World alleged that Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney had agreed to take money to influence the outcome of matches. Higgins and Mooney both travelled to Ukraine where they took part in a meeting with undercover reporters posing as businessmen who they believed were keen to set up tournaments in the country. The News of the World alleged they agreed to accept 261,000 in return for fixing the outcome of four frames in matches to be played later this year at new events.

Higgins swiftly denied the claims, insisting in a 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."

However he was immediately suspended and warned he would face "severe" punishment if the allegations could be proven.