Snooker fixing: O’Sullivan ordered to ‘name names’

World Snooker will demand an explanation from Ronnie OSullivan, who claims Stephen Lee, right, is not alone in fixing. Picture: Getty

In the aftermath of Stephen Lee being found guilty of fixing, O’Sullivan sent a series of tweets alleging that Lee was not the only player who had thrown matches.

Lee, the former world No 5, was found guilty of charges relating to seven matches in 2008 and 2009 on Monday and could now face a life ban.

Yet O’Sullivan, who won his fifth world title earlier this year despite a significant break away from the sport, believes this may just be the tip of the iceberg.

“I’ve heard there’s many more players who throw snooker matches…I suppose Steve lee was just caught out,” the former world No 1 said on Twitter.

Hearn has confirmed that O’Sullivan will be compelled to back up his allegations and warned that he could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute if he does not do so.

“If he has names and he knows of incidences he has an obligation and a duty to report them and failure to do so will put him in breach of his player’s contract,” Hearn insisted yesterday afternoon.

“World Snooker will be writing to Ronnie to say that under his player’s contract it is his responsibility to report any incidences he’s aware of and failure to do so would lay him open to a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. There’s no point in making vague announcements. If he knows something he has a responsibility to be specific and World Snooker will be writing to him on that basis.

“I don’t know what’s behind his tweets. Sometimes there’s nothing behind them and sometimes there is.

“It’s for him to tell us. He’s either got to say, ‘actually I don’t know anything’, or if he knows something then he has a responsibility to tell us and if he doesn’t tell us then he could be brought into disrepute.”

O’Sullivan is no stranger to controversy and has threatened retirement on several occasions but, after claiming consecutive world titles, it appears he is now happy to be back on the circuit.

He has no doubt, however, that his latest comments could land him on hot water.

“I just love putting it out there bring it all out in the open.. Nothing like a bit of transparency is what I say,” he added.

“No need to worry if you got nothing to hide. But plenty of people have got loads to hide. That’s why there is no free speech . There (sic) hiding.

“They will prob fine me for talking about it.. They don’t like you doing that.. Like to keep things under the carpet.”

Lee was suspended last October pending a hearing by Adam Lewis QC, which took place in Bristol last week.

Lewis’s ruling stated: “Stephen Lee is found guilty of agreeing an arrangement...[and of]…accepting or receiving or offering to receive…payment or…other…benefit…in connection with influencing the outcome or conduct of each of the seven matches in breach of Rule 2.9.”

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association will not confirm Lee’s punishment until next Tuesday but chairman Jason Ferguson warned: “His future participation in the sport is now in real doubt as he will face a significant sanction.”

On the table, meanwhile, world No 3 Judd Trump yesterday suffered a shock 5-1 first-round exit to Michael Holt at the Shanghai Masters.

Holt led 3-1 at the mid-session interval, the highlight being a break of 115 in frame three.

He added a 97 in the first frame back, Trump failing to get the snooker he needed on the blue, before wrapping up victory with the help of a 60 break in frame six.

Trump said: “Michael played well and deserved to win. I’m very disappointed because I had a good run here last year. It’s frustrating to come such a long way and lose in the first round.”

Matthew Stevens was another high-profile casualty after Peter Lines won the final two frames to secure a 5-4 win.

Neil Robertson began his bid for a hat-trick of Chinese titles with a routine 5-1 win over Wang Yuchen with breaks of 122 and 73.

Mark Davis, another man in form in Asia after winning the 6-Red World Championship in Thailand and the General Cup in Hong Kong, saw off Ali Carter 5-2 with two century breaks. Scotland’s John Higgins awaits in the next round.

There were 5-0 wins for both Barry Hawkins and Marco Fu against David Grace and Cao Yupeng respectively.

In the wild card round, Mark King beat Zhu Yinghui 5-1 but Andrew Higginson lost 5-4 to Lin Shuai.