12-02-2008 Malta Cup snooker tournament under investigation after suspected match-fixing

The Gambling Commission, Britain's betting regulator, has launched an investigation into betting patterns during last week's Malta Cup after it received a tip-off about suspected match-fixing.

"We have an agreement with the Association of British Bookmakers whereby we are contacted confidentially if and when irregular betting patterns are detected," said the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. "In past incidents where players have been judged guilty of match fixing or intention to match-fix, which are extremely rare, we have taken a particularly stringent line."

Meanwhile, at the Diamond Games in Antwerp, three spectators were espelled after they were found using laptops to place bets online. "The WTA takes a zero tolerance approach to this issue," said a spokeswoman for the WTA tour. "The men were asked to leave or hand over their laptops and they decided to leave with their computers."