The 1972 and 1982 Crucible king said: “I’m still in touch with top agents in the game and the only thing they’ve said about this is, “How greedy do you want to be?” I know of at least four pros who have taken big bribes to chuck games. The names would shock the public if it was proved they were on the take.”

“Just because they wear crisp white shirts doesn’t make them clean — it’s all going on right under people’s noses. I know there are plenty of repulsive professional players who have thrown games for bookies.”

Speaking to the Irish media the Hurricane believes corruption in the sport is widespread and confessed that he was once offered £18,000 to lose a quarter-final at the Benson & Hedges Masters in 1979 and £20,000 to cheat at an Irish Masters.

“I wanted nothing to do with any of them. I couldn’t live with myself if I did it” added Higgins.

Hearn, speaking after the News of the World published a story on world number 1 and last year’s World Champion Higgins, which allegedly shows him agreeing to lose 4 frames of snooker in exchange for a cash payment of £261,000, said:

“Obviously the guy is in bits and I can sympathise with him because it’s been his whole life – the guy is number one in the world”

“As a friend – which I would classify myself to John Higgins because I’ve known him for 20 years – it doesn’t look good.”

“We all watched the video – I can only judge on the visual evidence in front of me. If he is found guilty it will carry the most severe of penalties.”

“I actually believe he’s an honest man – but I can’t ignore the evidence in front of me and the damage it could do to the game.”

Higgins has since released a statement protesting his innocence, which read:

“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,” he said in a statement read out on the BBC before the start of today’s World Championship final.”

“In all honesty I became very worried at the way the conversation developed in Kiev. When it was suggested that I throw frames in return for large sums of money, I was really spooked. I just wanted to get out of the hotel and on to the plane home.”

“I didn’t know if this was the Russian mafia or who we were dealing with. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out of Russia.”

“Those who know me are aware of my love for snooker and that I would never do anything to damage the integrity of the sport I love. My conscience is 100% clear.”

If you haven’t already – check out the video below!

One sport that has eluded them is snooker. But that all changed with Neil Robertson’s 18-13 victory over Scotland’s Graeme Dott on Sunday. ‘The Thunder from Down Under’ described the achievement as ‘absolutely incredible’ after picking up a cheque for £250,000 for his efforts.

“I seriously can’t believe it. In my last-16 match, I was 11-5 down to Martin Gould and after my match with Ali Carter I was really disappointed I couldn’t have any of my family over for the final.

“Then I got a voicemail from my mum to say that when I was 15-9 up overnight against Ali, she had jumped on a plane, so it was quite lucky I finished the job off!

“My mum and her partner have travelled for ages and they only got two hours’ sleep before the final, so for them to be here makes it absolutely perfect” said Robertson.

Relive the final frame below.

Hearn, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has plans for his Matchroom Sport business to take a 51% share in the sport, with the remaining stake leftover to players and fellow promoters.

But 2002 world champion, Ebdon, is unhappy with Hearn’s company having such a stranglehold on the game: “You cannot possibly give control of the association away under any circumstances” said the Englishman.

“If I went to Barry Hearn and said, ‘Look Barry, you know that company that you’ve built up over 20-30 years, Matchroom, you don’t mind giving me 51% do you?’, he’d tell me where to go. It’s not really the done thing.”

“I want him to do a great job for snooker. He’s passionate about doing well and passionate about success. But I don’t think members should give up control of the membership for that.”

“I think he’s asking an awful lot for the players to hand over 51% of the commercial rights to World Snooker, which is worth millions of pounds each year.”

Hearn’s plans will be put to a vote in the near future.

Organiser Joe Johnson (pictured), winner of the World Snooker Championship in 1986, today announced that the tournament will have no less than six former world champions on show, with Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon, John Parrott and Dennis Taylor confirmed to take part in the new event.

“I have been working very hard to pull this concept together and I am glad that with World Snooker’s help we are making it a reality” said Johnson.

“I cannot wait to get out on the floor and battle it out with my old friends and adversaries. Snooker fans have been crying out for this type of event and I am sure that we will do our best to put on an entertaining Championship.”

The World Snr Championship format

Venue – Cedar House
Date – 5th – 7th November 2010
Players – Alex Higgins, Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon, John Parrott, Joe Johnson, Dennis Taylor, Tony Knowles, Tony Drago, Mike Hallett, Darren Morgan, Nigel Bond, Joe Swail, David Taylor, Dave Harold
Structure – Qualifying rounds -> Quarters-finals -> Semi-finals -> Finals
Prize pool – £50,000

Check out the great Alex Higgins in action below.

Doherty, winner at the Crucible back in 1997, kissed the theatre floor after entering the arena to face Selby on Saturday, but it was the ‘Jester from Leicester’

The Dubliner, absent from snookers showpiece tournament 12 months ago, had to defeat Jimmy White and Joe Swail to even secure a spot against Mark Selby, but he had no answer against the in form world number 7.

Selby punished Doherty at almost every attempt and after opening up a 6-3 lead in the opening session he finished the job off 10-4 to book a second round clash against Stephen Hendry.

Doherty was full of praise for his opponent after bowing out at the first hurdle: “He looks like a guy who’s really on top form and it’s always hard to play against someone like that.”

“Every time you make even the smallest miscalculation you’re punished by him clearing up and winning the frame.”

Watch the final frame, of what could be Doherty’s last appearance at the Crucible, below.

Speaking to The Independent, Higgins said: “He wants a lot more tournaments for less prize money. We’ve all got to get away from this idea that the big money’s still around.”

“It was fantastic when I came into snooker, when tobacco was throwing lots of money at it, and even when they fell away we thought others would come in because of all the TV exposure.”

“But it didn’t happen. And now we need to grow the sport again because if we don’t, it might not be around in 10 years’ time.”

Higgins begins his Crucible campaign against Barry Hawkins.

Click here for the full first round draw.

Provisional