Prosecutors probe Scottish duo in betting inquiry

An inquiry into suspected betting irregularities during a high profile-match has taken a new twist just one day before this year's World Championship gets underway.

Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett have both been referred to Scotland's procurator fiscal, along with three other men, concerning the outcome of their match at the 2008 UK Championship in Telford, central England.

The economic crime unit of Scotland's Strachclyde police force has spent 17 months looking into the match, that took place on December 14, 2008, and now the procurator fiscal at Hamilton will decide if the pair should face charges.

Maguire won the first round match 9-3 after Burnett missed a black that would have reduced the deficit to 8-4.

World Snooker and the Gambling Commission both looked into the match after snooker chiefs were informed by bookmakers beforehand that there had been unusually heavy betting on a 9-3 scoreline.

Both players, who have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, were questioned by police in August last year before being released without charge and have promised to co-operate with all investigations.

Maguire faces England's Stephen Lee in the first round of the World Championship which starts at the Crucible Theatre today. Burnett has not qualified for the final 32 of snooker's leading tournament.

Crucible Draw

Draw for the first round of the World Championship starting today:

Higgins vs Hawkins; King vs S. Davis; Robertson vs O'Brien; Fu vs Gould; Carter vs Cope; Perry vs Holt; Junhui vs Pettman; Murphy vs Greene;

Maguire vs Lee; Ebdon vs Dott; Allen vs Ford; Day vs M. Davis; Selby vs Doherty; Hendry vs Anda; Williams vs Campbell; O'Sullivan vs Wenbo.