Premier League popular because no match-fixing?

The Hann match-fixing scandal was an isolated incident and will not effect snooker's assault on Asia, according to World Snooker's representative in China. Hann, who was the world No 22, was banned from professional snooker for eight years in February after newspaper allegations he had been paid £50,000 to lose a first round match at last year's China Open. "We don't have a big problem with that," World Snooker's Simon Leach told Reuters. "Quinten Hann was an exception and that's why he was dealt with so severely, he won't be back."

Leach thinks targeting Asia, the home of gambling syndicates behind scandals in other professional western sports, will not increase the likelihood of further match-fixing in snooker. "You don't get match-fixing in the English Premier League and a lot more money is gambled on that week in, week out," he said.