World Snooker Tour Companions with Sportsbook on Heels of Match-Fixing Scandal
The World Skilled Billiards and Snooker Affiliation (WPBSA) lately despatched its PR workforce into motion to carry out injury management following allegations of match-fixing. The World Snooker Tour (WST), of which the WPBSA owns greater than 1 / 4, is now teaming up with a sportsbook, probably in an effort to proceed to scrub up the sport.
Snooker participant Mark Williams goals at a shot. The World Snooker Tour has partnered with cryptocurrency sports activities betting platform Duelbits. (Picture: BBC Sport)
The WST has aligned itself with Duelbits, which replaces automotive dealership Cazoo, for the present season. The cryptocurrency on line casino and sportsbook secured the title sponsorship for 3 snooker occasions for an undisclosed quantity.
Firstly of the yr, the WPBSA introduced the suspension of two Chinese language gamers for rigging matches. They added their names to an inventory that had grown to 10 over the previous yr.
Duelbits Bites into Snooker
The newly rechristened Duelbits Collection will embrace the continuing Duelbits World Grand Prix in Cheltenham, UK. It started on January 16 and can run till January 22, with the world’s 32 high gamers chalking up their cues.
Subsequent up, the Duelbits Gamers Championship in Wolverhampton might be held from February 20-26, and the Duelbits Tour Championship will happen from March 27 to April 2 in Hull.
Solely the highest 16 gamers will advance to the Wolverhampton occasion. Lastly, the main eight will meet on the championship starting in March.
Duelbits has been discovering methods to advance its place within the gaming market during the last yr. It’s signed offers with Aston Villa FC within the UK, South American eSports group Ache Gaming, and the Argentine Soccer Affiliation in Argentina to be their companions.
Duelbits is making an attempt to determine itself on the identical time cryptocurrency and betting are having problem with their relationship with sports activities. The corporate was one in every of a number of Twitch known as out over playing content material, forcing it to go away the streaming platform.
WST Grand Prix Odds
The World Grand Prix has already offered quite a few hotly contested matches, with extra on faucet for Thursday. Shaun Murphy takes on Kyren Wilson, with the 2 world champions ready to present stellar performances. Wilson is barely in entrance on Duelbits at -127, whereas Murphy is shut behind at -108.
Additionally enjoying as we speak are Anthony McGill and Sam Craigie. Craigie is at +114, whereas McGill is the favourite at -160. McGill has already secured his spot within the last eight, together with Scottish Open winner Gary Wilson.
Later, Mark Williams will face Noppon Saengkham. Williams is the undisputed favourite at -267, however he can’t get cocky in opposition to his opponent. Saengkham has odds of 186 to win after taking out Mark Selby on Wednesday.
Selby has been the world’s top-ranked snooker participant a number of instances throughout his profession, and has picked up 4 world titles, three Masters, and two UK Championships. His expertise on the tables has given him 9 Triple Crowns since he started enjoying professionally 24 years in the past.
