The Gambling Commission in Britain are investigating Peter Ebdon's unexpected 5-0 defeat by the Chinese player Liang Wenbo in Belfast last month. One bookmaker in Britain lost £25,000 (Dh169,295) on the Dubai-based former world champion being whitewashed in his Northern Ireland Trophy second- round match while another said they had not received any bets for the result to be 5-1, only for it to finish 5-0.
Bookmakers were offering odds of around 28-1 that Ebdon, who is on the board of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), would not win a frame in the match. Ebdon refused to comment, but a spokeman for the WPBSA said: "World Snooker is obviously aware that there was some interest in the match. However, having considered the matter and followed the proper procedures, including consultation with the Association of British Bookmakers and the Gambling Commission, we are satisfied that the action taken is appropriate."
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