Mark Selby believes snooker's authorities will find no evidence of wrong-doing after launching an investigation into the UK Championship match between Jamie Burnett and Stephen Maguire.
The first-round match was won 9-3 by Maguire, and bookmakers reported a flurry of bets on that scoreline, information which they relayed to tournament officials.
Burnett missed a tricky black in the 12th frame which would have made it 8-4 and removed any concerns about the result.
World snooker chiefs have confirmed they will conduct a formal investigation, but Selby doubts any player would risk their career by rigging a match.
The reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion said in his Yahoo and Eurosport column: ‘I find it hard to believe that there is anything in this reported betting scandal involving Jamie Burnett and Stephen Maguire.
‘I just don't think it is in a snooker player's nature. You look at somebody like Stephen Maguire and there is just no reason for him to be involved in anything like that. There is far too much to lose.
‘Every player wants to progress in the event, Stephen is ranked number two in the world and there are ranking points up for grabs.
‘There is so much at stake, and you can't help it if other people put bets on the match.
‘Thankfully nothing like this has ever occurred in any of my matches and I can honestly say that nobody has ever approached me looking to fix a match in any way.’
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association confirmed earlier this week that their investigation would be thorough.
In a statement they said: ‘As part of the investigation, information will be gathered from all pertinent parties, including the players themselves, the match officials, the bookmakers, and others, in order to determine, based on the available evidence, whether or not there is a case to answer for breach of the WPBSA's rules.
‘If it is determined that there is a case to answer, the WPBSA will pursue it vigorously.’
