Match fixing

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Match fixing

EddietheEagle · County player

Fascinating stuff, thanks for posting. Let's hope the vast majority of players rise above it, as with doping.

emma · Strong Club Player

no, I haven't, so thanks for the link CD

indiana · Tennis legend

Nor me. Thanks, CD.

As said, tennis is extremely vulnerable to match fixing as long as there is betting not just on matches, but specific sets, games and even points. Ally that to tennis being an individual sport, the financial stuggles many have, and the likelihood of some who will be tempted, and it would be amazing if there wasn't some fixing going on. Who knows, though, to what degree.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. The thing which had escaped me (rather stupidly, coz it's relatively obvious when you think about it, but I just hadn't) is the importance of being able simply to fix certain sets. The potentially very profitable scenario where the favourite gets in the lead and then throws the first set, and then comes from behind to take the second, leaving the third for a completely fair shoot-out, just hadn't really occurred to me. And it's rather powerful - you're not fixing the match result, as such, just staging it to come down to a one-setter. And it won't show up too much, as the favourite will probably win and so there's no great shock or stop-the-press moment. Very tempting, I'm sure, for certain players . . .

RJA · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
Yes. The thing which had escaped me (rather stupidly, coz it's relatively obvious when you think about it, but I just hadn't) is the importance of being able simply to fix certain sets. The potentially very profitable scenario where the favourite gets in the lead and then throws the first set, and then comes from behind to take the second, leaving the third for a completely fair shoot-out, just hadn't really occurred to me. And it's rather powerful - you're not fixing the match result, as such, just staging it to come down to a one-setter. And it won't show up too much, as the favourite will probably win and so there's no great shock or stop-the-press moment. Very tempting, I'm sure, for certain players . . .

Where it does show up is the suspicious betting patterns. When you suddenly get a couple of million bet on an obscure challenger match then chances are something is up.

Ratty · County player

Betting is a pretty well guaranteed way to lose money, and so apart from a fiver or two on the odd occasion I go to the races, I don't do it.

Unless of course one has inside info, hence match-fixing. But here's the thing: betting requires a counter-party. If someone says to me "I'll bet you £25,000 that ATP-ranked 400, who's currently 6-3 3-0 down against ATP-ranked 250, comes back to win the second set", I wouldn't need to think too long about my answer, no matter what the odds. Because it's frigging obvious that it's a scam.

So why does it happen?

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Money laundering, I don't think massive odds and big margins are always the objective.

Ratty · County player

Er, I'm not convinced that placing losing bets is a very sensible way of laundering money. Generally the idea is to legitimise it by, for example, pretending it's business takings of your unusually successful car wash.

Oh and it occurs to me that my own pastimes are a guaranteed way of losing money, so apologies for any undertone of condescension in my previous post.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Don't know if we have a specific doping thread, so 'match fixing' seemed close:

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/31949668

Josh · Challenger level

Apparently this will end up being Odesnik's last ever professional match - an absolutely farcical MTB in the doubles QF at the Maui Challenger, having been awarded a WC no less!

I'm surprised such obvious tanking went unpunished, as far as I'm aware.

www.youtube.com/watch

wolf · Tennis legend

http://www.footsoldiersoftennis.com/2015/03/26/what-walter-trusendi-and-elie-rousset-did-their-side/

Two guys banned for doing everything right and absolutely nothing wrong. Unbelievable stuff. The TIU should be ashamed of themselves.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I was just reading that on the French sites, Wolf - couldn't believe it.

Quite understand that they might have flouted the rule. That's because the rule, in this situation, is daft.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

I can understand the rule, any time money is involved (even in a private closed transaction), it opens the door a tiny bit to possible corruption (players who aren't ill being offered over the odds to fake it and let another player in etc)

However, to punish on this occasion as if it were actual match fixing and corrupt intent seems a bit draconian.

indiana · Tennis legend

I understand it too for the reasons The Optimust says.

But the punishnent certainly doesn't fit well with the alleged circumstances. If the authorities accept the circumstances then draconian and lacking common sense indeed.

So next time, a retiral after 2 games and take the money it will be rather than the spectators getting a full honestly contested match. If a player can start a match in these financial circumstances, he will.

A severe warning should have been suffucient in my view. Naughty, but not at all corrupt. There are proper match fixers to catch.

Make clear if they want that anyone repeating this ( and getting caught ! ) will be severely dealt with or is there an 'official' innovative solution that could cover this dilemma in the future ?