Video: Steve Davis and John Virgo preview snooker’s World Championship at the Crucible

Last year’s Crucible final was overshadowed by claims that former champion John Higgins had agreed to lose frames for cash. He was later cleared but served a six-month disrepute ban.

Neil Robertson opens the Crucible Theatre tournament this morning with a mouth-watering first-round tie against China Open champion Judd Trump, looking to defend the title he won 12 months ago,

The Australian’s moment of glory last year was tarnished by newspaper headlines surrounding Higgins, and Robertson believes future punishments for any player breaching the strict betting rules need to be harsh.

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has sent a letter to each of the 32 competitors taking part at the Crucible, warning them if they are caught cheating they will be banned for life.

After the recent China Open, Robertson returned to the UK to find Hearn’s letter waiting for him, and the 29-year-old Australian said: “It was basically saying any player that fails to report any approaches would get a lifetime ban from the sport.

“I think it’s fantastic because it keeps all the players on their toes.”

Hearn has helped to transform snooker over the last 12 months, increasing sponsorship and the number of tournaments on the circuit.

But he is ready to get tough with players if they break the no-gambling rules.

Hearn said: “The players know there are lifetime bans. Don’t mess with us, because you’re out. It doesn’t matter what your name is or who you are – you’re out.

“You’ve got to educate the people involved to make sure they know what’s at risk, the types of stunts that people can pull, the type of villains that are out there.

“Once you’ve educated them, the other side is punishment.

“The punishment has to be draconian, it has to be absolutely brutal.

“They’ve got to understand, if you decide to go down the wrong path, then everything you value in your life sporting-wise has to be taken away from you.”

The Crucible fortnight is a shot in the arm for the Sheffield economy, with accommodation at a premium as the sporting world turns its attention to the Steel City for the next 17 days.

Most of the tournament is a sell-out although there is still limited availability for some matches.

Latest figures from Sheffield City Council show that the World Championship alone is worth nearly £5m to the region.

This comes in the form of £2.41m spent by visitors on hotel rooms and restaurants, while the spotlight on the Steel City is worth an estimated £2.5m in media coverage, promoting Sheffield.

The Crucible is just starting a new five-year deal to host the finals until 2015.