The Sun alleged that Hann had agreed to accept £50,000 (€73,000) to lose a match at the China Open.

It said he had made the deal with one of its undercover reporters, who was posing as a frontman for an illegal betting syndicate.

The newspaper also alleged that Hann had offered to fix the result of a match at the recent World Championships in Sheffield’s Crucible arena.

But in a statement issued to Sky Sports News today, Hann said: “I categorically deny accusations made by the Sun newspaper.

“This is part of an ongoing campaign to discredit my character and I will not be responding directly to these false claims.”

Snooker’s governing body is to investigate the allegations.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), which is also known as World Snooker, said it had procedures in place to address the claims.

Chairman Sir Rodney Walker told BBC Sport: “Quinten Hann will be written to and invited to comment on these allegations.

“Then in due course he will be invited to attend a meeting of World Snooker’s disciplinary committee.”

He added: “We work on the principle of English justice – a man is innocent until proven otherwise.”

A spokesman for the WPBSA had said earlier: “The WPBSA is aware of an allegation of match-fixing made by the Sun newspaper against one of its members.

“The WPBSA treat any such allegations seriously. Like any other sport, the WPBSA has procedures in place to address these allegations.

“Until these procedures have been completed, the WPBSA will not be commenting further.”

Hann was found not guilty at Isleworth Crown Court yesterday of groping and attacking a singer and an actress at his home.

He was cleared of two counts of sexual assault, one of causing actual bodily harm, and one of common assault on August 29 last year.

Hann, the world number 18, lost 10-2 in the first round of last month’s World Championships.