Snooker’s Mark King banned for match-fixing

Snooker professional Mark King was suspended from the sport for five years for match fixing and providing inside information.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced today (15 November) that it had found King guilty of one count of match fixing associated with his game against Joe Perry in February 2023. He was also found guilty of one count of providing inside information on that match.

King’s case was heard by an independent disciplinary committee, which held a tribunal in London in May 2024. The committee embargoed the publication of its liability decision until it receives submissions on sanctions and delivered its final decision.

King was initially suspended from the game in March 2023 by WPBSA, which governs the sport. Suspicious betting was reported on his Welsh Open match against Perry, which he lost 0-4, during the previous month. An investigation was carried out by WPBSA partner Sportradar and the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit at the UK Gambling Commission.

In addition to the five-year ban, King must pay £68,299.50 (€81,875.39/$86,272.51) in costs. The ban precludes King from playing, coaching, officiating or managing within snooker.

The former World No 11 has until 28 November 2024 to appeal the decisions of the independent disciplinary committee.

Integrity is number one priority

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: “The global expansion of this sport brings with it great responsibility, both for our players and for the WPBSA as the sport’s world governing body.

“I have known Mark King since he was very young, he is a very experienced player who has enjoyed great success and I am deeply saddened to read the finding in this case. However, the integrity of this sport will always be our number one priority.

“This case is testament to the fact that no stone will ever be left unturned in ensuring that the hundreds of millions of snooker fans worldwide, and our many global partners, can have full confidence in this incredible sport.”

The disciplinary committee found King acted in breach of Part 2 Rule 2.1.2.1 and Rule 2.2 of the WPBSA Regulations. Under these, King was found to have “fixed or contrived, or were a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of [the Perry match]”. He was also found to have “provided information to be used for betting purposes to another person or persons and that information included the fact that you would contrive the score and/or outcome….” The offences took place between 1 January and 14 February 2023.

Two other charges relating to King’s match with John Higgins played in December 2022 were dismissed.

John Pierce, Gambling Commission enforcement director, said: “All betting customers in Britain should have confidence that bets placed with licensed gambling businesses are on markets that are fair and free from betting-related corruption.

“This is why our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit will always work closely with partners such as the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to support their sporting integrity investigations and allegations of match fixing.

“Today’s announcement should send a clear message that betting-related corruption in sport will not be tolerated.”