Snooker Pro King Banned for Match-Fixing
Professional snooker player Mark King has been handed a 5-year suspension for match-fixing and disclosing confidential information.
Mark King was found guilty of breaching the Part 2 Rule of WPBSA regulations.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:On Friday, November 15, the World Professional Billards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced that King was guilty of match-fixing in his February 2023 Welsh Open match against Joe Perry. He was also charged with sharing inside information on the same game, which ended in a 0-4 defeat.
The WPBSA initially suspended King in March 2023 following suspicious betting activity surrounding the match. Then, the WPBSA collaborated with Sportradar and the UK Gambling Commission's Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to conduct a thorough investigation.
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.
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King Guilty of Breaching WPBSA Rules
An independent disciplinary committee convened in London in May 2024 to hear King's case and render a verdict. The committee ruled that King violated the Part 2 Rule of WPBSA regulations, specifically Rules 2.1.2.1 and 2.2, by manipulating or attempting to manipulate the outcome or score of the Perry match.
King was also convicted of providing insider information for betting purposes, revealing his intention to manipulate the match result. However, the committee cleared him of two additional charges related to his December 2022 match against John Higgins.
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.
The ban prohibits King from all snooker-related activities, including competition, coaching, refereeing, and other administrative roles within the sport. In addition to the suspension, the former World No. 11 has been ordered to pay £68,299.50 ($86,272.51) to cover costs associated with the case.
King has until November 28, 2024, to appeal the independent disciplinary committee’s rulings on the case.
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