Professional snooker player, Mark King, receives five-year ban for match-fixing

By Lucy Wynne

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has reported that professional snooker player, Mark King, has been suspended from playing snooker for five years, for match-fixing.

In addition to the ban, King was also ordered to pay £68,299.50 for one count of providing inside information from a match and for one count of match-fixing.

King’s ban commenced from 18 March 2023 and will last until 17 March 2028. 

He was banned after suspicious betting was reported in his match against Joe Perry on 13 February 2023; and it was also reported that he fixed the outcome of his match against John Higgins on 13 December 2022, by providing insider information that was used for betting.

The investigation was conducted by Sportradar and the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit at the Gambling Commission. 

King denied the charges and a hearing went ahead between 7-9 May 2024, which was chaired by Graeme McPherson KC. The WPBSA confirmed that no other player, other than King, was involved in the match-fixing and that he was guilty of the charges.

King will have until 28 November 2024 to appeal the decision of the suspension and fine.

John Pierce, Gambling Commission enforcement director, commented: “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.”