The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has banned Mark King, a regular international player, from competing in the sport.
King was found guilty of one count of match fixing by a WPBSA Independent Disciplinary Committee relating to his match against Joe Perry on 13 February 2023.
King was suspended on 18 March 2023 after suspicious betting was detected around his match with Perry. An investigation was subsequently launched by the WPBSA alongside Sportradar, its bet monitoring, and the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) Sports Betting Intelligence Unit.
John Pierce, UKGC 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.”
The WPBSA board also determined that King had provided inside information on both this match and one against John Higgins played on 13 December 2022. This information was subsequently used for betting purposes, the board believes.
As a result of the match fixing and inside information charges, King has been suspended from the sport for five years whilst also being ordered to pay £68,299.50 in costs. King has the opportunity to appeal the decision until 28 November 2024.
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.”
King’s suspension is the latest in a series of prominent cases of breaches of betting rules occurring either within UK sports and by UK sportspeople, with some of the most notable occurring in football – with Brentford FC”s Ivan Toney, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Nottingham Forest’s Harry Toffolo facing enforcement action for breaching FA betting rules.
