Mark King Banned for Five Years Due to Match-Fixing Charges

Mark King has received a five-year ban after being found guilty of match-fixing by an independent disciplinary committee.

The 50-year-old English snooker player was convicted of one count of match-fixing and one count of providing insider information regarding a match.

This ruling follows an investigation initiated by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) after suspicious betting patterns emerged during King’s match against Joe Perry at the Welsh Open on February 13, 2023.

King, a former Northern Ireland Open champion, denied the allegations. He has until November 28 to appeal the committee’s decision, which also requires him to cover costs amounting to £68,000.

Additional accusations that King fixed a match against John Higgins on December 13, 2022, and provided insider information regarding it were dismissed by the panel. Neither Perry nor Higgins faced any allegations of wrongdoing.

King turned professional in 1991 and achieved a career-high world ranking of 11 in 2003.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson expressed his disappointment over the findings, stating, “I have known Mark since he was young.

He is a very experienced player who has enjoyed great success, and I am deeply saddened by this outcome. However, maintaining the integrity of the sport is our top priority.”

Ferguson emphasized the organization’s commitment to ensuring that snooker fans and global partners can have full confidence in the sport, noting, “This case demonstrates that we will leave no stone unturned in upholding the integrity of snooker.”