Snooker journeyman under investigation following irregular betting patterns
Mark King has been suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association following 4-0 defeat to Joe Perry in February
Mark King has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), pending an investigation into irregular betting patterns.
The WPBSA handed down the judgement after an initial investigation into King’s 4-0 defeat to Joe Perry at the Welsh Open on 13 February 2023.
King has been barred from attending or competing on the tour with immediate effect.
King was withdrawn from Saturday’s WST Classic at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, with his opponent Muhammad Asif handed a walkover.
The current world number 57 has the right to appeal the decision of snooker’s governing body. King has won £77,000 since the start of the season in prize money.
“The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought,” the WPBSA said.
King becomes the 11th professional snooker player to be suspended by the WPSBA in recent months, following the suspension and subsequent charging of 10 Chinese players at the end of January.
The suspensions followed an investigation by the WPSBA Integrity Unit, which found that the 10 players in question had breached its regulations concerning betting and match-fixing.
The players include former Masters champion Yan Bingtao, Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Bai Langning, Zhao Jianbo, Chang Bingyu, Chen Zifan, Zhang Jiankang and Zhao Xintong.
The clampdown in January was one of the largest in the sport’s history, with all 10 being charged with fixing matches on the tour and several of the players also being reprimanded with additional alleged breaches.
The case has now been passed on for a formal hearing before an independent Disciplinary Tribunal, with the date and location yet to be determined.