Michael White given three-year prison sentence for Actual Bodily Harm

The 33-year-old Welshman was sentenced on Thursday 11 July at Swansea Crown Court.

The sport's governing body - the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) - released a statement on Friday morning declaring that White has immediately been removed as a member and from the professional tour.

The statement on the WPBSA website read: On 11th July 2024 Michael White was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm on his then partner. The WPBSA does not tolerate such behaviour by a Member and has taken immediate action to remove Michael White as a Member of the WPBSA.

The WPBSA had been monitoring the case and upon his sentence convened an emergency board meeting. A resolution was passed to cease Michael White’s Membership of the WPBSA with immediate effect.

Therefore, Michael White will now be removed from the world ranking list and World Snooker Tour.

Michael White has the right to appeal the decision of the Board within 21 days of the decision.

For the full WPBSA statement, visit here.

A former top 16 player, White played in the Championship League only last week.

One of the sport's most promising stars as a youngster, it took White a while to adapt to snooker's top tier, but he claimed his first title at the Snooker Shoot Out in 2015 before securing his maiden ranking title at the Indian Open the following week. Two years later he won his second ranker at the Paul Hunter Classic.

However, White had a big drop in form, fell down the world rankings and was subsequently relegated from the pro tour in 2020. It was revealed he had depression and an alcohol issue.

White requalified for the World Snooker Tour in 2022 and got back into the world's top 64. His latest world ranking was 60.