Snooker star Mark King provides fans with suspension update

King - who turned 50 in March - has not featured on the sport’s professional circuit for over a year since governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) immediately suspended him from attending or competing in WST events in March 2023.

His suspension relates to a first round match at the 2023 Welsh Open in Llandudno. On the opening day of the main event, King lost 4-0 to then defending champion Joe Perry on the main feature table. It is important to note that Perry was not suspended and there has been no mention whatsoever of him being involved in the investigation in any way.

On the 18th March, 2023, the WPBSA released a statement on their website saying: WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has today taken the decision to suspend Mark King from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.

This follows an initial investigation of irregular betting patterns reported to the WPBSA on the match between Mark King and Joe Perry at the Welsh Open on 13th February 2023.

The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. Mark King has the right to appeal this decision.

Since this statement and his suspension, King remained on the official world ranking list but he subsequently dropped down it as points were removed from his total. Following the completion of the recent 2024 World Snooker Championship, King was positioned 109th on the ranking list, and under usual circumstances, this means he is relegated from next season’s Tour.

There hasn’t been an official update on the case since the WPBSA’s initial statement, but on Sunday evening (12/05/2024), King posted on his personal Facebook account about the situation. He wrote: Last week I was in London having my WPBSA disciplinary hearing after being suspended and spending 14 months in the dark.

OMG my legal team who represented me were absolutely unbelievable in every way and were aalso acting pro bono which I can’t thank them enough for.

My solicitors Ben Rees and Mark Kenkre from Napier Sterling Law and my barrister David Baker from One Essex Court.

The others who were on my side you know who you are -thanks so much.

Please do not ask about the case as I can’t speak about it until a decision is reached.

King turned professional in 1991 and has been on snooker’s top flight ever since. He spent several seasons in the elite world’s top 16, and following runner-up finishes at the 1997 Welsh Open and 2004 Irish Masters, he recorded his maiden ranking event triumph at the 2016 Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.