Snooker star who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan handed five-year ban for match fixing and ordered to pay massive fine

Mark King has been banned from snooker for five years and fined more than £68,000 after being found guilty of match fixing.

The 50-year-old, a former Northern Ireland Open champion, has been found guilty of one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on a match.

He was initially suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) in March last year after suspicious betting patterns were reported on his match against Joe Perry on February 13, 2023.

It was also alleged that King fixed a match against John Higgins on December 13, 2022, as well as provided inside information on it, but those charges were dismissed and Perry and Higgins were not accused of any wrongdoing.

King, who denied the charges in the case, has until November 28 to appeal the decisions of the independent disciplinary committee.

Speaking after the decision was made, WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "I have known Mark since he was 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."

The Independent Disciplinary Committee’s decision on sanction and costs are as followed:

• From 18th March 2023 until 17th March 2028 (both dates inclusive), Mr King is precluded from participating in any way in activities or events recognised or organised by the WPBSA (including but not limited to playing coaching, officiating, management, organisation, administration and/or promotion, and
• Mr King shall pay costs to the WPBSA in the sum of £68,299.50

Image credit: Getty

Back in 2013, after Stephen Lee was banned for 12 years for match fixing, King said he had no sympathy for his fellow snooker player.

"I am friends with Stephen and he was in the next era behind me. A lovely fella, a family man and I feel sorry for his family because he has a missus and four children but as a player, I don't have any sympathy for him," he said, as quoted by the BBC.

"I just don't get the concept of it. He must have had a gun to his head, that is the only thing I can think of.

"It could only have been a financial thing where he has been told either you do it or your family suffers. There are many other ways of getting money so I don't know the position he was put in.

"At the end of the day, he beat me 9-4 and I had given him a frame start. It is quite frustrating and hurtful. I was there trying my best and him gaining financially for letting me win the first frame maybe let him relax a bit more because he had X amount of pounds in his pocket."