Mark King has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect, the WPBSA has announced on Saturday.
A brief statement on the WPBSA website read:
“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.”
King, aged 48, has been a professional on the main tour since 1991 and has reached a career-high of number 11 in the world rankings.
The Englishman’s greatest moment came in 2016, when he secured an emotional triumph at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.
The current world number 57, King has more recently struggled for positive results and has been in danger of being relegated from the circuit.
The suspension marks the latest chapter to the sport’s constant battle with alleged match fixing and betting concerns.
During the 2022/23 campaign, a total of ten Chinese competitors have been suspended from the sport in arguably the biggest scandal in the game’s history.
The outcome of that hearing, which may lead to lengthy bans for the likes of former UK champion Zhao Xintong and Masters winner Yan Bingtao, is still also pending.
Featured photo credit: WST
My cousins son. Martin Clark was a pro.
so sad that this wonderful dignified game has fallen foul to the rife raff who respect nothing not even there own talent