Mark King has lost his appeal against his five-year ban
Snooker player Mark King has lost his appeal against a five-year ban for match fixing, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) have announced.
The 51-year-old former Northern Ireland Open champion was originally banned in November 2024 and fined £70,000.
King was found guilty of “one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information” on his match against Joe Perry in February 2023.
His appeal has been refused and all original sanctions will stand.
The WPBSA statement confirmed: “He was found guilty of one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on his match played against Joe Perry on 13th February 2023.”
King was ordered to pay £68,299.50 in costs in addition to his suspension.
The former champion was initially suspended by the WPBSA in March 2023, just one month after the match against Perry took place.
The suspension followed reports of suspicious betting patterns on the match.
The committee issued its decision on May 13, refusing King’s appeal.
“Mr King’s Appeal has been refused and the findings against Mr King regarding his match with Joe Perry and in relation to the sanction that was imposed at the original Hearing will stand,” the WPBSA statement read.
A decision regarding the costs of the appeal “will be made in due course,” the statement added.
King was subsequently charged with “fixing the outcome of the Perry match” and his December 2022 game against John Higgins.
He was also accused of “providing inside information on those matches that was used for betting.”
The charges followed a thorough investigation after suspicious betting patterns were identified in connection with King’s matches.
