Mark King was banned for 5 years for match-fixing.

An independent disciplinary panel found the 50-year-old Englishman guilty of one count of match-fixing and one count of giving inside information about the match.

The former Northern Ireland Open champion was suspended by the sport’s world governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), on 18 March 2023, following reports of questionable betting on his match with Joe Perry in Wales on 13 February 2023. Open.

King, who denies the allegations in the case, has until November 28 to appeal against the decisions of the independent disciplinary panel, which also ordered him to pay £68,000 in costs.

The panel also heard accusations that King fixed a match against John Higgins on 13 December 2022 and provided inside information regarding this, but these charges were denied.

Perry and Higgins were not charged with any crime.

King turned professional in 1991 and reached a career-high world ranking of 11 in 2003.

“I have known Mark since he was a teenager, he is a very experienced player who has achieved great success and I was deeply saddened to read the finding in this case,” said WPBSA president Jason Ferguson.

“But the integrity of this sport will always be our number one priority.

“This case is proof that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that hundreds of millions of snooker fans around the world and our many global partners have full confidence in this incredible sport.”