Stephen Lee, a former snooker sensation, may controversially return to the game later this year once his 12-year match-fixing suspension expires. Which games, though, led to his original ban?
In 2012, the 49-year-old, who had five ranking titles in his career, was prohibited from participating in or simply going to any WPBSA-affiliated event for a period of 12 years.
The prohibition expires in October 2024, which is also Lee’s 50th birthday.
Speaking in 2022, Lee stated that he would have to “wait and see” if he would be ready to return, however his advanced age and lack of experience in professional matches could work against him.
Lee would need to pass Q-School in April of next year in order to obtain his tour card, and whatever ranking points he obtained before his ban would be permanently lost if he chose to try his luck at the World Snooker Tour again.
However, he has the option to join the World Seniors Tour, which is available to any player 40 years of age or older who is not among the top 64 on the regular tour.
Lee would need to pass Q-School in April of next year in order to obtain his tour card, and whatever ranking points he obtained before his ban would be permanently lost if he chose to try his luck at the World Snooker Tour again.
However, he has the option to join the World Seniors Tour, which is available to any player 40 years of age or older who is not among the top 64 on the regular tour.
However, in October 2012, he was banned from playing snooker due to allegations made by two bookies about unethical betting practices in relation to a Premier League match that Lee lost 4-2 to John Higgins.
After starting an investigation into the match, the WPBSA filed complaints against the Wiltshire-born cueist in seven more matches, one of which took place during the 2009 World Championship.
After a hearing on those charges in September, Lee was found guilty of influencing the results of seven matches in 2008 and 2009 (not including any charges related to the Premier League match, which the WPBSA chose not to pursue).
The 2008 Malta Cup group stage match was one of the matches that the WPBSA determined was not rigged.
But in seven other matches, including his 10-4 loss to Ryan Day at the 2009 World Snooker Championship, he was found guilty of ‘accepting payment to influence the outcome of a match’.
The tribunal found that he was “collaborating with three distinct groups, who wagered on various platforms and the precise score and frame results for the matches he participated in those competitions.”
Additionally, it was revealed that Lee lost his 2009 China Open match against Mark Selby and his 2008 Malta Cup match against Neil Robertson by a predetermined score.
In the end, it was determined that he had plotted to lose the World Championship match against Ryan Day.
There was no indication that Lee’s involvement was known to any other players.
WPBSA head of disciplinary Nigel Mawer stated: “In effect it is a life ban, because I think it is highly unlikely that Stephen Lee will be able to come back to the sport at this level.” Despite seeking a lifetime sentence, he was given a 12-year complete suspension.
We don’t find that particularly enjoyable since, by making poor choices, a talented snooker player has thrown it all away.
“It is only human to have a degree of sympathy for him and it is going to be very difficult for him, but we have to send a very strong message that match fixing is not going to be tolerated.”
The 12-year suspension was the longest that the snooker organizers had ever imposed for match-fixing at the time.
Lee later filed an appeal, but it was denied in May 2014 about the “finding of the tribunal, the sanction, and the costs awarded.”
Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were among ten Chinese players who received varying lifetime bans from the sport last year due to allegations of match-fixing.
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