Mark King has revealed {that a} disciplinary listening to into his long-running ban from the World Snooker Tour has taken place.
The previous world quantity 11 was suspended in March of 2023, however there have been hardly any particulars launched regarding the matter since then.
Followers have repeatedly, and understandably, been asking for updates on the scenario – particularly contemplating circumstances involving different current suspensions have been handled in a a lot faster trend.
King took to social media on Sunday evening to lastly give folks an perception into how the authorized matter is growing.
“Final week I used to be in London having my WPBSA disciplinary listening to after being suspended and spending 14 months at nighttime,” Mark King wrote on Fb.
“OMG my authorized crew who represented me had been completely unbelievable in each approach and had been additionally performing professional bono, which I can’t thank them sufficient for.”
“My solicitors Ben Rees and Mark Kenkre from Napier Sterling Regulation and my barrister David Baker from One Essex Courtroom.
“The others who had been on my aspect, you already know who you might be – thanks a lot.
“Please don’t ask concerning the case as I can’t talk about it till a choice is reached.”
There was no official announcement but from the World Skilled Billiards and Snooker Affiliation regarding a outcome from the listening to.
The final time the WPBSA formally referenced the matter was final yr when the preliminary assertion was issued.
“WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has right this moment taken the choice to droop Mark King from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with speedy impact,” the assertion learn in March, 2023.
“This follows an preliminary investigation of irregular betting patterns reported to the WPBSA on the match between Mark King and Joe Perry on the Welsh Open on 13th February 2023.”
“The suspension will stay in place till the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent costs which will or is probably not introduced. Mark King has the precise to attraction this resolution.”
King, who lately turned 50, had been an expert on the principle tour since 1991, spending a number of seasons ranked as a member of the highest 16.
The Englishman’s biggest second got here in 2016, when he secured an emotional triumph on the Northern Eire Open in Belfast.
He additionally reached the finals of the 1997 Welsh Open and 2004 Irish Masters the place he was denied glory by Stephen Hendry and Peter Ebdon respectively.
King didn’t play a single match in the course of the 2023/24 snooker season, and consequently his rating plummeted to 109 on this planet.
That formally confirmed his relegation from the principle tour, dropping his standing as an expert for the primary time in additional than three many years.
Across the identical time that King initially bought suspended, there was a high-profile match-fixing scandal revolving round ten disgraced opponents from China.
Nonetheless, a choice was rapidly reached on that saga and powerful bans had been administered in June of final yr.
Liang Wenbo, a former rating occasion winner, and Li Hold had been each given unprecedented lifetime bans for his or her main roles within the match-fixing ring.
Prolonged bans had been additionally handed out to former Masters champion Yan Bingtao, who admitted to fixing matches, and Zhao Xintong, who had lately reached as excessive as quantity six on this planet rankings.
It’s unclear whether or not or not King will face related sanctions, nevertheless it at the least appears as if his destiny might be determined quickly.
Regardless of the final result from the disciplinary listening to, it’s simple that the method has taken too lengthy to get sorted.
Featured picture credit score: WST
