In 2013, Stephen Lee, a semi-finalist in the Crucible in 2003, was handed a huge 12-year ban from the sport after being found guilty of match-fixing. The allegations centered around seven matches in 2008 and 2009, one of which was at the World Championship. When he was suspended in October 2012, he denied any wrongdoing. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) revealed that more than £40,000 was paid to his wife’s account.
At the time, WPBSA disciplinary chairman Nigel Mawer described Lee’s offenses as the worst case of snooker corruption they had seen, particularly highlighting the impact on the iconic World Championship. The question remains whether Stephen Lee should be welcomed back into snooker. When asked about his potential return to the sport in 2022, Lee confessed to being frequently questioned about it. He expressed uncertainty, stating, “I must get asked this weekly, daily, minutely.
I would like to say no, but I am still capable of playing. Let’s see what happens in two years. It’s not a no, and not a yes. We can only just see what happens in a couple of years’ time.”
At the time of his ban, Lee was ranked as the world number eight. He also mentioned some exciting prospects on the horizon but acknowledged the challenges posed by aging, particularly deteriorating eyesight and waning determination.
