Jason Ferguson gives the latest on the Crucible, snooker’s Olympic hopes, Zhao Xintong and more

Mark King

Former top 16 player and ranking event winner King has been suspended since March 2023 after ‘an initial investigation of irregular betting patterns reported to the WPBSA on the match between Mark King and Joe Perry at the Welsh Open on 13th February 2023.’

King himself revealed on social media that his hearing in front of an independent tribunal took place in May this year, but we are still waiting on a verdict.

Ferguson explained: ‘The case has been going on, everything has taken place and finished, which I think actually Mark King announced on social media. We can’t say anything until we’ve got the final outcome from that. We’re in the hands of an independent sports tribunal and the chair of that to make those announcements as and when that’s complete. Unfortunately I can’t make any comment on it because the process is ongoing.

That means he will be off the professional tour for the rest of this season, but Ferguson expects him to try and reclaim his pro status for the 2025-26 campaign.

‘We expect that he will make a comeback,’ he said of the 27-year-old. ‘He’s obviously served a ban, which is coming up soon. He’ll get to the end of that ban and I’ve no doubt that there’ll be an approach made because he wants to come back and play. That will be down to him.

‘We have a judicial process put in place for all the right reasons. All parties recognise that process but when that process comes to an end we have to recognise that rehabilitation has taken place and there is an opportunity to come back. That depends on qualification, all costs being paid, any outstanding fines being paid. He is young enough and talented enough to make a comeback in the sport.  We also recognise that he got caught up in something in which he was perhaps not one of the main perpetrators.

‘There is Q Tour, the CBSA Tour, Q Schools, World Amateur Championships, there are a lot of routes back to the tour. I do believe he has been practicing.’

The Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association handed out a longer ban to Zhao and Ferguson says they are sticking to their decision for him to be out until July 2025.

‘We’ve clarified that situation with China,’ he said. ‘Those bans stand in China, but what we do here at the WPBSA is recognise the ban of the independent sports tribunal. China does have the ability to put in its own process in its own country.

‘However, in terms of the things we do, we’re recognising the ban put in place by the independent tribunal. Our view is that he would have the opportunity to attempt to qualify back to the tour at the end of our ban.’

Michael White

On the WPBSA’s understanding of the case, Ferguson said: ‘Obviously there was a criminal investigation going on and we were not aware of all of the facts for that reason. Neither should we judge something that we don’t know enough about.

‘Michael White had informed us that there was an ongoing issue, but we didn’t know the details of that issue until that case had been completed. We took our own view the minute that case was completed and the information became available to take swift and immediate action and remove him from the tour.

‘All this came out very, very late. We reserve the right to suspend players when there’s a situation ongoing, but we also have to make sure we’ve got all the facts before we do that. The fact that this was a criminal situation and it was being dealt with by the courts, we could not intervene or take action until we were presented with the full facts. It was a matter of hours, actually, we had dealt with that issue within hours of receiving that information and I think that’s credit to the team.’

On whether White could ever make a return to the tour, he added: ‘At this stage he’s been completely removed. In the criminal justice system, the system would say there’s a right to rehabilitate but we as a sport will take our own view at the time.’

The future of the Crucible

With the current contract for the Crucible to host the World Championship only running until 2027, talk of the tournament’s future is as loud as ever.

‘Discussions continue over the World Championships and all I can say is those discussions are extremely healthy and there’s a great deal of good will on all sides,’ said Ferguson of talks with decision-makers in Sheffield.

Asked if there have been offers from elsewhere, he said: ‘Of course! We’ve had offers to move the World Championships many times. But Sheffield is a great city, great atmosphere, great history, that’s what we export all over the world. I’m a big fan of Sheffield and the Crucible. Talks are ongoing and when things are to be announced we’ll be the first to say it. For now, we’re happy with discussions.’