Stephen Lee has expressed his thoughts on the possibility of making a comeback to the World Snooker Tour after serving a ban for match-fixing. The former star was handed a 12-year suspension in 2014, which was retroactively applied to 2013 when the initial ban began, following an investigation by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
Having completed his ban, Lee is now eligible to participate in WPBSA-sanctioned events like Q-School to potentially rejoin the main World Snooker Tour (WST). However, in a recent interview, the 51-year-old stated that he has no intentions of returning to the top-tier level, citing the lack of support he received from the WPBSA.
Lee, now residing in Thailand, mentioned to The Hindu, “I still enjoy playing snooker at a certain level, but I have no plans to return after 12 years. I am not willing to dedicate time to competing in Q School or working with the WPBSA as they did not assist me in the past.”
He also revealed personal challenges, including the loss of his wife two years ago, who did not want him to resume professional snooker. Lee emphasized his disinterest in the World Snooker Tour and expressed his intention to explore other pursuits instead.
If Lee does decide to re-enter the snooker scene, he would need to resolve a £125,000 financial obligation with the WPBSA related to legal matters and unsuccessful appeals before being allowed to compete again. The WPBSA mentioned that a satisfactory agreement concerning the settlement of costs would be necessary for Lee’s return to the game.
Prior to his ban, Lee achieved a ranking as high as fifth globally and reached notable milestones in competitions such as the World Championship and the Masters. However, his career took a downward turn after a tribunal found him guilty of fixing matches against various opponents.
The WPBSA enforced a strict penalty on Lee, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards match-fixing in the sport. Despite the severity of Lee’s suspension, future scandals in the snooker world, such as the Chinese match-fixing incident resulting in lifetime bans for certain players, have also made headlines in recent years.