Stephen Lee has expressed his thoughts on a possible comeback to the World Snooker Tour after being banned for match-fixing. In 2014, he was handed a 12-year suspension, starting from 2013, due to his involvement in fixing games, including one at the World Championship, as determined by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
Having served his ban, Lee is now eligible to participate in WPBSA-sanctioned events like Q-School to potentially rejoin the main World Snooker Tour (WST). Despite this opportunity, the 51-year-old stated in a recent interview that he has no intentions of returning to the top level, citing the lack of support he feels he received from the WPBSA.
Currently residing in Thailand, Lee mentioned to The Hindu that while he still enjoys playing snooker at a certain level, he has no desire to pursue a professional comeback after such a long ban period. He expressed disinterest in engaging with the WPBSA again, emphasizing that the association did not provide adequate assistance to players, a sentiment strengthened by personal struggles, including the loss of his wife.
Should Lee decide to reenter the snooker scene, he would need to settle a £125,000 financial obligation with the WPBSA stemming from legal disputes and unsuccessful appeals. The WPBSA clarified that Lee must address these costs before being allowed to compete.
Prior to his ban, Lee achieved a ranking as high as fifth globally in snooker. However, his career took a downturn following findings that he deliberately lost matches against various opponents, leading to his suspension. The WPBSA, in response to his misconduct, emphasized a strict stance against match-fixing, showcasing a no-tolerance policy.
Notably, Lee’s ban was considered one of the harshest penalties in snooker history until a Chinese match-fixing scandal in 2023 resulted in lifetime bans for players like Liang Wenbo and Li Hang. This incident, along with bans imposed on other players, including Zhao Xintong, highlighted the sport’s commitment to combating corruption within its ranks.