Stephen Lee’s name is back on everyone’s lips as his 12-year ban for match-fixing has officially ended.

The disgraced former snooker star, world number five, was banned from the sport in 2013 following suspect betting on several of his matches.

3

This related to a match he lost in 2012 and, as part of further investigation, charges were brought relating to seven other matches between 2008 and 2009.

The 50-year-old’s ban officially expired on October 12, meaning he can now compete, although there are reports that he still owes £125,000 in legal costs and unsuccessful appeals that would prevent a back.

Match-fixing is a phenomenon that has plagued snooker for several years, with two Chinese players banned for life last year.

Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed in 2013 that he had “heard” of more and more players organizing matches.

Writing on

This post is still visible on his account more than 10 years later.

Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn immediately asked O’Sullivan to explain himself and name names if he had any information.

He said at the time: “If he has names and if he knows about incidents, he has an obligation and a duty to report them, and if he doesn’t, he will be in breach of contract with his player.

“World Snooker will write to Ronnie to tell him that under his player contract it is his responsibility to report any incident of which he becomes aware and that failure to do so would expose him to a charge of discredit on the game.

“There is no point in making vague announcements, if he knows something he has a responsibility to be specific and World Snooker will write to him on that basis.

3

“I don’t know what’s behind his tweets. Sometimes there’s nothing behind it and sometimes there is.

“It’s up to him to tell us. Either he has to say ‘actually, I don’t know anything’, or if he knows something, he has the responsibility to tell us and if he doesn’t tell us , he could be brought into disrepute.”

O’Sullivan later added: “I guess Steve Lee was just surprised.

“No need to worry if you have nothing to hide. But a lot of people have a lot to hide. That’s why there is no freedom of speech. They hide.

“They’ll probably fine me for talking about it. They don’t like it when you do that. They like to keep things under the rug.”

3

In separate comments, he walked back his comments.

“I would like to clarify the comments I made on Twitter on September 17 as they were an instant reaction to an issue close to my heart, namely the integrity of my sport,” O’Sullivan said.

“The news regarding the Stephen Lee match-fixing affair was eye-opening for all players on the tour and sends a clear message to all potential cheaters.

“I fully support this decision and commend the WPBSA (the sport’s governing body) for taking positive action in this matter.”

He added: “If I were aware of match-fixing, I understand it would be up to me to report any concerns to the Association.

“I have no intention of harming the integrity of the sport I love and enjoy participating in so much and I firmly believe my tweets were taken out of context.”

It remains to be seen if Lee will ever make a return to the sport.

Speaking in 2022, he was non-committal about any future participation.

He said: “I have to be asked this every week, every day, thoroughly. I’d like to say no… but I’m still capable of playing. Let’s see what happens in two years. It’s not a no, nor a yes.

“We can only see what happens in a few years. I have exciting things coming up and I’m getting older too.

“My eyes are getting worse and I never had good eyes to begin with. As you get older, the determination and fire disappears.”