Stephen Lee recently discussed the possibility of making a comeback to the World Snooker Tour after serving a 12-year ban for match-fixing imposed by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). The ban, initiated in 2013 and officially ending now, stemmed from Lee’s involvement in manipulating various matches, including one at the World Championship.
Although now eligible to participate in WPBSA-sanctioned events like Q-School to regain entry to the main World Snooker Tour (WST), the 51-year-old expressed little interest in returning to the top echelon. In a rare interview, Lee, now residing in Thailand, pointed out the lack of support from the WPBSA as a major factor influencing his decision.
Lee stated, “While I continue to enjoy playing snooker at a lower level, I have no plans to pursue a comeback after such a prolonged absence. I am not inclined to invest time in the Q School process or to collaborate with the WPBSA again, as they have not been supportive of players.”
Furthermore, Lee revealed personal reasons for staying away from professional snooker, citing his late wife’s disapproval of his return to the sport. He emphasized his disinterest in rejoining the World Snooker Tour, opting to explore other endeavors instead.
Should Lee reconsider a return, he would need to settle outstanding financial obligations with the WPBSA amounting to £125,000 related to legal matters and unsuccessful appeals before being permitted to compete again.
Before his ban, Lee achieved a career-high fifth ranking globally, notably reaching the semi-final of the World Championship and the final of the Masters in 2008. However, his career took a downward spiral following a tribunal’s findings of deliberate match-fixing against various opponents.
While Lee’s misconduct led to severe repercussions, including the WPBSA’s stringent actions against match-fixing, subsequent scandals involving Chinese players in 2023 resulted in even harsher penalties, including lifetime bans for individuals like Liang Wenbo and Li Hang.