August 16th 2024.
Jason Ferguson holds the prestigious position of chairman at the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, and as the new season kicks off with the Xi'an Grand Prix, he is here to give us the latest updates on off-table matters. From suspended players to the possibility of snooker being included in the 2032 Olympics, Ferguson, a former player himself, shares his insights into the current state of the sport.
Let's start with the issue of suspended players, particularly Mark King, a former top 16 player and ranking event winner. King has been serving a suspension since March 2023 due to an investigation into irregular betting patterns during a match between him and Joe Perry at the Welsh Open in February of that year. According to Ferguson, King's hearing in front of an independent tribunal has already taken place in May, but a verdict is still pending. He explains, "We can't make any comments until the final outcome is determined by the independent sports tribunal. As much as we all want to see a resolution, we must respect the process and refrain from making any statements until it is complete."
It is no secret that King has been out of action for quite some time, and the same goes for Zhao Xintong, a former UK champion who is currently banned from the sport due to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport two seasons ago. However, his ban is set to end in September this year, and Ferguson expects him to make a comeback in the 2025-26 season. "We anticipate that he will try to reclaim his professional status," Ferguson states. "He will have to go through the qualification process and fulfill any necessary requirements, but he is young and talented enough to make a comeback. We also acknowledge that he was not the main perpetrator in the scandal and believe in giving second chances."
While Zhao's ban will be lifted soon, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association has imposed a longer ban on him until July 2025. Ferguson clarifies that the WPBSA recognizes the ban set by the independent tribunal, but they also have their own process in place. He says, "Our view is that at the end of our ban, Zhao will have the opportunity to attempt to qualify back to the tour. However, he must also fulfill any other obligations, such as paying any outstanding fines. We believe that he is still passionate about the sport and has been practicing during his time away."
Another former player, Michael White, has also made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He was sentenced to three years in jail in July for assaulting his partner, and the WPBSA's understanding of the case was limited until the court proceedings were completed. "We could not take immediate action until we were aware of all the facts," Ferguson explains. "As soon as we had the necessary information, we swiftly removed him from the tour. We reserve the right to suspend players during ongoing situations, but we must have all the facts before taking any action."
With regards to White's future in the sport, Ferguson says, "At this point, he has been completely removed from the tour. We understand that there is a right to rehabilitate in the criminal justice system, but ultimately, we will make our own decision as a sport."
Moving on to a more positive topic, the future of the iconic Crucible Theatre, the host of the World Championship since 1977, is still up in the air. The current contract runs until 2027, and discussions are ongoing with decision-makers in Sheffield. "We are in healthy discussions, and there is a great deal of good will on all sides," Ferguson reveals. "Of course, we have received offers from other venues, but we believe that the Crucible and Sheffield are a perfect match. It is a city with great history and atmosphere, and it is what we want to showcase to the world. Talks are progressing well, and we will be the first to make any announcements when the time comes."
Finally, the topic of snooker's inclusion in the Olympics has been a hotly debated one for many years. While cue sports will not be a part of the 2028 Olympics in LA, there is still a possibility for snooker to be included in the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Ferguson says, "We need to make some moves in the next year because the bid process takes a long time. The only thing holding us back is the politics within the internationally recognized federation. We have walked away from it in the past due to concerns about our reputation. However, we would love the opportunity to lead a bid for the 2032 Olympics. The size and popularity of snooker make us a strong candidate. We would support a bid for snooker alone or as part of a multi cuesports bid. The issue is the politics within the World Confederation of Billiard Sports, with too many factions and different formats vying for inclusion. But we are hopeful that things will change, and we will be able to move forward with a strong bid."
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