Mark King (snooker player)

Mark King
King at the 2016 Paul Hunter Classic
Born (1974-03-28) 28 March 1974 (age 50)
Romford, Greater London, England
Sport country England
NicknameKojak[1]
Professional1991–2024
Highest ranking11 (2002/03)
Century breaks156 (as of 3 July 2024)
Tournament wins
Ranking1

Mark King (born 28 March 1974) is an English former professional snooker player.

Having turned professional in 1991, King was ranked within the world's top 32 players between 1996 and 2015, and won his first ranking event title in 2016, defeating Barry Hawkins 9–8 in the final of the Northern Ireland Open. He has also appeared in two other ranking tournament finals: the 1997 Welsh Open, where he lost 2–9 to Stephen Hendry;[2] and the 2004 Irish Masters,[3] where Peter Ebdon defeated him 10–7.

King has reached the last 16 of the World Championship seven times, in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2013, but has never progressed beyond this stage.[4]

In March 2023, King was suspended "from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour [following] initial investigation of irregular betting patterns reported to the WPBSA on the match between Mark King and Joe Perry at the Welsh Open on 13th February 2023."[5] According to press reports, "The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought."[5][6]

  1. ^ "Mark King". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ "WWW Snooker – Regal Welsh 1997". 1997. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2008.
  3. ^ "2005 Irish Masters Preview". snookerclub. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Mark King Player Profile". Snooker Database. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Mark King suspended from World Snooker Tour amid betting investigation". The Guardian. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Mark King suspended from World Snooker Tour during betting investigation". BBC Sport. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.