Former world champion Stuart Bingham has been banned from snooker after he breached the sport’s betting rules.

Stuart Bingham. Picture by Monique Limbos

The 2015 Crucible champion will not feature in any of World Snooker’s events until January next year after it was found he had made numerous bets on snooker matches totalling more than £35,000 including some of his own matches which is against World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) rules.

There is no suggestion that Bingham’s bets impacted on either his performance or the result of any match. However, it was found he made bets from accounts in his own name and in his manager’s name in recent years.

After being found guilty, the world number 10 was ordered pay £20,000 in costs and received a six month ban with three months and a day of that term being suspended.

This means Bingham will miss out on the International Championship, Champion of Champions, Shanghai Masters, Northern Ireland Open, Scottish Open but more importantly two of the biggest tournaments on the snooker calendar – the UK Championship and The Masters.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “It is very disappointing to see such a high profile player fall foul of the WPBSA Betting Rules. Stuart is a great competitor and I have no doubt he has always played to the best of his ability.

“This case shows that there are no exceptions to the rules. Players must understand that they cannot bet on snooker at all, even if they are not involved in a match or event.

“Any player found to breach of the betting rules will face the most serious of consequences.”

The WPBSA rules state it is against the rules to place, accept, lay or otherwise make a Bet with any other person in relation to the result, score, progress, conduct or any other aspect of the Tour and/or any Tournament or Match in events sanctioned by the WPBSA, WSL or WBL.