Disgraced snooker star banks five-figure prize after returning to sport - The Mirror

Stephen Lee has made his feelings clear after returning to the sport following a 12-year ban for match-fixing

Stephen Lee has pocketed a five-figure sum after triumphing in a prestigious amateur snooker tournament in the United States. The former world number five was slapped with a 12-year suspension in 2014 - backdated to 2013 when his initial ban began - after being found guilty of match-fixing multiple match, including one at the World Championship.

Lee has now served his punishment, meaning he can compete in WPBSA-sanctioned events, like Q-School, which he would need to navigate to return to the main World Snooker Tour (WST). However, the 51-year-old has no plans of returning to the sport's elite level.

He has shifted his focus to amateur competition instead, recently taking part in the Embassy Snooker Open in California, where he claimed the $10,000 (£7,500) top prize.

"It's a long few days," he said of the tournament, which involved a group stage. "I've not competed for a while and I was worried about lots of group games and matches and I always want to play well, but the well bit didn't happen.

"I played OK in patches but it does take it out of you. I'm pleased, really pleased, my fighting spirit's still there but I must have had almost 30 or 40 frames and no century.

"It's been tough, everyone's very competitive here and I felt that. I'm over the moon to come and win a few matches, just a bit gutted not to get a century. It's nice to come and compete, brings back some nice memories."

While his game looked in good order, Lee, who is just a year older than snooker legends John Higgins and Mark Williams, has dismissed any chance of a return to professional snooker.

Now living in Thailand, he recently told The Hindu: "I'm still able to enjoy playing snooker at a certain level but I'm not silly enough to think I'm going back after 12 years.

"Twelve years is too long. I'm not prepared to waste any time battling it out in Q-School. And working again for WPBSA does not appeal to me one bit."

He added: "I lost my wife two years ago. She never wanted me to go back and play professional snooker. I've got zero interest in the World Snooker Tour, I'm going to do other things."

If Lee did decide to make a comeback, he would first have to settle a £125,000 bill with the WPBSA related to court cases and unsuccessful appeals.

The sport's governing body told SnookerHQ: “Stephen Lee would need to reach a satisfactory agreement with the WPBSA over settlement of his costs before he could play.”

Before his ban, Lee reached a World Championship semi-final and the final of the Masters in 2008, losing to Mark Selby.