Rumours began to circulate on social media on Thursday with the name Michael White appearing as an ongoing case at Swamsea Crown Court.
The former top 16 player’s profile page on the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association website had also been swiftly removed.
The WPBSA officially made a statement on Friday morning on the serious matter.
“On 11th July 2024, Michael White was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm on his then partner,” the statement read.
“The WPBSA has taken immediate action to remove Michael White as a Member of the WPBSA because such behavior by a Member is not acceptable.”
Following his sentencing, the WPBSA called an urgent board meeting after keeping an eye on the matter.
“A resolution was voted to immediately terminate Michael White’s WPBSA membership.
Michael White will thus no longer be allowed to compete on the global Snooker Tour or the global ranking list.
“Within 21 days of the Board’s decision, Michael White is entitled to file an appeal.”
According to South Wales Police, White was found guilty of several crimes of domestic violence that occurred over a longer period of time and resulted in injuries to his victim.
Welshman When he first entered the professional ranks in 2007, Michael White was considered a teenage prodigy and a potential star by many.
He had previously won the European Under-19 Championship the following year and the IBSF World Grand Prix in 2006, among other notable amateur competitions, by that time.
Although White’s success on the main tour was slower than anticipated, he became well-known in the middle of the 2010s and peaked at number 15 in the global rankings.
White won his first ranking championship in 2015 after defeating Ricky Walden 5-0 at the Indian Open.
In addition to winning the Snooker Shoot Out when it was once an invitation-only competition, he also won the Paul Hunter Classic two years later.
After a dismal run of results in 2020, White was demoted from the World Snooker Tour. He attributed his downfall to struggles with alcohol and melancholy.
In 2022, he recovered to resume his professional career and rose back to the top 64 worldwide rankings.
But it seems like a career in snooker that held so much promise will end in shame.
