Snooker player fined £2,500 for challenging opponent to fight

Callum Boyle

He also accused opponent of cheating

A snooker player has been fined £2,500 after he accused his opponent of cheating before challenging him to a fight last month.

Peter Lines was beaten by Xiao Guodong in a qualifier for the 2021 Northern Ireland Open and was angered by an incident which occurred during his defeat.

Guodong also claimed he was worried that he was “going to be attacked” by Lines, as reported by the BBC.

A statement from the snooker governing body, who Lines is also a director of, said: “After a complaint made to the WPBSA by WST and another Member, Peter Lines was charged with breaches of the WPBSA Members Rules following his match with Xiao Guodong at the 2021 Northern Ireland Open Qualifiers.

“The allegation was that Mr Lines took issue with Mr Xiao over incidents in this match. After the match Mr Lines confronted Mr Xiao in the Players Lounge at the venue and accused him of cheating and swore at him.

“As Mr Lines was removed from the lounge by security, he asked Mr Xiao to go outside with him. Mr Xiao said he was in fear that he was going to be attacked by Mr Lines.”

Peter Lines has been fined £2,500 (almost €3,000) after accusing Xiao Guodong of cheating and challenging him to a fight after a qualifier for the 2021 Northern Ireland Open. https://t.co/JJHSFJkDNA #RTEsport

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) January 14, 2022

The statement continued to add that Lines had later apologised to Guodong where he accepted his punishment via a virtual hearing which took place back in December.

It added: “Soon after the incident Mr Lines apologised to Mr Xiao for his conduct after the match.

“The case was heard on 16^th December 2021 by the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee, which consists of three members who are independent from the WPBSA. The virtual hearing was attended by Mr Lines who accepted the facts in part.

“On 13^th January 2022 the Disciplinary Committee published its finding and decision on sanction. The Committee found that the breaches of WPBSA Members Rules 1.1 and 1.3 were proven in full. In making their decision on sanction the Committee took into account the early apology made by Mr Lines to Mr Xiao and Mr Lines’ unblemished career in snooker.

“Following the disciplinary hearing, the Committee decided that the appropriate sanction was a fine of £2,500.”

Related links: