MICHAEL WHITE has been booted off the World Snooker Tour after being sent to prison for attacking an ex-partner.
The Welshman, 33, has been sentenced to a total of 36 months imprisonment by Swansea Crown Court for assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm on his then girlfriend.
Judge Catherine Richards sentenced White to consecutive sentences of 17 months and 19 months in prison on two counts of assault and ordered him to pay a £190 victim surcharge.
A third assault charge was left to lie on the file, said the court.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the sport’s governing body, “had been monitoring the case and upon his sentence convened an emergency board meeting”.
White – who played in last month’s season–opening Championship League in Leicester – has now been removed from the world ranking with immediate effect.
And he is no longer a member of the WPBSA, who say they “do not tolerate such behaviour”.
The World Snooker Tour declined to comment when approached by SunSport.
Nicknamed Lightning due to his fast playing style, White has the right to appeal the decision of the Board within 21 days.
The Neath cueist has won two ranking titles – the 2015 Indian Open in Mumbai and 2017 Paul Hunter Classic – and is a former top-16 player.
As a junior, he had prodigious talent, becoming the youngest person to make a century break in competitive play aged nine and won the World Amateur Championship at 14.
In 2013, he reached the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible on his debut where he was defeated 13-6 by Ricky Walden.
Though he could potentially resume his career after his jail term is over, he would have to go through Qualifying School.
