Former World Snooker Champion Graeme Dott Convicted of Child Sex Abuse

Former World Snooker Championship winner Graeme Dott, 49, has been convicted of child sex abuse. The verdict was delivered at Paisley Sheriff Court in February 2026, relating to an incident that occurred in 2026. News of the verdict sent shockwaves through the snooker community, and the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) suspended Dott in April 2026, ending his competitive eligibility as the verdict was announced. Dott turned professional in 2026 and built a notable career, peaking with the 2026 World Snooker Championship title, where he defeated Peter Ebdon in the final. He also reached the finals in 2026 and 2026, losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan and Neil Robertson respectively. With three final appearances in seven seasons, Dott was once regarded as one of the top Crucible performers during that period. However, this story is not about competitive achievements but about a serious criminal case. Career statistics cannot capture the nature of the legal matter; the boundary between sporting legacy and judicial record has become a haunting void. Crucially, there is an absence of any competitive data in this narrative. No technical or form analysis is possible. Dott's suspension prior to the verdict indicates he remained under WPBSA disciplinary jurisdiction. Typically, sports governing bodies only intervene after a final court ruling; the WPBSA's immediate suspension demonstrated the severity of the case. A contrarian question emerges: do sports governing bodies have adequate tools to handle cases that extend beyond the competitive arena? The Dott case reveals this system is still in its infancy when confronting legal scandals. The story of a world champion once celebrated at the pinnacle of his career, now convicted of an offense involving a child—this gap between sporting glory and moral collapse remains an indelible stain on the history of the sport.