According to its chairman John Higgins, a new independent association for renowned snooker players will give them “a stronger voice” and may “massively” contribute to the development of the game.
The Professional Snooker Players Association (PSPA), which has a four-time world championship, is a director who says it is “championing the sport.”
According to Higgins, “We feel as though we haven’t been as heard as we should have been in recent years.”
“Compared to other top sports, the game has not advanced with the times.
The association also claims that players’ opinions should be taken into account when governing snooker.
In order to advance the sport’s future, it has pledged to work with the sport’s authorities, including the WPBSA, the current WPBSA Players’ Board, and the World Snooker Tour, while protecting player welfare and business interests.
Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson, Stuart Bingham, Jack Lisowski, Stephen Maguire, Mark Allen, Ryan Day, and Joe Perry are members of the PSPA’s players board, according to the organization. Matthew Selt, along with Mark Kenkre and Ben Rees, has been appointed as a director.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, is reportedly a member along with Chinese stars Xiao Guodong and Ding Junhui, according to the association.
Higgins said, “I’ve had a lot of conversations with Ronnie.” He’s very excited about it, so the next step is “full steam ahead.”
Some players feel they do not have enough influence over the World Snooker Tour’s (WST) management, especially on the commercial side, given that so many of the top players are currently playing for the new body.
The talk of a potential breakaway tour dominated the headlines at the Crucible during the 2024 World Championship. Following a request to play in lucrative events in China and North America as part of a potential breakaway circuit, the game’s top players were offered the opportunity.
Professional players must agree to a contract that prohibits them from competing in any outside competitions while WST tournaments are being held, unless they are events that have been sanctioned by the WST, despite recent negotiations for more flexibility.
However, the WST has increased the prize money available for the game and is gearing up to stage the sport’s “fourth major” in Saudi Arabia with a prize pot of more than £2 million. Later this week in Jeddah, the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will take place.
The WPBSA’s own players’ body was established in 2020, and the governing body claims that it has been given the “separate mandate to act in the collective best interest of members in relation to welfare and issues affecting the professional game.”
It states that the WPBSA Players Board “as a platform where member concerns can be raised at the highest levels and as a forum for discussion.”
A new, independent association for leading snooker players will give them “a stronger voice”, according to its chairman John Higgins.
The four-time world champion is a director of the Professional Snooker Players Association (PSPA) which says it is launching to “champion the sport”, along with its leading names.
“We feel as though we’ve not been listened to as we should have been in recent years”, Higgins told BBC Sport.
“The game has not moved forward with the times compared to other top sports.
The association also claims the governance of snooker “should factor in more of the views of the players”.
It has vowed to foster a “collaborative relationship” with the sport’s authorities, including the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the existing WPBSA Players’ Board, and World Snooker Tour “to enhance the sport’s future, while safeguarding player welfare and commercial interests”.
The PSPA says it has established a players board comprising of Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson, Stuart Bingham, Jack Lisowski, Stephen Maguire, Mark Allen, Ryan Day and Joe Perry. Another player – Matthew Selt – has been appointed a director, alongside lawyers Ben Rees and Mark Kenkre.
The association also claims that seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has agreed to become a member, along with Chinese stars Ding Junhui and Xiao Guodong.
“I’ve had lots of discussions with Ronnie” said Higgins. “He’s really excited about it, so it’s full steam ahead.”
The fact so many of the top players are behind the new body suggests some feel they do not have enough say in the running of the World Snooker Tour (WST), particularly the commercial side.
During the 2024 World Championship, the headlines at the Crucible were dominated by talk of a potential breakaway tour. This came after the game’s top players were approached to play in lucrative events in China and North America as part of a potential breakaway circuit.
Professional players sign a contract which does not allow them to compete in any outside events while WST tournaments are being played, unless they are events sanctioned by the WST, although players have recently negotiated more flexibility.
However, the WST has been increasing the amount of prize money in the game, and is preparing to stage the sport’s “fourth major” in Saudi Arabia with a prize pot of more than £2m. The second Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will take place later this week in Jeddah.
The WPBSA’s own players’ body was formed in 2020, and the governing body says it has “a specific mandate to act in the collective best interest of members in relation to welfare and issues affecting the professional game.”
It says that it “acts as a channel for member concerns and provides a platform whereby issues surrounding their wellbeing can be raised at the highest levels by the WPBSA Players Board.”
The Charity Commission has revealed its findings after opening a regulatory compliance case into Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry, which he dramatically quit as patron following a public war of words
Prince Harry was the co-founder of Sentebale (Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Prince Harry and others have been criticised for allowing a “damaging” boardroom battle at a charity he founded to play out in the “public eye”.
The Charity Commission investigated Sentebale after founders Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as its patrons in support of a group of trustees, who resigned following a dispute with board of trustees chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka.
Today, the watchdog criticised all parties in the fallout for allowing it to play out publicly and described how all trustees contributed to a “missed opportunity” to resolve the issues that led to the serious disagreement that risked undermining public trust in charities generally.
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Harry with Sentebale chair Sophie Chandauka (left)(Image: Getty Images for Sentebale)
It added: “The Commission has identified a lack of clarity around role descriptions and internal policies as the primary cause for weaknesses in the charity’s management. It finds that this confusion exacerbated tensions, which culminated in a dispute and multiple resignations of trustees and both founding patrons.
“The regulator has criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly, and further concluded that the then trustees’ failure to resolve disputes internally severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally.”
It also added that it “was not satisfied that public statements made to the media, and public criticism made in television interviews, were conducted in a way that served the charity’s best interests”.
The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity but acknowledged “the strong perception of ill treatment” felt by some involved
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said: “Passion for a cause is the bedrock of volunteering and charity, delivering positive impact for millions of people here at home and abroad every day. However, in the rare cases when things go wrong, it is often because that very passion has become a weakness rather than a strength.
Harry set up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho
“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve.
“This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities’ ability to deliver for their cause. As a result, we have issued the charity a Regulatory Action Plan to make needed improvements and rectify findings of mismanagement.”
A spokesperson for Prince Harry said: “The Charity Commission has today announced its findings. Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale’s Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current chair.”
However, they added: “Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair’s actions will not be borne by her – but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support.
“Sentebale has been a deeply personal and transformative mission for Prince Harry, established to serve some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. For 19 years, its dedicated staff and steadfast supporters have provided vital care to over 100,000 young people across southern Africa, including young people living with HIV/AIDS and those facing mental health challenges.
Harry on a visit to Lesotho in 2014 to see the work of Sentebale (Image: Getty)
“As custodians of this once brilliant charity, Prince Seeiso, Prince Harry, and the former Board of Trustees helped grow Sentebale from the seed of an idea to – like its namesake – a flowering force for good. With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind- and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began -the Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana.”
Dr Sophie Chanduaka added: “I appreciate the Charity Commission for its conclusions which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025. The experience was intense, and it became a test of our strategic clarity and operational resilience.
“We have continued to directly serve children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana with the steadfast support of long-standing funders, strategic partners, and community leaders. Our phenomenal team will directly serve more than 78,000 children and young people this year, matching or exceeding our impact in 2024 at a time of acute need in the region. I thank every dedicated colleague and the courageous new Board members who have stayed focused on the mission in the face of unprecedented media glare.
“The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviours displayed in private. We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact.
Article continues below
“Despite the recent turbulence, we will always be inspired by the vision of our founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who established Sentebale in memory of their precious mothers, Princess Diana and Queen ‘Mamohato. To all who believe in our mission: please walk with us as Sentebale recovers, renews, and rises to meet the hopes and expectations of the next generation.”
The Charity Commission has revealed its findings after opening a regulatory compliance case into Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry, which he dramatically quit as patron following a public war of words
Prince Harry was the co-founder of Sentebale (Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Prince Harry and others have been criticised for allowing a “damaging” boardroom battle at a charity he founded to play out in the “public eye”.
The Charity Commission investigated Sentebale after founders Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as its patrons in support of a group of trustees, who resigned following a dispute with board of trustees chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka.
Today, the watchdog criticised all parties in the fallout for allowing it to play out publicly and described how all trustees contributed to a “missed opportunity” to resolve the issues that led to the serious disagreement that risked undermining public trust in charities generally.
READ MORE: King Charles’ Balmoral Castle forced to close as warning issued in statementREAD MORE: Meghan Markle spotted cheering on Prince Archie as he take up thrill-seeking hobby
Harry with Sentebale chair Sophie Chandauka (left)(Image: Getty Images for Sentebale)
It added: “The Commission has identified a lack of clarity around role descriptions and internal policies as the primary cause for weaknesses in the charity’s management. It finds that this confusion exacerbated tensions, which culminated in a dispute and multiple resignations of trustees and both founding patrons.
“The regulator has criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly, and further concluded that the then trustees’ failure to resolve disputes internally severely impacted the charity’s reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally.”
Article continues below
It also added that it “was not satisfied that public statements made to the media, and public criticism made in television interviews, were conducted in a way that served the charity’s best interests”.
The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity but acknowledged “the strong perception of ill treatment” felt by some involved
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said: “Passion for a cause is the bedrock of volunteering and charity, delivering positive impact for millions of people here at home and abroad every day. However, in the rare cases when things go wrong, it is often because that very passion has become a weakness rather than a strength.
Harry set up Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho
“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve.
“This case highlights what can happen when there are gaps in governance and policies critical to charities’ ability to deliver for their cause. As a result, we have issued the charity a Regulatory Action Plan to make needed improvements and rectify findings of mismanagement.”
A spokesperson for Prince Harry said: “The Charity Commission has today announced its findings. Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebale’s Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current chair.”
However, they added: “Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair’s actions will not be borne by her – but by the children who rely on Sentebale’s support.
“Sentebale has been a deeply personal and transformative mission for Prince Harry, established to serve some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. For 19 years, its dedicated staff and steadfast supporters have provided vital care to over 100,000 young people across southern Africa, including young people living with HIV/AIDS and those facing mental health challenges.
Harry on a visit to Lesotho in 2014 to see the work of Sentebale (Image: Getty)
“As custodians of this once brilliant charity, Prince Seeiso, Prince Harry, and the former Board of Trustees helped grow Sentebale from the seed of an idea to – like its namesake – a flowering force for good. With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind- and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began -the Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana.”
Dr Sophie Chanduaka added: “I appreciate the Charity Commission for its conclusions which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025. The experience was intense, and it became a test of our strategic clarity and operational resilience.
“We have continued to directly serve children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana with the steadfast support of long-standing funders, strategic partners, and community leaders. Our phenomenal team will directly serve more than 78,000 children and young people this year, matching or exceeding our impact in 2024 at a time of acute need in the region. I thank every dedicated colleague and the courageous new Board members who have stayed focused on the mission in the face of unprecedented media glare.
“The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviours displayed in private. We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact.
Article continues below
“Despite the recent turbulence, we will always be inspired by the vision of our founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso, who established Sentebale in memory of their precious mothers, Princess Diana and Queen ‘Mamohato. To all who believe in our mission: please walk with us as Sentebale recovers, renews, and rises to meet the hopes and expectations of the next generation.”
After it was revealed Brooklyn no longer follows him and his brother Cruz on social media, Romeo Beckham added a new tattoo to his extensive ink collection.
Romeo Beckham shares cryptic tattoo amid family feud with brother Brooklyn(Image: Instagram/finelineheartsclub/jesuslovestatts)
Romeo Beckham showed off his brand-new tattoo on Tuesday, adding to his already extensive ink collection. Just like his father and brothers, the 22-year-old is covered in endless tattoos and his latest one is a short phrase that some have taken as a dig at his brother, Brooklyn Beckham.
The Beckham family have been embroiled in a massive feud in recent months. The family feud appeared to gather pace when Brooklyn failed to attend his father’s 50th birthday party in May, which, according to reports, left David heartbroken. It also emerged that neither Nicola Peltz nor Brooklyn was following his brother’s Instagram accounts.
But according to the publication, sources revealed that it was in fact Cruz and Romeo who have blocked Brooklyn. It comes after Cruz Beckham ‘steals’ his dad’s tiny white trunks and family have epic response.
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Romeo showed off his new tattoo(Image: Instagram/finelineheartsclub/jesuslovestatts)
Romeo’s new tattoo appears to have taken a dig at Brooklyn, too. The actor posted the phrase “C’est La Vie” on his social media account along with the tattoo of the phrase on top of his shoulder.
Romeo responded furiously to Brooklyn’s apparent discontinuation of his and Cruz’s social media accounts several weeks ago.
It comes after Brooklyn and his brothers stopped following each other on social media(Image: Getty Images)
Romeo shared a screenshot of his Spotify that showed he was listening to a song from Justin Bieber’s newest surprise album, Swag, called Walking Away.
Along with the screenshot, he wrote: “Yup” in a one word response to his brother’s latest brutal move. He has also returned the favour by unfollowing Brooklyn on Instagram, too. Romeo also does not follow Brooklyn’s wife, Nicola, on Instagram.
The feuding siblings’ brother Cruz, 20, also doesn’t follow Brooklyn on Instagram.
Meanwhile, those close to Brooklyn told The Sun last month that Brooklyn and Nicola did not unfollow the brothers and had “no idea” about it until he read about it online. “It’s possible Romeo and Cruz blocked them, which would make it appear as him no longer following the brothers,” they said.
They are as perplexed as anyone else because he and Nicola certainly didn’t unfollow or block them. When it was first reported on, they were the first to know about it.
It’s unclear whether a heated argument between himself and his brothers may have taken place in the background because hot sauce entrepreneur Brooklyn still follows his well-known mother and father.
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Gregg Wallace, the former MasterChef judge, has spoken about the events that followed his departure from the BBC show and how he chose to keep the public eye despite the scandal.
Former MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace has opened up about his decision to remain in the public eye following his departure from the show. The presenter spoke about the aftermath of the scandal in a video message this week.
Last month, it was reported that Gregg, 60, had been fired from the BBC show after an investigation upheld 45 out of 83 allegations of inappropriate behaviour. He had previously said that the review exonerated him of “all the serious allegations” but he apologised for “inappropriate” humour and language.
Gregg hasn’t shied away from being in the spotlight since his departure, with him promoting other ventures on social media lately. It comes after John Torode’s businesses collapsed after racking up eye-watering debts.
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Gregg Wallace spoke about deciding to remain in the public eye in video message shared on social media earlier today(Image: Instagram/greggawallace)
Gregg, who lost five stone in his fifties, has been promoting his health and fitness coaching recently. He’s offering one-to-coaching for £200 a month, as well as a running a Healthy Fifty plan for men over the age of 50 that aims to help members “feel better and look fitter” for £11.99 per month.
He has since spoken about his decision to remain in the public eye. Gregg discussed his career in a video message that was uploaded to Instagram today, with him saying that he’s “had to stay public” if he wants to “earn a living”.
In the video shared this morning, Gregg stated, “Social media can be really cruel, angry, and rude, but we all know this!” People who have never read the investigation’s report and believe I am guilty of various things that are false are attacking me.
He continued, “I was diagnosed with autism in January at the age of 60.” People constantly criticize me for believing I’m making up. I’ve worked hard and qualified myself as a PT during this time. And I’m attacked because I believe it to be untrue.
Every day is just a battle against people who, I don’t know, just want to attack you, Gregg continued in the message. However, there are also a lot of people who send kind and supportive messages.
He said, “And I could have hidden away, and I shouldn’t have shied away from the spotlight.” I was not required to join this site. However, I still want to make money, so I made the decision with my family that I had to remain anonymous.
Gregg concluded the video by saying, “Just take the impact before you say something cruel, and thank you to all the people who are kind and for those who aren’t.” Before acting infuriated. Also, if you’re not careful, do a little bit of research before acting outraged over something that isn’t true. But thank you to everyone else.
The presenter has been promoting his health and fitness coaching since his departure from MasterChef was announced(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Gregg left the show last year while Banijay UK, a production company, reviewed complaints of historical misconduct. He claimed, “It is entirely false that he engages in sexual harassment harassment,” as the time reported via a lawyer.
Then, last month, the BBC said it has “no plans” to work with him in the future” following the review into allegations about him. It said: “The investigation details a substantial number of allegations of inappropriate conduct spanning 19 years.”
The Silkin’s Report had already been addressed by Gregg. He claimed in advance that it “exonerates” him of” all the serious allegations that made headlines last year and that “him] were primarily guilty of inappropriate language between 2005 and 2018.”
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He stated in a statement from last month that he acknowledged that some of my humor and language were inappropriate at times. I sincerely apologize for that. But I’m not the caricature being sold for clicks.
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