Snooker World Rocked: Ex-Champion Graeme Dott to Face Trial Over Shocking Child Abuse Allegations
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott is set to face trial next year over serious allegations of child sexual abuse. The 48-year-old, who won the World Championship in 2006, has been indefinitely suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) since April 2025, following revelations that he is involved in a criminal case due to be heard before the High Court in Scotland.
Dott has pleaded not guilty to two charges involving lewd and indecent conduct towards a young girl and a young boy between 1993 and 2010. According to court documents, he is accused of making inappropriate sexual comments, exposing himself, and sexually molesting the children on multiple occasions in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire.
His initial court appearance took place in April 2025, although he did not attend the most recent hearing. He remains free on bail, but the specific conditions have not been disclosed. The trial is scheduled to commence on August 17, 2026, and is expected to extend well beyond the current snooker season, likely costing him his place on the professional circuit regardless of the outcome.
Dott, known as the “Pocket Dynamo,” turned professional in 1994 and has been a prominent figure in the sport for over 30 years. Despite reaching nine ranking event finals, he only captured two titles, with his most recent final appearance at the 2020 World Grand Prix, where he lost to Neil Robertson.
With the trial looming and the charges casting a long shadow over his legacy, Dott’s future in snooker appears bleak. Until the case reaches its conclusion, he remains barred from competing on the World Snooker Tour.
