Ronnie O’Sullivan swerved the threat of a fine for playing in his socks as donning a pair of “stinky old shoes” proved punishment enough at the Crucible.

Stephen Lee has insisted he is innocent of match-fixing and said he will appeal against his 12-year ban.

Snooker’s leaders insist that Stephen Lee has been handed an effective lifetime ban after he was given a record 12-year suspension for seven charges of match-fixing.

Stephen Lee has been banned for 12 years after being found guilty of seven match-fixing charges, World Snooker has confirmed.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association have been made aware of unusual betting patterns around a match due to be played between Joe Jogia and Matthew Selt on Saturday.