Snooker

Stephen Lee, a former World no.5, has served his 12 year ban. Lee was banned for deliberately losing certain frames and matches, without his opponents knowing, as part of a betting scam. Lee was a semi finalist in the 2003 World Championship, losing to Mark Williams, and the runner up of the 2008 Masters, losing the final to Mark Selby. Before he was suspended he won the 2012 Players Championship.

Lee owes the WPBSA £125,000 for the legal fees they incurred during the proceedings, and he won't be permitted to regain his professional status until it is paid.

If he hasn't saved it up over 12 years, presumably he's not coming back.

This season's World Grand Prix has been switched from Leicester to Hong Kong so it can be played at the new, state of the art facility, the Kai Tak Sports Park. The Grand Prix, which is usually the tournament following the Masters in January will now be played in March 2025.

The whole of the Players series will commence in March 2025 this season, with the Tour Championship finishing in April, and is the tournament before the World Championship.
Revised dates:
March 4-9: The World Grand Prix
March 17-23: The Players Championship
March 31 to April 6: The Tour Championship
If the format for the Players Series remains the same, then any player not in the top 32 of the one year ranking list by March will miss out, and have to start their preparation for the World Championship early. Not that it bothered Kyren Wilson or Jak Jones much last season.

The Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong has a capacity of 4,000, and is a strong contender for hosting the World Championship after The Crucible's contract expires.