# Graeme Dott
**Graeme Dott** (born 1977) is a Scottish former professional snooker player and coach from Larkhall who won the 2006 [World Snooker Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-snooker-championship) and was later convicted of sexually abusing two children.[1](https://snookerdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Graeme_Dott) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/f910c5459ddf11506f40b990affe9ae3) He turned professional in 1994, spent more than three decades on the tour, reached No. 2 in the world rankings, and appeared in three Crucible finals.[3](https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=52) • [4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) His career ended with a seven-year prison sentence in September 2026, the permanent revocation of his WPBSA membership, and removal from the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame.[2](https://apnews.com/article/f910c5459ddf11506f40b990affe9ae3) • [5](https://www.wpbsa.com/wpbsa-statement-graeme-dott-2/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1977, Larkhall, Scotland[1](https://snookerdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Graeme_Dott) |
| Professional career | 1994 to 2025 (last season as a professional)[3](https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=52) |
| World Championship | Winner 2006 (beat Peter Ebdon 18-14); runner-up 2004 and 2010[2](https://apnews.com/article/f910c5459ddf11506f40b990affe9ae3) • [4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) |
| Ranking titles | 2, including the 2006 World Championship and the 2007 China Open[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) |
| Highest world ranking | No. 2, at the end of the 2006/07 season[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) |
| Maximum breaks | 2 career 147s[3](https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=52) |
| Conviction | 24 August 2026, High Court in Glasgow; seven-year sentence on 29 September 2026[6](https://apnews.com/article/6b05f5d43bbdd864f55a33cb2c778c7a) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/f910c5459ddf11506f40b990affe9ae3) |
## Early career and the 2006 world title
Dott turned professional in 1994 and built a reputation as one of the most determined competitors on the tour.[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) Dott first made his mark as a leading player at the 2004 World Snooker Championship, advancing all the way to the final at the [Crucible Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/crucible-theatre) in [Sheffield](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheffield), where he lost to take second place.[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/)
Two years later he returned to Sheffield and won the title. He defeated [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://www.edgepedia.org/ronnie-osullivan) in the semi-finals before beating [Peter Ebdon](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-ebdon) 18-14 in the final to become world champion.[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) It was the only world title of his career.[7](https://bbc.com.im/news/articles/ckgwj66dk7do)
## Later career
Just before his title defense, Dott added a second ranking trophy by beating Jamie Cope in the final of the China Open, and he ended the 2006/07 season ranked No. 2 in the world.[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) A second source, the Snookerdatabase Wiki, instead lists the 2008 Malta Cup as his other ranking title; the two accounts disagree on which event it was.[1](https://snookerdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Graeme_Dott)
Dott reached a third World Championship final in 2010, finishing runner-up to [Neil Robertson](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-robertson).[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) He also compiled two maximum 147 breaks and made 11 Masters appearances, though he never won the [UK Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/uk-championship) or the Masters.[3](https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=52) • [4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) He spoke openly about his struggles with depression, which contributed to periods of inconsistency, and in 2011 published his autobiography, *Frame of Mind: The Autobiography of the World Snooker Champion*.[4](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/) • [1](https://snookerdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Graeme_Dott) He also worked as a snooker coach.[1](https://snookerdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Graeme_Dott)
## Conviction and removal from the sport
Dott was suspended from all professional snooker activities by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) on 9 April 2025, immediately after the association became aware of legal proceedings, and he was ranked No. 56 in the world at the time.[5](https://www.wpbsa.com/wpbsa-statement-graeme-dott-2/) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/6b05f5d43bbdd864f55a33cb2c778c7a)
On 24 August 2026, after a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow, a jury found Dott, then 49, guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behavior toward two primary school children: a girl abused from 1993 to 1996 and a boy abused from 2006 to 2010. He had denied the charges, and the judge ordered him held in custody ahead of sentencing.[6](https://apnews.com/article/6b05f5d43bbdd864f55a33cb2c778c7a)
On 29 September 2026 he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh, where judge Lord Harrower imposed a backdated sentence of seven years, telling Dott he had robbed the complainers of a significant part of their childhood and describing his behavior as a gross violation of trust. Dott's name was added to the sex offenders register.[2](https://apnews.com/article/f910c5459ddf11506f40b990affe9ae3)
The WPBSA permanently revoked his membership with immediate effect following the conviction, and World Snooker Tour removed him from its Hall of Fame.[5](https://www.wpbsa.com/wpbsa-statement-graeme-dott-2/) • [8](https://www.wst.tv/news/2026/august/25/wst-statement---graeme-dott/) Snooker records now list his status as amateur, with 2025 as his last season as a professional.[3](https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=52)
## References
1. [Graeme Dott, Snookerdatabase Wiki](https://snookerdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Graeme_Dott)
2. [Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott jailed for 7 years for sexually abusing children, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/f910c5459ddf11506f40b990affe9ae3)
3. [Graeme Dott, Players, snooker.org](https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=52)
4. [Graeme Dott, Player Profile, SnookerHQ.com](https://snookerhq.com/player-profiles/graeme-dott/)
5. [WPBSA Statement, Graeme Dott](https://www.wpbsa.com/wpbsa-statement-graeme-dott-2/)
6. [Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott convicted of sexually abusing children, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/6b05f5d43bbdd864f55a33cb2c778c7a)
7. [Graeme Dott removed from World Snooker's Hall of Fame, BBC](https://bbc.com.im/news/articles/ckgwj66dk7do)
8. [WST Statement, Graeme Dott, World Snooker Tour](https://www.wst.tv/news/2026/august/25/wst-statement---graeme-dott/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Other individual sports and outdoor recreation › Cue sports (billiards, snooker, darts) › Snooker › Snooker overview and people*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license