Who Is Graeme Dott? Quick Facts on the Snooker Champion Facing Allegations for Sexual Abuse

Former world champion Graeme Dott, once ranked number two in the world and the face of British snooker in the 2000s, is set to stand trial in 2026 for alleged child sexual abuse.

The charges concern a girl and a boy, with alleged offences taking place over two separate periods between 1993 and 2010. Dott has pleaded not guilty and maintains the allegations are false.

Who Is Graeme Dott?

Graeme Dott was born on 12 May 1977 in Larkhall, Scotland, and turned professional in 1994. He first gained attention by winning the UK Under-19 Championship in 1992 and the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1993. After breaking into the top 16 in 2001, he remained a consistent presence at the top of the sport for nearly a decade.

He won the World Snooker Championship in 2006, defeating Peter Ebdon 18–14 in the longest final in the tournament's history. A year later, he won the China Open and briefly held the provisional world number one ranking. He was also a two-time runner-up at the World Championship, in 2004 and 2010.

His career was disrupted by personal tragedy and mental health struggles. The death of his long-time manager and father-in-law in 2006 and a miscarriage shortly after contributed to a severe bout of depression. He wrote about these experiences in his 2011 autobiography Frame of Mind. He later recovered and returned to the top 16 rankings.

What Are the Allegations Against Graeme Dott?

In 2025, prosecutors charged Dott with sexually abusing two children — a girl between 1993 and 1996 in Glasgow, and a boy between 2006 and 2010 in Lanarkshire. The abuse allegedly began when the girl was around 10 and the boy was about 7. Court documents allege that Dott instructed the girl to undress, exposed himself, and sexually assaulted both victims.

The case was heard in a virtual session at the High Court in Glasgow on 9 April 2025. Dott did not appear in person but entered a plea of not guilty through his lawyer, Euan Dow. Dow stated: 'The position of the accused is that the allegations are fabricated and there is no truth in any of them.'

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) suspended Dott from all competition two days before he was due to appear in the 2025 World Snooker Championship qualifiers. He remains under suspension pending the outcome of the trial, which is scheduled to begin on 17 August 2026.

Dott's Career Earnings and Public Standing

Across his career, Dott has earned over £2 million (Approximately $2.64 million) in prize money. He is estimated to have contributed to over £63 million (Approximately $83 million) in combined streaming and media value for professional snooker events. His 2006 win is still cited as one of the most hard-fought in Crucible history, with a then-record frame duration of 74 minutes.

His sudden suspension has left a noticeable gap in the sport's landscape, particularly in Scotland, where he was the last remaining top-tier player in many major tournaments. The charges mark a dramatic fall from grace for a figure once known for his resilience on and off the table.

The case will continue in August 2026 at the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow. Dott remains on bail and denies all charges.