Exclusive: Kyren Wilson Hits Back at SPOTY Snub – “Snooker Deserves More Respect”

Kyren Wilson was not surprised to be snubbed from this year’s SPOTY shortlist.

Snooker has regularly been black-balled by the voting panel over the years despite the coveted Triple Crown being shown live on the BBC. 

Ronnie O’Sullivan is undoubtedly one of Britain’s greatest ever sportspeople having racked up the records during his illustrious three-decade-plus reign at the top of the green baize game.

But even the Rocket has only been nominated for the gong twice, in 2020 and 2022. Fellow seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has previously branded the treatment of snooker by the judging panel as “snobbery” against the sport.

This Year's Contenders

Golden girl Keeley Hodgkinson is the favourite to land the gong next week with teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, the runner-up at the PDC World Darts Championship, second among the bookies.

There was no place for Luke Humphries, whose maiden world title at Ally Pally last year was overshadowed by the exciting emergence of teenage sensation Littler.

Football star Jude Bellingham, who won the Champions League and La Liga during his debut season at Real Madrid, Cricket ace Joe Root — who overtook Sir Alastair Cook as the country’s leading Test match run scorer in the summer are also contenders in the six-person shortlist.

Para-cyclist Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s most successful Paralympian, added two gold medals to her tally in Paris, whilst triathlete Alex Yee, who won an olympic and world gold double this year, complete the nominees for Tuesday night’s ceremony.

Green baize world champion Wilson, who achieved his boyhood dream in May, told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview: “A lot of the time in sport it’s about if your face fits, not necessarily the achievements."

“I think snooker stands in that bracket as a whole, not just me missing out."

“It was only recently that Ronnie got shortlisted. What a sportsman he’s been and what incredible achievements he’s had over the years."

“When you compare yourself to that I’ve only managed to win one. He’s won seven and only been invited twice."

“When you look at darts, what a shame Luke Humphpries hasn’t been nominated as world champion. He won his first World Championship around the same time I did."

“I was invited to go along and participate in the event and celebrate my achievements, but I’ll be in Saudi Arabia for the 167 tournament so my attentions are on that.”

Snooker In Rude Health

Steve Davis is snooker’s only ever winner of the award, way back in 1988. 

Hendry came second in 1990 behind Paul Gascoigne, whilst Alex Higgins was a runner-up in the early 80s. 

But since Hendry’s near miss, O’Sullivan’s two appearances on the shortlist are the closest the sport has come despite a number of brilliant achievements over the years.

O'Sullivan took a year out after winning the 2012 World Championship and returned to the sport to successfully retain his crown a year later and was still overlooked. 

Mark Williams' kebab-fuelled 2018 Crucible triumph over John Higgins, 15 years after his second world title, also failed to make the shortlist.

Snooker is in great health with more money than ever on the World Snooker Tour circuit, approximately £19million a season. The Scottish Open finished on Sunday night and the game's top stars are already in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship — where there is a $1million bonus for the first player to make the first ever Golden Ball 167. 

“It’s one of the most skilled sports in the entire world,” said Wilson. 

“Our viewing figures speak volumes. We’re doing okay as a sport."

“I just think some of the people don’t understand the sport or follow it like the likes of us do. They don’t understand what goes into being a professional snooker player."

“The amount of hours on the road, the amount of air miles, the amount of practice. You’re locked away in a room on your own."

There’s a lot more to it than hitting balls and I think a lot of the organisations don’t see that.”