Jimmy White and Neal Foulds can’t agree on who is best snooker star of 2024
JIMMY WHITE and Neal Foulds were left unable to agree on who the best snooker star of 2024 has been.
The two icons of the game have now swapped sticks for mics.
And they have been treated to a stellar year of snooker, with the likes of Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson shining.
The latter became world champion for the first time in his career.
While Trump finished the campaign as world No1 after clinching the UK Championship.
And while White felt he had also done enough to be crowned player of the year, Foulds saw things differently.
He said: “It’s not settled for me. Trump is the rightful world No1, I’m not saying he’s not the best player in the world.
“But maybe 2024 is Wilson’s year. He became world champ for the first time, which is a wonderful achievement. And he went on to win two more ranking events.
“My counter argument is that Kyren has done enough to be player of the year. I’m not arguing with Judd being world No1, that’s different ball game.”
Foulds’ argument appeared to fall on deaf ears though as White made the case for Trump.
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He said: “For me it’s Judd Trump. The way he’s started off and won the UK Championship.
“He looks so solid and, for me, the match with Mark Williams especially was fantastic. It was a great clearance with lots of money at stake, so it’s Trump for me.”
Meanwhile, Wilson has slammed the BBC for snubbing snooker in their Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.
Darts star Luke Littler, England footballer Jude Bellingham, cricketer Joe Root, Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey and Olympic champions Keely Hodgkinson and Alex Yee are all up for the public vote.
Wilson said: “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 Humphries 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 attention is on that.”
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins