And the winner Is? – A season of Surprises in Snooker
The current snooker season is remarkable for its lack of repeat champions. As of yet, eleven tournaments have been claimed by eleven different players, a departure from the patterns of previous years where a smaller group typically dominated the circuit.This makes predicting tournament outcomes particularly challenging, akin to the unpredictable nature of the Grand National horse race.
This widespread success points to a significant increase in the overall quality and depth of competition within the sport. Historically, snooker was dominated by a select few. In the first 50 years of the World Championship, only seven different players held the title. Even in the 1970s, a hypothetical “Champion of Champions” event would have featured a field of only three or four competitors.
The modern snooker landscape has expanded dramatically, both in the number of events and its global reach. The growing strength of the Chinese players is particularly noteworthy. Alongside this emerging talent, established legends continue to compete at a high level, and mid-ranking players are seizing opportunities for breakthrough victories.
success is being found across a broad age range. Mark Williams secured victory at the Xi’an Grand Prix at the age of 50, while players in their 40s – Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, and Stephen Maguire - have each won a trophy this season. Kyren Wilson, Xiao Guodong, mark Allen, and Jack Lisowski represent the 30-something contingent, with Wu Yize and Zhao Xintong achieving success in their 20s.
the sheer volume of tournaments may also be contributing to this dispersal of wins. In the 1980s, Steve Davis won 22 of the 48 ranking events (46%). Stephen Hendry claimed 27 of the 89 events held in the 1990s (30%). The 2020s have already seen 98 ranking events,with Judd Trump currently leading with 16 wins (16%).
Maintaining consistent success across such a packed schedule is proving arduous.While theoretically possible to win 15 titles in a single season, it appears highly improbable. Snooker, while not physically demanding, places a significant mental and emotional strain on players as they navigate the fluctuating fortunes of each frame and match.
While some argue that a sport benefits from a dominant figure or a strong rivalry, the current situation offers a different dynamic. Darts currently showcases this with the competition between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, and men’s tennis with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Snooker saw a similar dynamic last season with Trump and Wilson,but it didn’t culminate in a final showdown between them at the World Championship,unlike the Grand Slam finals contested by Alcaraz and Sinner.
Instead, the current spread of winners creates a vibrant and diverse sporting narrative. Examples include Mark Williams’ historic win in Xi’an, jack Lisowski’s emotional victory in Belfast, and Neil Robertson’s return to the world’s top four in Jeddah.
The possibility of this trend continuing remains. Several prominent players, including Judd Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, and Ding Junhui, are yet to secure a title this season – all past champions of the UK Championship. Given the unpredictable nature of events like the Shootout and the Scottish Open, which have previously seen first-time winners like Gary Wilson and Lei Peifan, it’s entirely plausible that the 2025 season could conclude without a single repeat champion.
Whether this is ultimately beneficial for snooker is a matter of opinion, but it undeniably makes for a compelling and unpredictable season.
