Snooker remains a jewel in the BBC's crown, but a huge void needs filling as the sport looks to the future. Twenty-two-year-old Wu Yize produced a sensational performance to become snooker's latest world champion, yet the home challenge relied heavily on the old guard.
Wu Yize's Triumph and the BBC's Pulling Power
Shaun Murphy was beaten in a World Championship final frame decider by Wu Yize, a match that captivated audiences. Ahead of the final, the highest-rated frame of the tournament in terms of viewing figures was the marathon frame between Mark Allen and Wu Yize, which lasted over 100 minutes. Former and some current professionals considered the frame damaging to snooker's image, with many categorising it as a farce. But the viewing public loved it. When it was taken off BBC2, 1.4 million people were watching very little happen. Snooker on the Beeb has serious pulling power.
Any sport televised live on terrestrial television gets good numbers, and the World Snooker Championship is a jewel in a BBC crown that has sparkled less and less over recent years. The BBC also holds rights to the UK Championship and the Masters, which, along with the Worlds, make up snooker's Triple Crown. Those rights extend until 2032. Now that the World Championship is confirmed to stay at The Crucible for at least another couple of decades, fans can look forward to the usual coverage. In a way, that familiarity helps make the World Snooker Championship compelling.
The Old Guard Dominates Rankings
It is not just the familiarity of the surroundings. Fifteen years ago, the top six players in the world rankings were Mark Selby, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, and Neil Robertson. All six are in the top nine of the current world rankings. It is nice to see the seasoned players return year after year, and viewers get used to their mannerisms, styles, and interviews. Ronnie O'Sullivan is probably as popular now as he has ever been.
The Need for a Homegrown Star
But there is a Luke Littler-sized void waiting to be filled. In terms of popularity in the Chinese market, that void has been filled by magnificent players like Zhao Xintong, the 2025 world champion, and Wu Yize, who beat the wonderful Murphy in that epic final. They could well be heralding an era of Chinese domination in the sport. There will be resistance from the old guard, but what the United Kingdom is crying out for is a young home favourite, in the style of Littler.
Liam Pullen, 20, lost to Chris Wakelin in the first round at Sheffield, while 19-year-old Stan Moody looked like pulling off an upset against Kyren Wilson but surrendered a big lead. Moody, though, looks like the likeliest of the young players to make a household name for himself.
Barry Hawkins, still in the world's top 10 after making his Crucible debut 20 years ago, knows his sport is crying out for a homegrown young star. Hawkins, 47, said: "Look what Luke Littler has done for the game of darts. Someone like Stan Moody could do that. He has all the talent in the world, is exciting to watch, and if he went on to win the World Championship, it would be a massive boost to the game."
There is an enduring popularity about snooker, especially on terrestrial television, that stalwarts such as Murphy, John Higgins, and O'Sullivan deserve immense credit for. But the outstanding young Chinese players will need competition from these shores if the great tournaments that fans can see for free are to flourish even more.
