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.
GettyJimmy White and Neal Foulds can’t agree on who has been snooker’s best player this year[/caption]
Foulds is backing Kyren Wilson, while White plumped for Judd TrumpGetty
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.”
GettyTrump is the No1 player on the planet[/caption]
PAWilson won his first-ever World Championship this year[/caption]
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
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