It’s time for the annual highs and lows evaluation, and there are lots of speaking factors over the course of 2024 in snooker to recall.
Quickly we’ll check out among the finest moments and recollections from the 12 months passed by.
However as we speak, let’s recount among the low speaking factors which have engulfed the sport over the course of the final 12 months.
The Lows
Crexit
There isn’t any escaping the chatter surrounding the long run vacation spot of the World Snooker Championship.
In 2024, the dialogue on whether or not it ought to keep on the Crucible Theatre or go away to discover a new residence has not often been far-off from the discourse.
The contract to stay in Sheffield, as everybody will know by now, expires in 2027, and it’s nonetheless up within the air as to what’s going to occur past that date.
World Snooker Tour supremo Barry Hearn has been been persistently placing strain on Sheffield Metropolis Council to provide you with a solution.
However with aspirations to develop the game, notably in a monetary sense, the opportunity of the game’s flagship occasion shifting away from its non secular residence grows increasingly more possible.
The controversy already creates battle amongst followers and gamers, but it surely may get even messier and extra emotional the nearer the clock counts all the way down to the deadline date.
The Saudi debate
Crexit wasn’t the one main speaking level of 2024 that break up sides, with Saudi Arabia equally on the forefront of individuals’s agenda.
The nation has been extensively criticised for utilizing worldwide sport as a way to masks its questionable human rights file.
Snooker grew to become the newest recreation to be welcomed into the nation with three tournaments being staged in Riyadh, together with a primary rating occasion that was dramatically gained by Judd Trump.
There have been additionally two invitational tournaments that launched a controversial new golden ball value 20 factors that would solely be potted on the finish of a 147 break.
Gamers had been, understandably it must be stated, happy to be given alternatives to earn considerably extra prize cash.
However crass gimmicks just like the golden ball, a largely sparse turnout by way of attendance, and propaganda ranges of promotion from on-site media didn’t assist to quell the favored opinion of sportswashing.
Extra scandals
It appears to be unimaginable for a 12 months to go by with out one thing shameful taking place to one of many sport’s gamers.
In 2024, there have been two such disgraceful situations.
After being suspended for greater than a year-and-a-half, the match-fixing case involving Mark King lastly concluded.
The previous Northern Eire Open champion and world quantity 11 was discovered responsible and handed a five-year ban.
Even worse than that was the dire state of affairs involving two-time rating occasion winner Michael White.
The Welshman, a former winner of the Indian Open and the Paul Hunter Traditional, was despatched to jail for 3 years in June for home violence offences.
The Belgian Clean
On the face of it, it may appear a bit bizarre to name out a participant who continues to be formally ranked because the eighth-best participant on this planet.
However 2024 was undoubtedly a 12 months to overlook for the misfiring 29 year-old often known as the Belgian Bullet.
Brecel gained the World Blended Doubles title alongside Reanne Evans and reached the finals of two invitational occasions in Saudi Arabia.
His type elsewhere, and particularly in rating occasions, all through the calendar 12 months was nothing wanting abysmal, nevertheless.
The £500,000 prize from profitable the 2023 World Championship comes off his two-year rating tally in Might, which is able to see his rating plummet to exterior the highest 50 as issues stand.
Brecel has made no secret of the truth that he has exterior pursuits, together with spending time in Mallorca and getting ready to be an Ironman competitor.
But for somebody of such expertise and pedigree, it’s a disgrace to see his prodigious potential on the desk seemingly wasted.
Farewell buddies
Snooker bid farewell to a variety of acquainted names who sadly handed away through the 12 months of 2024.
Six-time world champion Ray Reardon died on the age of 91 in July after a battle with most cancers, whereas fellow Welsh nice Terry Griffiths died on the day of the UK Championship remaining on the age of 77.
Commentator and journalist Clive Everton, a former participant who was the editor of the Snooker Scene Journal, additionally handed away in September aged 87 following a battle with Parkinson’s illness.
New Zealander Dene O’Kane, who reached a career-high of quantity 18 on this planet rankings, died on the extra tender age of 61 following a fall at his residence.
Ex-WPBSA chairman Mark Wildman, thought to be among the many first to compile a televised century break, additionally handed away in November, aged 88.
The 2024 snooker evaluation will proceed on Wednesday with a take a look at among the constructive speaking factors from the final 12 months.
Featured picture credit score: WST
