World Snooker Tour awards

The World Snooker Tour produces annual awards in several categories, including player of the year.

The Association of Snooker Writers, founded by a group of journalists who wrote about snooker in 1981, first instituted awards for players and others associated with the game in 1983. From 1985, the awards were taken over by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. In 1998, the journalists' group was reformed as the Snooker Writers' Association, and the awards were in that body's name for several years. The awards are now administered by the World Snooker Tour.

List of awardees

Snooker Writers' Association and WPBSA Awards
Awarding body Year Player of the Year Personality of the Year Young Player of the Year Match of the Year Other awards Ref.
Association of Snooker Writers 1983Steve Davis Bill WerbeniukTony Jones
1984Steve Davis Dennis Taylor
WPBSA 1985Dennis Taylor Dennis TaylorJohn Parrott
1986Steve Davis
Joe Johnson		 Joe JohnsonStephen Hendry
1987Steve Davis Joe JohnsonStephen Hendry Jimmy White v Steve Davis (last frame of the 1987 Classic final) Overseas Player of the Year: Dene O'Kane

Highest Break of the season: Jimmy White

Billiards player of the year: Norman Dagley
1988Steve Davis Terry GriffithsStephen Hendry Stephen Hendry v Jimmy White (last frame of the 1988 World Championship final) Break of the year: Steve Davis and Steve James (140)

Overseas Player of the Year: Tony Drago

Billiards player of the year: Norman Dagley
1989Steve Davis Martin Clark John Parrott v Steve James (1989 World Championship) Billiards player of the year: Mike Russell
1990Stephen Hendry Nigel Bond
1991Stephen Hendry Alan McManus
1992Stephen Hendry Peter Ebdon
1993Stephen Hendry Ronnie O'Sullivan
1994Ronnie O'Sullivan Fergal O'Brien
1995Stephen Hendry Tai Pichit
1996Stephen Hendry Stephen HendryPaul Hunter Billiards player of the year: Mike Russell
1997Stephen Hendry Steve DavisLee Walker Break of the year: Ronnie O'Sullivan

Billiards player of the year: Mike Russell
Snooker Writers' Association 1998John Higgins Paul Hunter Mark Williams v Stephen Hendry (1998 Masters)
1999Stephen Hendry Marco Fu
2000Mark Williams
2001Ronnie O'Sullivan
2002Stephen Lee
WPBSA 2003Mark Williams
2004Ronnie O'Sullivan Stephen Maguire
2005Ronnie O'Sullivan
2006John Higgins
2007Neil Robertson
2008Ronnie O'Sullivan
2009John Higgins
2010: no awards
World Snooker Tour Awards
Awarding body Year WST Player of the Year Snooker Journalists' Player of the Year Fans' Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Performance of the Year Magic Moment of the Year Breakthrough of the Year Ref.
World Snooker Tour 2011John Higgins John Higgins Judd TrumpJack LisowskiJudd Trump Rory McLeod
2012Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronnie O'Sullivan Judd TrumpLuca BrecelStuart Bingham Stephen Hendry
2013Mark Selby Mark Selby Mark SelbyIan BurnsRonnie O'Sullivan Jimmy Robertson
2014Ronnie O'Sullivan Ding Junhui Ronnie O'SullivanJohn AstleyMark Selby Mark Selby
2015Stuart Bingham Stuart Bingham Judd TrumpOliver LinesJoe Perry Ronnie O'Sullivan
2016John Higgins Mark Selby Ronnie O'SullivanDarryl HillMark Selby Steve Davis
2017Mark Selby Mark Selby Mark SelbyYan BingtaoAnthony Hamilton Mark King
2018Ronnie O'Sullivan Mark Williams Ronnie O'SullivanXu SiMark Williams Michael Georgiou
2019Judd Trump Judd Trump Ronnie O'SullivanJoe O'ConnorJames Cahill Ronnie O'Sullivan
2020Judd Trump Judd Trump Judd TrumpLouis HeathcoteRonnie O'Sullivan John Higgins
2021Judd Trump Mark Selby Judd TrumpPang JunxuMark Selby Neil Robertson
2022Neil Robertson Ronnie O'Sullivan Zhao XintongWu YizeRonnie O'Sullivan Neil Robertson
2023Mark Allen Mark Allen Mark AllenJulien LeclercqLuca Brecel Mark Selby (Maximum break at the 2023 World Snooker Championship) Si Jiahui
2024Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronnie O'SullivanHe GuoqiangKyren Wilson Shaun Murphy (Maximum break at the 2023 Shoot Out) Zhang Anda (2023 International Championship)
2025 Judd Trump Kyren Wilson Judd Trump Bai Yulu Zhao Xintong Judd Trump (2024 Saudi Arabia Masters final) Xiao Guodong (2024 Wuhan Open)
2026 Zhao Xintong Zhao Xintong Wu Yize Michał Szubarczyk Ronnie O'Sullivan Jack Lisowski (2025 Northern Ireland Open final) Chang Bingyu

Hall of Fame

The World Snooker hall of fame was instituted in 2011, with eight winners of multiple world snooker championships as the initial inductees.

Hall of Fame
Year Awardee(s) Ref.
2011Joe Davis, Fred Davis, John Pulman, Ray Reardon, John Spencer, Alex Higgins, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry
2012Walter Donaldson, Mark Williams, John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan
2013Terry Griffiths, Joe Johnson, Ken Doherty, Peter Ebdon, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson
2014Dennis Taylor and Cliff Thorburn
2015John Parrott and Mark Selby
2016Stuart Bingham, Rex Williams and Sindhu Pulsirivong [de]
2017Jimmy White and Clive Everton
2018Ding Junhui and Barry Hearn
2021Judd Trump and Brandon Parker [de]
2022Reanne Evans and Allison Fisher
2023John Virgo
2024Luca Brecel and Daniel Blunn
2025Kyren Wilson
2026Zhao Xintong and Mark Allen

Former awards

Services to snooker award

Services to Snooker Awards
Year Awardee Notes
1983Mike Watterson
1984Clive Everton
1985Del SimmondsPromoter and administrator
1986Rex Williams
1987Barry Hearn
1988Howard KrugerManager of several leading players
1990John Spencer
1991Eddie Charlton
1994Ray Reardon
1996Rick WaumsleyBBC snooker coverage
1998Jonathan MartinBBC Sport
1999Jim ElkinsTournament director for the Masters
2000David Vine; Len Ganley
2001John Williams

Achievement of the year

Performance of the Year/Achievement of the Year awards
Year Awardee Notes
1987Joe JohnsonReaching the World Snooker Championship final in two consecutive years
1988Steve JamesPerformance at the 1988 World Snooker Championship
1995Stephen HendrySeven century breaks in the 1995 World Snooker Championship final
1996Nigel BondWinning British Open final after needing a snooker in the final frame
1996Mark WilliamsWinning the Welsh Open while ranked 39th
1997Ken DohertyWinning the 1997 World Snooker Championship
1998Mark WilliamsRecovering from 0–6 to win Masters final on re-spotted black
1999Stephen HendryWinning a seventh World Snooker Championship
2000Joe SwailReaching the 2000 World Snooker Championship semi-finals
2001Paul HunterWinning the 2001 Masters final from 3–7 behind
2002Peter EbdonWinning the 2002 World Snooker Championship
2003Ken DohertyWinning the 2003 World Snooker Championship semi-final against Paul Hunter
2004Jimmy WhiteFirst ranking title for eleven years
2005Shaun MurphyWinning the 2005 World Snooker Championship
2006Graeme DottWinning the 2006 World Snooker Championship
2007Andrew HigginsonReaching the 2007 Welsh Open final
2008Mark SelbyWinning the Masters at his first attempt

Special awards

Special Awards
Year Awardee Notes
1984Mike GreenRetiring secretary of the WPBSA
1987Jackie Rea40 years as a professional player
1988Fred DavisPlaying professionally at the age of 75
1989Nick HunterBBC snooker producer
1993John PulmanFormer world champion
1995John HigginsWinner of three ranking titles in a season
1996Ted LoweBBC commentator, 50 years associated with snooker
1996Peter DykePromoter, who recommended to Embassy that they should sponsor the World Championship
1997Mark WildmanServices to English billiards
1998Jimmy WhiteDefeat of Stephen Hendry at the 1998 World Snooker Championship
2000Steve Davis20 years as a top-16 ranked player
2001John DeeSnooker journalist
2004Peter DykePromoter
2005John SpencerProfessional player, administrator and commentator
2006Richard BalaniPromoter of snooker events in Malta
2007Clive EvertonJournalist and commentator
2008Barry Hearn30 years as a tournament promoter and manager of snooker players

Notes

  1. 1 2 Frame of the Year
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Newcomer of the year
  3. 1 2 BBC Viewers Choice Award
  4. ↑ Previously also included Graeme Dott, until his removal in 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Performance of the year

References

  1. 1 2 "Awards for Higgins, Williams and Trump". Snooker Scene. June 2011. p. 33.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Neil Robertson and Ronnie O'Sullivan pick up World Snooker Tour awards". Sporting Life. 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Morrison 1987, p. 9.
  4. 1 2 3 Morrison 1987, p. 159.
  5. ↑ Mossop, James (21 December 1998). "Davis trio seek a clearance". Irish Independent. p. 31.
  6. 1 2 Dee, John (8 October 1998). "Benson and Hedges row leads to snub". The Daily Telegraph. p. 43.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Turner, Chris. "Snooker Writers Association Awards". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Godsiff (19 September 1983). "By Peter Godsiff". Evening Post. Bristol. p. 40 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Awards awarded at snooker's night out". Snooker Scene. October 1984. p. 13.
  10. ↑ Hale, Janice (November 1985). "The sheriff of snookertown". Snooker Scene. p. 27.
  11. ↑ "WPBSA awards and golf day". Cue World. November 1986. pp. 18–19.
  12. ↑ "Honour roll". The Times. 14 September 1987. p. 40.
  13. ↑ Burn, Gordon (October 1987). "An upmarket evening". Snooker Scene. p. 15.
  14. ↑ "WPBSA". Cue World. February 1989. p. 16.
  15. ↑ Acteson, Steve (12 December 1988). "Davis is first £100,000 winner". The Times. p. 35.
  16. ↑ "Davis again". The Times. 11 September 1989. p. 46.
  17. ↑ "Good time had by some". Snooker Scene. October 1989. p. 21.
  18. ↑ "The new king of the frame game". The Times. 18 December 1990. p. 32.
  19. ↑ Lea, David (18 December 1990). "Bond wins top award". Evening Telegraph. Derby. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "In brief: snooker". The Times. 19 October 1991. p. 35.
  21. ↑ Smith, Terry (December 1991). "Snooker is Tops!". Pot Black. p. 31.
  22. ↑ "Hendry and Lowe gain honours". The Times. 17 October 1992. p. 35.
  23. ↑ "Hendry takes award". The Times. 23 October 1993. p. 43.
  24. 1 2 "Top award for Hendry". The Daily Telegraph. 23 October 1997. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Ronnie scoops top award". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 27 October 1994. p. 25.
  26. ↑ "Sport in brief". Daily Record. 14 October 1995. p. 49.
  27. ↑ "WPBSA awarded low marks for dinner date". Snooker Scene. December 1995. p. 29.
  28. ↑ "Award for Hendry". The Times. 25 May 1996. p. 38.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "WPBSA awards: a night at the Dorchester". Snooker Scene. July 1996. p. 11.
  30. ↑ "Hendry honour". The Times. 11 October 1997. p. 39.
  31. ↑ Everton, Clive (October 1997). "Lunching with his lordship". Snooker Scene. pp. 16–17.
  32. ↑ "Sport in Brief: Snooker". The Times. 28 December 1999. p. 39.
  33. ↑ Yates, Phil (25 September 2002). "White extends his time in Glasgow". The Times. p. 42.
  34. ↑ Yates, Phil (6 October 2004). "Calcuating Davis sets the pace". The Times. p. 34.
  35. 1 2 "Higgins Voted Player Of Year". World Snooker. 7 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011.
  36. 1 2 "Rocket Named Player Of Year". World Snooker. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012.
  37. 1 2 "Selby Named Player Of The Year". World Snooker. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  38. 1 2 "Selby beats O'Sullivan to top player award". The Times. 10 May 2013. p. 62.
  39. 1 2 "O'Sullivan named Player Of The Year". World Snooker. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  40. ↑ "O'Sullivan's double". The Times. 9 May 2014. p. 64.
  41. 1 2 "Bingham named Player Of The Year". World Snooker. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  42. 1 2 "Higgins named snookers's Player Of The Year". World Snooker. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  43. ↑ Temlett, Michael (13 May 2016). "Wizard of Wishaw John Higgins named snooker player of the year". Daily Record. Scotland. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  44. 1 2 "Selby Named Player Of The Year". World Snooker. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  45. ↑ "Sports round-up". The Times. Malta. 6 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  46. 1 2 "O'Sullivan and Williams dominate awards". World Snooker. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  47. ↑ "World champion Judd Trump named Player of the Year at World Snooker Awards". Sporting Life. 10 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  48. ↑ "Judd Trump named snooker's Player of the Year". Sky Sports. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  49. 1 2 "Judd Trump named snooker's player of the year for third time". Sky Sports. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  50. 1 2 Stead, Marcus (June 2023). "WST Annual Awards". Snooker Scene. p. 5.
  51. 1 2 Walker-Roberts, James (10 May 2024). "RONNIE O'SULLIVAN WINS WST PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD, KYREN WILSON, SHAUN MURPHY ALSO SCOOP PRIZES". Eurosport.
  52. 1 2 Tour, World Snooker. "Home of World Snooker". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  53. 1 2 "Zhao Named Player Of The Year". World Snooker Tour. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "WST Statement: Graeme Dott". World Snooker Tour. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  55. ↑ "Morgan to face Bond following surprise win". The Daily Telegraph. 19 October 1991. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources