The State of Snooker in 2025: A Game at a Crossroads

As we redesign and update SnookerSite, we’ve taken a moment to step back and assess where the game itself stands. Snooker has long been a sport steeped in history, but in 2025, it feels like a game at a crossroads—balancing tradition with modernisation, and grappling with the pressing question of who will define its next era.

There’s something beautifully unbending about snooker. In a world that’s sprinting toward shorter attention spans and instant gratification, the game remains as methodical and unforgiving as ever. It rewards patience, precision, and a mind sharper than the corners of a brand-new Triangle chalk block. But in 2025, snooker finds itself at a fascinating juncture—balancing history, the need for modernisation, and the ever-present question of who will carry the torch in the next era.

The Masters of Old vs. The Rising Stars

It’s a question every generation asks: when do the greats finally fade, and who’s stepping in to replace them? The likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, and Mark Williams—the holy trinity of modern snooker—have defied time for over three decades. But even the most gifted cue artists can’t outmanoeuvre the inevitable. O’Sullivan’s occasional appearances on the circuit still carry an electric charge, but his presence is sporadic, his motivation unpredictable.

With Judd Trump carrying the mantle of the game’s modern entertainer, the focus has shifted to the new wave of talent. Players like China’s Si Jiahui and England’s Ben Mertens (a young man with a swagger reminiscent of a teenage Alex Higgins) have injected fresh blood into the rankings. The days of grinding journeymen making up the numbers are over—this is a sport in desperate need of marketable young players who can take the game beyond the ageing audience that has sustained it for decades.

The BBC Problem and Snooker’s Broadcast Future

For British fans, snooker and the BBC go hand in hand. The unmistakable voice of Steve Davis dissecting a tactical exchange, the polished cues clicking on perfectly ironed baize—these are staples of sporting nostalgia. But with fewer young viewers engaging with traditional TV and the sport’s reliance on terrestrial coverage dwindling, snooker faces a serious broadcasting dilemma.

The answer? Streaming. While Eurosport and DAZN have made strides in international coverage, snooker’s digital engagement still lags behind sports that have embraced the online revolution. The WST (World Snooker Tour) has flirted with the idea of dedicated streaming services, but the execution has been sluggish. Imagine a Netflix-style snooker hub—full match replays, exclusive documentaries, live coaching sessions, and interactive player Q&As. That’s the kind of innovation that could sustain interest for the next generation.

Tactical Evolution: The Death of Safety Play?

For purists, safety battles are the lifeblood of high-level snooker. The art of moving balls into unfathomable positions, squeezing an opponent into a mistake, then pouncing like a lion that’s just spotted a distracted gazelle—that’s real snooker.

But is it under threat? The aggressive shot-making of younger players suggests so. Judd Trump’s ultra-attacking style is no longer an anomaly but a blueprint for the modern game. We’re seeing a generation of players who would rather take on a tough pot than lay a precise snooker, changing the very fabric of matchplay dynamics. While this leads to breathtaking highlights, it raises questions about whether the tactical side of the game will be eroded in years to come.

The Future of the Triple Crown

The UK Championship, The Masters, and The World Championship still hold an unshakable reverence, but how long can snooker’s holy trinity remain untouched by commercialisation? Prize money disparity between snooker and other global sports is vast, and it’s not unreasonable to think that a major sponsor-backed “Super Series” could emerge to challenge tradition. With Saudi Arabia’s increasing interest in cue sports (already hosting major events with lucrative prize funds), a shift in snooker’s balance of power seems inevitable. Will we see a future where The Crucible’s historic World Championship is no longer the pinnacle of the sport? Let’s hope not—but money talks.

Final Thoughts

Snooker is at a crossroads, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The sport has always had a knack for reinventing itself just enough to remain relevant while staying true to its roots. Whether that’s through a new generation of stars, a bold approach to broadcasting, or a shift in playing styles, the next decade will shape the game’s legacy in ways we’re only just beginning to understand.

One thing is for sure: for those of us who love the drama, the tension, and the artistry of the green baize, there’s no sport like it. And that, at least, isn’t changing anytime soon.

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Peter Tesh • Senior Writer