Kyren Wilson has lashed out at the BBC for leaving snooker out of the Sports Personality of the Year awards shortlist yet again.
But the world champion is not shocked, having been accustomed to being left on the sidelines when the annual award is announced.
Wilson had a storming year in snooker, winning the World Championship by beating Jak Jones 18-14 at the Crucible before going on to win the Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open.
However, the 32-year-old was snubbed when the shortlist was revealed for this year’s SPOTY.
Kyren Wilson has hit out at the BBC over his SPOTY snub
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Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham, darts produgy Luke Littler, Olympics hero Keely Hodgkinson, cricketer Joe Root, Para-cyclist Sarah Storey and triathlete Alex Yee have been named instead.
Speaking to SportsBoom, Wilson said: “A lot of the time in sport it’s about if your face fits, not necessarily the achievements.
Even Britain’s greatest ever snooker player, seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, has largely been left out of top names – being shortlisted only two times over his career.
“They don’t understand what goes into being a professional snooker player. The amount of hours on the road, the amount of air miles, the amount of practice.
“You’re locked away in a room on your own.
“There’s a lot more to it than hitting balls and I think a lot of the organisations don’t see that.
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Kyren Wilson had a brilliant year after winning the World Championship
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“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.”
Hodgkinson is the favourite to win the BBC gong this year after winning Team GB’s first Olympic track title earlier this year in Paris.
The ceremony will take place on Tuesday night with a judging panel including five-time Olympic cycling champion Dame Laura Kenny, ex-runner Iwan Thomas, Paralympian Ade Adepitan, former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha and Ireland rugby veteran Rory Best all taking part.
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Keely Hodgkinson is the favourite to win the SPOTY after winning gold at the Olympics
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BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski said: “It’s a fantastic shortlist.
“All six have kept us on the edge of our seats this year, showing us how sensational they are.
“I’m looking forward to reliving each of their successes on the night and finding out who audiences want to be crowned BBC Sport Personality of the Year 2024.”
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