2023 was one other exceptional yr of snooker motion, with an unforgettable World Championship, extra historical past for Ronnie O’Sullivan and shock champions popping up frequently over the 12 months.
It feels an terrible very long time in the past that Judd Trump battled to the Masters title in January, with a lot occurring even since Luca Brecel upset the percentages to turn out to be world champion in Could.
There have been numerous spectacular performances on the baize over the past yr, from the beginner sport to the very best stage, with massive names shining and new faces rising.
With as lots of these notable shows in thoughts as potential, listed here are the 23 gamers of 2023.
23. Pang Junxu
One of many rising stars of the sport, the 23-year-old reached his first quarter-final, semi-final after which last on the German Masters, Welsh Open and WST Traditional over February and March this yr.
Pang then made it to the Crucible for the primary time and pushed Ronnie O’Sullivan onerous. He’s not had a tremendous season thus far, however he’s into the world’s prime 32 and on his manner up the rankings.
22. Ma Hailong
It could not have been the best area ever, however Ma Hailong nonetheless emerged because the WSF Championship winner again in February, incomes himself a spot on the World Snooker Tour by successful (arguably) essentially the most vital beginner title within the sport.
The 20-year-old loved a run to the final 16 of the British Open and beat Ryan Day on the Northern Eire Open, displaying that he might have a shiny future on tour.
21. Baipat Siripaporn
There was one thing of a shock on the 2023 Girls’s World Championship as Baipat Siripaporn emerged because the winner, beating Chinese language star Bai Yulu within the last.
Baipat beat her buddy and defending champion Mink Nutcharut within the semis earlier than defeating Bai – who’s extensively tipped for a really shiny future within the sport – within the showpiece.
20. Stan Moody
Stan Moody confirmed himself as one of many brightest younger skills within the sport by successful the WSF Junior Championship in February, after which making the ultimate of the WSF Championship, the place he misplaced to Ma.
Nonetheless solely 17, he has began to shine on the primary tour, reaching the final 16 of the Northern Eire Open, with spectacular wins over Zhou Yuelong and Gary Wilson alongside the way in which.
19. Kyren Wilson
It has not been one in every of Kyren Wilson’s higher years as he didn’t stick any extra silverware in his trophy cupboard, however a Tour Championship last and Gamers Championship semi-final present that he was mixing it with the most effective on this planet.
The Warrior additionally joined a really particular membership by knocking in a 147 on the Crucible in his first spherical win over Ryan Day on the World Championship.
18. Jimmy White
One other fascinating chapter was added to the superb story of Jimmy White in 2023 as he received the World Seniors Championship for a fourth time, but in addition shone on the primary tour.
At 60 years of age the Whirlwind made the final 16 of the German Masters and WST Traditional in 2023, beating the likes of Judd Trump, Joe Perry and Graeme Dott alongside the way in which. Now 61, White is on the tour due to his wins reasonably than an invitational card.
17. Tom Ford
Two rating finals for Tom Ford in 2023 represents an excellent yr for the 40-year-old, who had solely ever been to 1 massive last beforehand.
Ford fell quick on the German Masters and Worldwide Championship however he made his debut on this planet’s prime 16 in 2023.
16. Si Jiahui
Si Jiahui truly had a reasonably quiet 2023, aside from an unforgettable April in Sheffield as he got here from nowhere to achieve the semi-finals of the World Championship.
Simply 20 on the time, Si needed to win three matches simply to make the Crucible and there he downed Shaun Murphy, Rob Milkins and Anthony McGill earlier than taking a 14-5 lead over Luca Brecel within the semis. He lastly confirmed weak point and misplaced to the eventual champion, however it was a surprising run however.
15. John Higgins
Such are the requirements of John Higgins that 2023 looks like a nasty yr, however he has been to a string of huge semi-finals and received the Invitational Championship League.
At 48 years previous he’s nonetheless ranked quantity 12 on this planet and, though not as constantly as he as soon as was, taking part in some incredible stuff.
14. Ding Junhui
After a few years within the doldrums, Ding Junhui seems to be returning in direction of his good greatest on a extra common foundation. Nonetheless not near his peak of the previous, however 2023 was encouraging for his enormous fanbase.
One other UK Championship last, the place he pushed Ronnie O’Sullivan onerous, was the spotlight, whereas he managed a number of deep runs elsewhere and picked up the Six-reds World Championship.
13. Chris Wakelin
After 10 regular however unspectacular years on tour, Chris Wakelin levelled up in 2023 due to successful the Shoot Out in January.
Getting his first title within the bag has boosted his confidence and the 31-year-old is a unique prospect now, as he proved by reaching the Northern Eire Open last in October.
12. Gary Wilson
If Gary Wilson hadn’t defended his Scottish Open title in December then it could have been a largely forgettable 2023 for the Tyneside Terror, however that’s precisely what he did do.
After successful his first rating title in Edinburgh in 2022 he produced some brilliance to maintain maintain of the trophy, with a tremendous win over Zhou Yuelong within the semis and a fairly dominant victory over Noppon Saengkham within the last.
11. Barry Hawkins
The Hawk picked up the fourth rating title of his profession on the European Masters in August, beating Judd Trump within the last and has been reliably good ever since.
It was truly a nightmare first half of 2023 for Barry Hawkins as he dropped out of the highest 16 and failed to achieve the Crucible, however he has been one of many gamers of the season thus far, turning issues round over the summer time.
10. Rob Milkins
Rob Milkins had a tremendous 2022 and by some means topped it the next yr together with his win on the Welsh Open.
That got here instantly after a run to the semis of the German Masters, which collectively noticed him declare the massive £150,000 BetVictor bonus. He even chucked in an enormous comeback from 7-2 behind to beat Joe Perry on the Crucible.
9. Ali Carter
The Captain loved top-of-the-line yr’s of his profession in 2023, successful the German Masters and reaching the finals of the Gamers Championship and Wuhan Open.
Firmly again among the many prime 16, early exits from the World and UK Championships had been the one actual downsides for Ali Carter over the yr.
8. Mark Williams
Nonetheless going very robust at 48 years previous, Mark Williams began 2023 with a run to the Masters last, however topped that by successful the British Open on 1 October.
A hardfought 10-7 win over Mark Selby in that last meant so much to the three-time world champion and proved but once more that he’s nonetheless pretty much as good as anybody on his day.
7. Zhang Anda
In September Zhang Anda wouldn’t have been on an inventory of 63 gamers of 2023, however he has had an immense few months and gone from journeyman to one of many stars of the present.
An look within the English Open last got here out of the blue, however he has turned that right into a purple patch by successful the Worldwide Championship and making the UK Championship quarter-finals.
6. Mark Selby
He fell quick towards Luca Brecel in Sheffield however it was one other good run to the ultimate of the World Championship from Mark Selby, making a tremendous most within the showpiece.
He picked up the WST Traditional in March and has gone deep at massive occasions just like the Tour Championship and British Open.
5. Mark Allen
After a incredible 2022, Mark Allen had one other profitable yr, successful the Champion of Champions, World Grand Prix and Shoot Out, displaying incredible versatility with that trio of titles.
After struggling in Sheffield, the Pistol additionally returned to the World Championship semi-finals and pushed Selby very onerous earlier than falling simply quick.
4. Shaun Murphy
One other man with three titles to his identify in 2023, Shaun Murphy claimed the Gamers Championship, Tour Championship and Championship League in one in every of his greatest years.
The ultimate of the Welsh Open confirmed the Magician was conjuring up some nice kind after which he was undoubtedly the most effective participant on the planet as he claimed the Gamers and the Tour Championships in fashion.
3. Luca Brecel
Luca Brecel’s unimaginable run to the 2023 World Championship title was as exceptional as just about something within the sport’s historical past.
With out a win on the Crucible beforehand, little kind to talk of, not training, partying onerous, driving to Belgium and again each couple of days, none of it made a lot sense however he relentlessly attacked and beat a string of greats to win the most important prize within the sport.
2. Ronnie O’Sullivan
Changing into the oldest winner of the UK Championship 30 years after turning into the youngest is a fully immense achievement and one other of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s that can seemingly by no means be matched.
The Rocket additionally brilliantly beat Brecel to win the Shanghai Masters and ends the yr as world primary at 48 years previous.
1. Judd Trump
There was a disappointing dip on the World Championship, however 2023 has been one other good yr for Judd Trump as he began it with a second Masters title, which he described as ‘by far his greatest ever win’.
He peaked later within the yr, although, as he received the English Open, Wuhan Open and Northern Eire Open within the area of a month, a mammoth achievement that is probably not repeated for a protracted, very long time.
Finals on the Grand Prix, European Masters, Champion of Champions are nearly forgotten as he has received a lot, however illustrate simply how robust Trump has been in 2023.
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