Crucible star blasts "boring" snooker rule he wants scrapped that "everyone cheats" on

Englishman Gilbert has been an ever-present on the professional snooker circuit for over 20 years now, reaching as high as number 10 in the world rankings, and securing ranking event gold at the 2021 Championship League.

The two-time World Snooker Championship semi-finalist recently won two qualifying matches at the English Institute of Sport to reach the main draw at the Crucible for the 12th time in his career, although he was eliminated by Ding Junhui, 10-5, in the opening round.

Whilst in Sheffield for his eighth consecutive outing on snooker’s grandest stage, Gilbert spoke on Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe.

Revered sports journalist Metcalfe was catching up with Gilbert having previously invited him as a guest on the Talking Snooker Podcast alongside co-host and fellow reporter, Phil Haigh.

During that episode, Gilbert caused a stir when he branded snooker as ‘boring’, a view he continues to carry: “It is. Yeah. It is isn't it? You've got to love snooker to watch it. I can't watch it - there's a few players that I'd watch, but I couldn't be an anorak and sit there all day.

“Even when I was a lad I couldn't. I could only watch Hendry. It's just so long-winded and hard.

“Not everyone wants to watch the proper bit, do they? I think (Mark) Selby's incredible. Probably, if he's at his peak I don't know how he ever loses...but some people don't want to watch him, which is amazing really because he's the master of all aspects.”

Gilbert says miss rule should be ‘thrown in the bin’

Over the past few weeks or so, top players have been asked what they would change about the sport. Mark Selby feels snooker could ‘quicken up a bit’, meanwhile Neil Robertson would like to alter the World Championship format at the Crucible.

And world number 25 Gilbert has some thoughts of his own. “I'd like a couple of rule changes” said the 44-year-old.

“The miss rule is the worst rule ever, they should throw that in the bin and have ball in hand...anything to speed it up.

“How boring's the miss rule? Everyone cheats, everyone plays to miss ten times and then get the thin edge. It's boring for the crowd, its boring for the viewers, it's boring for the players.

“Lets just speed it up, anything to make it a bit more jazzy.”

Gilbert was insistent that the World Snooker Championship format should remain as it is saying “you can’t touch this tournament ever” but would like to see changes elsewhere on the professional tour.

“I love the Home Nations Series, but I don’t like it when they go from a best of seven to a longer format at the end.

“You’re giving guys that can’t really, wouldn’t beat the top players to five, six and ten (frames) the chance to win and then you’re taking it away from them at the end. They should all be sevens all the way through.”