Exclusive:‘Kids want to play pool’: Club owner David Gilbert on British snooker’s youth participation dilemma

Former top 16 star Gilbert first turned professional in 2002, and has been part of snooker’s top-flight ever since 2005. During that time he has seen massive changes to the circuit, including the rise of Chinese players competing, and being successful on the big stage.

On home soil at the 2005 China Open, Ding Junhui became the first player from his country to win a ranking event; no-one before had come close. That red letter day truly sparked the Chinese snooker boom, and two decades on the reigning World Champion and current world number one both hail from the country.

At the time of writing, 11 of the world’s top 16 ranked players are from the UK, although seven of those are aged 40 or above, and the youngest is 34-year-old Chris Wakelin.

There is not a single UK player under the age of 30 ranked inside the world’s top 35 at present, with 25-year-old Jackson Page from Wales in 36th, and 19-year-old Stan Moody from England in 38th. The Republic of Ireland’s Aaron Hill - who is aged 24 - separates Page and Moody in the global standings in 37th.

In comparison, there are 11 Chinese players currently rated inside the top 35, and eight of those are in their twenties, with the other three in the thirties. Current Crucible king Wu is only 22, and became the sport's second-youngest World Champion of all-time earlier this year.

Snooker is “just too hard” say Gilbert

The picture suggests that it won’t be too long before China is confirmed as professional snooker’s powerhouse nation; some could argue they already have that status, as they’re holding the cards.

Speaking exclusively with Totally Snookered at the recent 2026 British Open in Cheltenham, we asked two-time World Championship semi-finalist Gilbert about his thoughts on young people in the UK playing snooker. As an owner of two cuesports establishments, he is well-placed to discuss what he sees at his venues.

“What we've learnt - we've got two clubs now, one in Tamworth, one in Swadlincote - it's definitely, snooker's more of an old gentleman's game” said the Englishman.

“There isn't so many youngsters and juniors that will want to play - I think the game's just too hard, and takes too long to learn to be any good at.

“We're flooded with pool tables...the kids want to play pool mainly, it's a lot easier, it's quicker.”

“It is sad to see”: Gilbert says the UK is set to lose it’s snooker dominance to China

The English/UK 8-ball pool scene has gone through some very exciting developments in recent years, mainly down to the rise of Ultimate Pool who regularly have weekly shows broadcast live on TNT Sports. Within a relatively short space of time, the brand received over one million followers across its social media.

As part of their tour events - which are now played in big venues such as the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club - they run a NXTGEN Series for junior players, and the Future Stars tournament - shown on TNT - sees several of the sport’s biggest names teaming up with young cueists in front of the live television cameras.

Analysing the current crop of promising youngsters from the UK on the World Snooker Tour - and how they are outnumbered by their Chinese counterparts - 45-year-old Gilbert added: “Yeah, it is sad to see because obviously a lot of the top boys are from the UK, and obviously the Chinese guys are that good now at such young ages, we're well behind from the youngsters over here sadly.

“We've got a couple of good lads, Stan Moody, I think he'll do brilliantly, and Liam Pullen, Liam Davies there's a few in there but, yeah, it looks like the Chinese guys are going to dominate in years to come.”