Ronnie O'Sullivan fans left furious after Sports Personality of the Year 2023 nominees announced

Fans of snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan have been left furious after he was left off the list of six nominees for the 2023 Sports Personality of the Year award.

The shortlist, which was announced by BBC on Tuesday morning, includes stars from football, golf, cricket and athletics.

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who is the heavy favourite to win the award for the first time on December 19, is nominated, alongside heptathlon star Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Cricket legend Stuart Broad, who retired from the sport after this summer's Ashes series, is also nominated, alongside iconic jockey Frankie Dettori.

Golf star Rory McIlroy is also on the shortlist, along with wheelchair tennis star Alfie Hewett.

THE 2023 BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR CONTENDERS ARE HERE! 🎉🏆

🌟 Stuart Broad
🌟 Frankie Dettori
🌟 Mary Earps
🌟 Alfie Hewett
🌟 Katarina Johnson-Thompson
🌟 Rory McIlroy

Watch the awards live on @BBCOne & @BBCiPlayer, Tuesday, 19 December 2023 from 19:00 GMT.… pic.twitter.com/uattDEokbK

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 12, 2023

O'Sullivan, meanwhile, is a surprise omission from the list, despite becoming the oldest winner of the UK Championship, one of the biggest tournaments in the sport, at the beginning of this month.

Earlier this year, he also won the Shanghai Masters title, beating reigning world champion Luca Brecel 11-9 in the final.

And fans are shocked that 'The Rocket' hasn't been nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year award.

Taking to X (Twitter), one wrote: "Disgraceful that Ronnie O'Sullivan has again not been included in BBC's Sports Personality of the Year line-up."

Another said: "Can't say I'm surprised but no Ronnie O'Sullivan is a joke!!!"

A third added: "How is Ronnie O'Sullivan not in there... scandalous."

A fourth exclaimed: "I keep looking but for some reason I can't see Ronnie in the list."

O'Sullivan has never been crowned Sports Personality of the Year, and did not make the top three when he was nominated last year after winning the 2022 World Snooker Championship.

The only snooker player who has ever lifted the award was six-time world champion Steve Davis in 1988. Alex Higgins and Stephen Hendry were both runners-up in other years, with Davis also placing second and third on a number of occasions.