Neil Robertson brands World Snooker decision 'absolutely ridiculous' as Mark Williams calls for rule change
Neil Robertson has branded a recent decision by the World Snooker Tour as 'absolutely ridiculous' - and has joined Mark Williams in suggesting a rule change.
Robertson reached the quarter-finals of this year's World Championship before losing 13-10 to John Higgins.
Williams, meanwhile, was knocked out in the second round 13-9 by Barry Hawkins.
Robertson, who won the 2010 World Championship, was vocal in some of his criticisms during the tournament, stating that he would rather have faced Higgins in the quarter-final than the Scot's second-round opponent Ronnie O'Sullivan because of the type of cue chalk that 'The Rocket' uses.
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And days after the tournament ended, the Australian has now questioned World Snooker's decision to induct Zhao Xintong, who won the 2025 world title, into its Hall of Fame.
Zhao is only 29 years of age and Robertson, who himself was inducted at the age of 31, has questioned the apparent ease and timing of which players are added to the Hall of Fame.
"Many others including myself got in when we were in our 20/30's," he wrote on Twitter. "Absolutely ridiculous when the real big-hitter sports have people with stellar careers get in when they are in their mid 40's or 50's.
"It should be something that is earned through decades of work and reputation.
"Don't get me wrong I'm proud to be in it but it seems like a given if you have a half-decent career, which it is not meant to be about that imo."
Williams, who is also a member of the Hall of Fame, replied to Robertson: "I thought Hall of Fame was when you're retired, you get in?"
The Welshman didn't appear to know that he had even been inducted, and told a fan: "I shouldn't be, surely it's for older folks."
He replied to another fan: "No idea who's in it, if I had a choice I don't want to be in it anyway."
Williams was inducted in 2016.
Who is in the World Snooker Hall of Fame?
Every world champion in the history of snooker - dating back to what is recognised as its inaugural edition in 1927 - are included in the World Snooker Hall of Fame.
That includes Joe Davis, who won a record 15 titles between 1927 and 1946 before the invention of the modern ranking era from 1969 onwards.
Luca Brecel and Kyren Wilson were inducted following their triumphs in 2023 and 2024 respectively, with Chinese star Zhao now joining them.
Should the pattern be followed, his compatriot and 2026 champion Wu Yize is set to be inducted alongside them.
Six-time world finalist Jimmy White is also part of the roll of honour, alongside a number of snooker trailblazers including Thailand's James Wattana and China's Ding Junhui.
Reanne Evans, a 12-time winner of the Women's World Championship, is on the list, along with seven-time champion Allison Fisher.
Legendary snooker journalist Clive Everton, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 87, is honoured, as well as WST chairman Barry Hearn.
Daniel Blunn, who has won 16 events on the World Disability Billiards and Snooker Tour, became the first WDBS player to be inducted in 2024.
Topics: World Snooker Championship, Snooker
Ryan Smart