Kyren Wilson hits out at BBC Sports Personality of the Year snub as snooker ace says 'it’s about if your face fits'

World champion Kyren Wilson has hit out at the BBC after he was snubbed from the Sports' Personality of the Year shortlist.

The 32-year-old was overlooked for a place on the shortlist for the prestigious award, despite winning the sport's World Championship in dramatic fashion at The Crucible in May - and now he claims that snooker's image means that it is being overlooked by the selection panel, whilst seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has previously branded the treatment of snooker by the judging panel as “snobbery” against the sport.

Wilson told SportsBoom.com: “A lot of the time in sport it’s about if your face fits, not necessarily the achievements. I think snooker stands in that bracket as a whole, not just me missing out. It was only recently that Ronnie (O'Sullivan) got shortlisted. What a sportsman he’s been and what incredible achievements he’s had over the years."

“When you compare yourself to that I’ve only managed to win one. He’s won seven and only been invited twice. When you look at darts, what a shame Luke Humphries hasn’t been nominated as world champion. He won his first World Championship around the same time I did.

“It’s one of the most skilled sports in the entire world. Our viewing figures speak volumes. We’re doing okay as a sport. I just think some of the people don’t understand the sport or follow it like the likes of us do. They don’t understand what goes into being a professional snooker player.

“The amount of hours on the road, the amount of air miles, the amount of practice. You’re locked away in a room on your own. There’s a lot more to it than hitting balls and I think a lot of the organisations don’t see that."

Olympian Keeley Hodgkinson is the favourite to land the gong on