Snooker World Championship: David Gilbert Prepares for Latest Campaign
As the Snooker World Championship gets underway, Englishman David Gilbert is set to begin his latest campaign on Monday against China’s Si Jiahui. Having come through qualifying with victories over Gong Chenzhi and Aaron Hill, Gilbert is still perceived as a contender in Sheffield. However, the 43-year-old has previously expressed his ambivalence towards the sport, admitting that he’s not a fan of his profession.
According to reports, Gilbert has argued that formats need to be shortened to make the game more appealing, claiming that fans are put off by long matches. As he told the Sun, "I think the best of 11 is the bang-on format for any match. I don’t think we need to play any more than that. I like the short formats because snooker’s boring. I hardly ever watch snooker. I try to stay well clear of it." This sentiment was widely reported by the Express, which has been following Gilbert’s journey in the sport.
Despite his comments, Gilbert has had a successful career in snooker, reaching the world championship semi-finals last year, where he was defeated 17-11 by Kyren Wilson. The Englishman has also had a significant impact on the sport, with fellow professionals praising his down-to-earth approach to the game. As reported by the Express, Luca Brecel, the Belgian champion, had high praise for Gilbert after their match in 2024, saying, "I really hope so. I just like Dave, he’s a bit like me, he’s very down to earth, says it how it is and doesn’t take himself too seriously, which is fantastic. I really love him, he’s a good guy."
Interestingly, Gilbert didn’t grow up with a passion for snooker. Instead, he had ambitions of becoming a full-time potato farmer, having started out in the industry at his home in Staffordshire. His nickname "Angry Farmer" was coined by Matthew Selt, with Gilbert explaining, "Obviously, I was a farmer and now and again an absolute loon, so he stuck the angry bit on." This background was highlighted by the Express in their coverage of Gilbert’s career.
Gilbert’s comments about the sport have been well-documented, with many questioning his commitment to the game. However, his actions on the pitch have spoken louder than his words, with a number of impressive performances in recent years. As the Express reported, Gilbert caused a shock at the Crucible in 2024 by knocking out defending champion Luca Brecel in the first round.
As Gilbert prepares for his latest campaign, fans will be watching with interest to see how he performs. Despite his perceived ambivalence towards the sport, Gilbert remains a popular figure among his peers, who appreciate his no-nonsense approach to the game. With his campaign getting underway on Monday, Gilbert will be hoping to make a positive impact and prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the world of snooker. The Express will be providing extensive coverage of the Snooker World Championship, including live updates and analysis of all the latest matches.
