Neil Robertson has criticised the latest additions to the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame following the inductions of Zhao Xintong and Mark Allen.
The pair were among the headline winners in the annual WST awards, with Zhao also collecting the Player of the Year prize after a remarkable 2025/26 campaign.
But the decision to induct both players into the Hall of Fame has generated widespread debate among fans and figures within the sport.
Robertson reacted strongly on social media after the announcement was made public, questioning whether Hall of Fame status is being awarded too quickly to active players.
“Many others including myself got in when we were in our 20/30’s,” Robertson, who was inducted in 2013, wrote on X.
“[It’s] 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 in my opinion.”
The comments have resonated with many supporters online, particularly in relation to Zhao’s inclusion at the age of just 29.
While few would dispute Zhao’s immense talent and achievements, some fans have questioned whether a Hall of Fame induction should arrive so early in a player’s career.
Others pointed to the fact that Zhao only returned from a 20-month suspension in late-2024 following his involvement in the Chinese match-fixing scandal.
Since then, however, the former UK champion has produced one of the most rapid spells of ascendancy in modern snooker.
Zhao won the 2025 World Snooker Championship as an amateur after emerging from the opening round of qualifying, becoming the first qualifier to triumph at the Crucible since Shaun Murphy in 2005.
He then dominated the second half of the 2025/26 season, winning four more titles including a clean sweep of the prestigious Players Series events – the World Grand Prix, Players Championship, and Tour Championship.
Zhao also captured the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, climbed to a career-high of number three in the world rankings, and became only the third player after Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan to earn more than £1 million in prize money during a single season.
Still, some observers feel that Hall of Fame status should be reserved for players who have built a longer legacy across decades rather than seasons.
The debate has intensified in recent years with active world champions continuing to receive instant inductions.
Both Luca Brecel and Kyren Wilson were added to the Hall of Fame shortly after their Crucible successes despite still being relatively young in the sport.
Allen’s inclusion has also sparked some discussion, although to a lesser extent.
The 40 year-old from Northern Ireland is a former world number one and has won 12 ranking titles, but some supporters questioned whether the Pistol has done enough to warrant being recognised.
Away from the controversy, Zhao’s success during the recent snooker season was reflected in the rest of the WST awards.
In addition to claiming the WST Player of the Year prize, Zhao also picked up the Journalists’ Player of the Year award.
Wu Yize won the Fans’ Player of the Year award after his breakthrough campaign culminated with an 18-17 victory over Murphy in the World Championship final.
O’Sullivan received the Performance of the Year award for his astonishing semi-final display against Chris Wakelin at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, where he compiled two maximum breaks in the same session alongside two more total clearances.
Jack Lisowski collected the Magic Moment of the Year award after beating Trump 9-8 in the Northern Ireland Open final to secure his maiden ranking title.
Meanwhile, Chang Bingyu was named Breakthrough Player of the Year and 15 year-old Polish prospect Michal Szubarkzyk earned the Rookie of the Year accolade.
Featured image credit: WST
