To: World Snooker Tour (WST) and World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA)
Call on snooker chiefs to consider adding TV's Hazel Irvine to Hall of Fame
This petition calls for World Snooker Tour (WST) and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) to consider adding TV presenter Hazel Irvine into the sport’s official hall of fame list.
Why is this important?
Irvine is considered by many as one of snooker’s greatest ambassadors and a huge member of the snooker family.
Her depth of knowledge, attention to detail and outstanding broadcasting skills over many years have most certainly been of huge benefit to the game.
As well as other sports, Irvine commands enormous respect from players, officials and fans alike.
In a recent WST Snooker Club podcast, legend Stephen Hendry jokingly asked guest Abigail Davies if she wanted Irvine’s job – she replied: “You can’t replace God”.
Like the late John Virgo’s commentary – Irvine’s outstanding presenting at the World Championship and other majors has become somewhat of a snooker tradition. She is said to be "the face" of BBC snooker.
When Irvine was awarded an MBE in 2023, the World Snooker Tour reported: “In 2001 she [Irvine] joined the BBC’s snooker team, and remains the main presenter for the World Championship, Masters and UK Championship.”
That’s now 25 years of service she has given to the sport.
Snooker Chat – a social media news brand with more 10 million post views this season alone – gauged public opinion on whether an inclusion was merited.
The X post on Snooker Chat went viral with more than 100,000 views and received more than 200 replies and more than 700 likes.
It must be said several people indicated the Hall of Fame should be for players and officials only - that is a fair point.
However, many of the replies favoured Irvine’s inclusion to the list – saying her dedication and service to the game warranted recognition.
Among those to comment was twelve-times World Women’s Champion Reanne Evans. She retweeted our post and said: “Now this is deserved. You can’t argue at all.”
Other reposts from fans said: “What a great idea. Without a shadow of a doubt. H [Hazel] should be included.”
And another said: “Hazel has been a great host for snooker over the last few decades.”
After gauging public opinion, we feel it is only right to ask the snooker bodies involved to at least consider her inclusion.
