Top 5 Snooker Players to Watch in 2019/20 Season

After the 2018/19 snooker season reached such dizzying heights as to require spectators keep a steady supply of anti-nausea medication to hand, the inevitable crash to reality has happened. Snooker fans eagerly await the next season like Peter Ebdon's opponents await his next shot (it should be any minute now.. maybe). We are, of course, in the usual between-season lull.

Source - Getty Images - Mark Selby

However, with Q-School drawn to a close, the oven 2019/20 season is just heating up. Though the World Championships are way off at this stage, it isn't too early to begin speculating about players you should be keeping a keen eye on for this upcoming season. Forget Ronnie O'Sullivan because he is a given (provided he remains unretired). I'm talking about exciting, and perhaps unexpected/unconsidered players that may just wow us all either by living up to our high expectations, or by failing to do so.

1. Mark Selby

To put it brutally, Selby has been a thundering shower of disappointment in recent seasons, being unable to recapture the literal and figurative sparkle of his 2017 World Championship Trophy win. If you think otherwise, then please read this excellent article on whether Mark Selby fans should be concerned.

However, Selby's granite style of snooker isn't likely to have softened to graphite just yet. His slide from the top spot in in favour of O' Sullivan could very well be the motivation he needs to find some form this season. It's a little cliched, but this may very well be a make-or-break season for the former number-one-ranked player.

2. David Gilbert

The Tamworth massive was a cue-tip's thickness away from smashing through to the 2018/19 World Championship final. Gilbert stunned his opponents in his campaign to reach the semi-final, demonstrating some unbelievable snooker talent along the way. His potting, safety, and temperament were all top notch.

He shouldn't feel at all dejected that he lost to Higgins – arguably the toughest match player to ever exist – and his current ranking at number 12 means he's going to be a familiar face to anyone watching this coming season. Gilbert could potentially make the 2019/20 work in favour for him, turning a career twilight into a career highlight.

3. Gary Wilson

Neil Foulds said that some of Wilson's snooker escapes in the WSC were some of the best he'd ever seen by anyone at any time or place, and I would have to agree. Wilson's cool temperament, excellent potting skills, and demonstrable ability to go far in the toughest of tournaments means he's a man to keep your cue-eye on.

Wilson currently sits at number 20 in the rankings, but I would be extremely surprised not to see him come out of the 2019 World Championships with some serious momentum going into the next season.

4. James Cahill

Cahill's success against O'Sullivan in the 2019 World Championship stunned us all. After having to pay for the chance to qualify, being successful, and triumphing against O'Sullivan, people are now seriously hyped about this amateur player.

This season will reveal whether Cahill has the mustard to reproduce his form, or demonstrate that sometimes in snooker, anomalies can certainly occur.

5. Judd Trump

Trump's win at the 2019 World Snooker Championship was stunning, with the Bristolian playing god-like snooker at some stages. A win like that could either give Trump some serious momentum going into the next season, or perhaps it could have a different effect.

If he can produce form even half as good as he did against Higgins in that infamous final (by channelling Alex Higgins' style, at times), he could go a long way this year.