Chris Wakelin has called for snooker authorities to reconsider the sport’s traditional silence during matches, advocating for a livelier atmosphere akin to that seen in professional darts. The 34-year-old player from Rugby believes allowing fans to make noise throughout frames could enhance both the player and spectator experience.

Wakelin recently attended the Premier League darts play-offs at the O2 Arena in London as a guest of promoter Barry Hearn. He was particularly impressed by the energetic environment during Luke Littler’s victory, which took place before a crowd of approximately 16,000 spectators. “My partner Lucy and I had some of the best seats in the house,” Wakelin said. “To be able to experience that, with over 10,000 people at the O2, was an amazing memory.”

Drawing a parallel between the two sports, Wakelin noted that darts once shared snooker’s tradition of silence during play, citing the era of the late Jocky Wilson. He suggested that snooker’s governing bodies could trial more relaxed rules on crowd noise to invigorate the sport.

Wakelin’s comments come ahead of the 2026 Unibet British Open, scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 6 at the Centaur Arena at Cheltenham Racecourse. The event will feature Wakelin competing under the title sponsorship of Unibet, which has aligned itself with the tournament as part of a broader effort to promote the sport.

As snooker seeks to expand its appeal, discussions around fan engagement and atmosphere have become increasingly relevant. Wakelin’s advocacy for louder, more dynamic crowds echoes wider trends seen in other cue sports and indoor competitions, where audience interaction is often viewed as a vital component of the live experience. Whether these ideas will lead to changes in snooker’s long-standing etiquette remains to be seen.