Ronnie O’Sullivan, the snooker legend, has quietly assessed the current landscape of the game, dividing the elite players into a revealing hierarchy. It’s a candid evaluation, one that places him not at the summit, but within a competitive chasing pack.
A recent trophy drought – stretching back to March 2024 for any title, and January of last year for a ranking event – hasn’t diminished O’Sullivan’s sharp analysis. Despite flashes of brilliance, including two maximum 147 breaks in a single tournament, consistency has proven elusive.
O’Sullivan identifies Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson as the clear frontrunners, the players currently setting the standard. He believes their consistent performance elevates them above the rest, a level he acknowledges is currently beyond reach for many.
The season has been remarkably unpredictable, with eleven different tournament winners in as many events. Yet, O’Sullivan argues that a truly dominant force isn’t emerging, suggesting the overall standard in snooker is simply too high for any single player to consistently reign supreme.
Below Trump and Wilson, O’Sullivan places a second tier comprised of seasoned champions like Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, Mark Williams, and John Higgins. These are players with proven track records, but lacking the current edge of the top two.
He then positions himself within a third tier, alongside Barry Hawkins and Ding Junhui, acknowledging a gap in performance. He even suggests a potential shift for Shaun Murphy, recognizing his recent strong form might warrant a move up to the second tier.
World Champion Zhao Xintong also falls into this third tier, according to O’Sullivan. While recognizing Zhao’s immense talent, he stresses the need for sustained, consistent performance over several years to truly challenge the elite.
O’Sullivan believes Zhao possesses the raw ability to ascend, but emphasizes that consistent success at the highest level is a demanding and difficult achievement. It requires more than just occasional brilliance.
Interestingly, O’Sullivan recently shared his insights with rising star Wu Yize, offering guidance on areas for improvement. He believes Wu has the potential to become a truly dominant player, capable of winning even when not at his absolute best.
He draws a parallel to his own mentorship under Ray Reardon, highlighting the importance of mastering the subtle aspects of the game – the ability to steady the ship and fight back into a match. This, he believes, is the key to Wu’s future success.
O’Sullivan’s assessment isn’t about diminishing his rivals, but rather a realistic appraisal of the current competitive landscape. It’s a world where the margins are incredibly fine, and sustained excellence is the ultimate measure of success.
The current top 16 in the world rankings reflect this tightly contested field: Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, Mark Williams, Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Allen, Ding Junhui, Shaun Murphy, Zhao Xintong, Mark Selby, Xiao Guodong, Wu Yize, Barry Hawkins, Gary Wilson, and Si Jiahui.
