‘He’s the best in the world,’ says Ronnie O’Sullivan as he reveals text he sent to snooker rival at UK Championship
SNOOKER legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed who he considers to be the best player in the world right now.
The seven-time world champion crashed out of the UK Championship on the opening day following a 6-4 defeat to Barry Hawkins.
But he is still keeping a close eye on the competition – and has backed one of his rivals to go all the way.
O’Sullivan believes Kyren Wilson could be a real contender to lift the trophy in York.
He even suggested the Welshman is currently the best player in the world.
The Rocket told Eurosport: “It’s consistency levels basically, he does what looks simple but it’s not simple, but he does it very efficiently.
“That’s why I think he’s the best player in the world.
“If he gets to the semis my money is on him all day because great temperament, great game.
“He’s had it hard. Worked behind the bar when he fell off the tour. He’s a warrior. I know that’s his nickname, but he’s had it hard.
“Now he’s world champion, got a great life, great family, he ain’t letting this go.
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Trump vs Wilson
SNOOKER's Class of '92 are fading away - with two English superstars ready to forge a new era.
Judd Trump has declared he’s ready to battle reigning world champion Kyren Wilson for “the next 10 years” or more.
Current world No 1 Trump admitted Wilson’s meteoric rise over the last twelve months has “pushed him forward” as a player.
The Class of ’92 refers to the legendary trio of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, and Mark Williamson.
With 14 world titles among them, the three players have dominated UK snooker over the past three decades.
But as their powers begin to fade, Wilson and Trump appear ready to fill the rivalry vacuum.
Read more on snooker’s new big rivalry between Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson…
“I did send him a text saying: ‘This is your time, go and get as many majors as you can because there’ll be a time when it don’t happen for you.’
“But he’s got to make the most of it now because he’s got the game in his hands, really.”
Despite reaching the quarter-finals, Wilson admitted this week that he hasn’t been feeling great so far at the UK Championship.
He explained: “I’ll be honest I don’t feel myself this week, I don’t know why. I’ve felt really anxious this week.
“I don’t know what it is. The big Triple Crown events have a little bit more feel to them.
“I’m quite aware that this is my time in the game and I want to make the most of it.
“I think probably most snooker players have it. It’s just about managing it.
“I don’t know if it’s about being world champion. I’ve just got such high hopes and I just want to win.”
Wilson is set to face either Jak Jones or Michael Holt in the quarter-finals.
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins