Snooker is one of the most competitive games out there. If you’ve been wondering how good the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis are, here is the comprehensive list of top 5 snooker players.
As human beings, competition teaches us important values that allow us to navigate everyday life. With that said, however, the level of competition differs from one individual to the other, with some being highly competitive, while others seem to avoid or even fail to catch up with the competition. And nowhere is competition more apparent than in the game of snooker. Popularized by the Former British Prime Minister, Sir Neville Chamberlain in 1884, the game has risen in popularity to become a spectacle that sells out the Crucible theatre in Sheffield year in year out.
Today, there are hundreds (possibly more) ranking and amateur snooker tournaments around the world, with the most prominent being the World Championship. Naturally, this huge competition and opportunities to showcase talent not only breed rivalry but also competition among the players lookie to make a name in the snooker world.
In this article, we’re going to review the top 5 snooker players of all time. Looking for more incredible activities?
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Top 5 Snooker Players of All Times
#1. Ronnie O’Sullivan
For many years, the name Ronnie O’Sullivan has been synonymous with snooker. This 45 years old British national is arguably the most talented professional player the snooker gaming world has ever seen. Affectionately nicknamed the “Rocket”, he is quick, smooth, and ambidextrous, which is why he manages to draw more spectators compared to any other snooker player. Ronnie holds the world record of the most scored competitive 147s, most ranking titles, and he is also the first player ever to score an upward of 100 centuries.
And don’t even dare get started on his record-breaking 147, which he achieved in a mere 5 min and 20 seconds during the 1997 World Championship. For all intent and purposes, Ronnie O’Sullivan is undoubtedly a legend and is even celebrated in countries like Canada and Australia, where snooker isn’t as popular. In fact, there are casino games like O’Sullivan Sporting Legends Slot Game, which have been named after the legend himself.
#2. Stephen Hendry
Born in 1969, Stephen Hendry is a Scottish professional snooker player who also doubles as a BBC and ITV commentator. In 1990, Stephen won the World Championship at the age of 21 to become the youngest snooker champion, a record that he still holds up to today.
With a career spreading close to three decades, the Scotsman once topped the world rankings for a whopping 8 consecutive seasons, bagged 7 world title wins, 6 Masters titles, and 5 Championships in the UK.
In his prime, Hendry pushed the boundaries of the snooker game with his potting skills, won like nobody else before him, and showed the next generation what playing snooker at a professional level means.
#3. Steve Davis
Steve Davis has always been dubbed as the first superstar that snooker produced, all thanks to his domination and winning streaks in the 80s. Nicknamed ‘The Nugget’ Davis he was renowned for calm temperament and concentration, which saw him winning a total of 6 world titles before calling it a day in 2016 aged 59.
He is mostly remembered for the World Championship Final in 1985 against Dennis Taylor, which was watched by 18.5 million people in the UK alone. And although he lost, it was one of the highlight moments that forever immortalized his name as a snooker Hall of Famer. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that he was a BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in 1987 and 1996, a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1994, and the WPBSA Young Player of the Year in 1988.
#4. Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins
A real star of the snooker throughout the ’70s and ‘80s, Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins without a doubt one of the greatest ever and naturally talented players to ever hold the cue. Although controversial at times, it is argued that he did more than any other player to pave the way for big bucks in the game of snooker today, which is why the likes of Judd Trump are earning upward of £1million per year.
A real showman, he shook the snooker gaming world to its core and upset rivals with his skills, although many agree that were it not for his love for risky and outlandish shots, his record would have been better. After all, he loved to put on a show rather than play a tight game to win.
With that said, however, Higgin won 2 World Championships in 1972 and 1982, the UK Championship, and 2 Masters titles, which made him one of the ten players to ever complete the Triple Crown in snooker.
On 24 July 2010, this snooker icon died aged 61 after a long battle with throat cancer but there’s no doubt that his genius skills, colorful play, and legacy remain.
#5. John Higgins
Mention the name Higgins in a Greatest Of All Time debate, and the first thing that comes into mind is Alex Higgins and not John Higgins. But the record of this Scottish professional player, his consistent gameplay, and the longevity of his career deserve some respect.
Born in 1975, John Higgins turned professional in 1992, and since then, he has won 4 world titles, 3 UK Championships, and 31 ranking tournaments, making him one of the best snooker players out there.
Between 2017 and 2019, John lost in three Crucible finals two of them with a very narrow margin. In 2020, however, he executed a masterful maximum at the World Championship, breaking the long eight years wait.
There you have it! Our list of top snooker players of all time. Which player do you think we’ve included and shouldn’t have or should have and we didn’t. Be sure to place your comments below and we would be happy to include them in our updated version.