Introduction:
Welcome to the thrilling world of snooker, a world of accuracy, strategy, and unrivaled skill. In this intriguing blog post, we go on a trip to discover the best snooker players who have graced the green baize. Snooker, a cue sport that requires a unique combination of skill, focus, and tactical genius, has produced a long line of extraordinary players who have left an indelible impact on the sport's history. Join us as we delve into the careers, accomplishments, and pure brilliance of the people who have earned their place among the best snooker players ever to pick up a cue. We'll explore the incredible stories and statistics that have defined these masters of the game, from famous veterans to budding talents. So, whether you're a seasoned snooker fan or just want to learn more about this riveting sport, sit back, relax, and let's start talking about the greatest snooker players to ever grace the snooker tables.
11 Best snooker players of all time:
This compilation does not establish a hierarchical ranking of snooker players; instead, it presents a selection of the most accomplished players in the history of the sport.
1. Ray Reardon
Raymond Reardon, a Welsh former professional snooker player, was born on October 8, 1932. He turned professional at the age of 35 in 1967 and went on to dominate the game in the 1970s, winning six World Snooker Championships and over a dozen other tournaments. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest snooker players of all time, particularly in the 19th century.
Reardon began playing snooker as a child, and by the time he turned professional, he had already won the Welsh Amateur Championship six times in a row (1950-1955) and the English Amateur Championship once (1964).
Reardon won his first World Snooker Championship in 1970, defeating John Pullman in the final. He went on to win the title again in 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, becoming the first player to win four in a row. In 1978, at the age of 45, he won his sixth and final world championship, becoming the oldest player to do so.
In addition to his World Snooker Championship titles, Reardon also won several other tournaments during his career, including the Pot Black Tournament (1969), the Masters (1976), and the Professional Players Tournament (1982). He was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame in 1997.
Reardon, now 90 years old, still lives in Tredegar, Wales. He remains an avid snooker fan and still plays the game from time to time. In 2022, he was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his services to snooker.
In a 2023 interview, Reardon expressed his pride in his accomplishments and stated that he enjoyed every minute of his professional snooker career. He remains a popular figure in the snooker world and is often seen at tournaments and events.
Video credits: mjt_snooker YouTube channel
2. Clif thorburn
Image credits: David Muscroft, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Clifford Charles Devlin Thorburn CM, a Canadian former professional snooker player, was born on August 16, 1948. He turned professional in 1968 and was one of the world's top players in the 1970s and 1980s, winning the World Snooker Championship in 1980 and becoming the first Canadian to do so.
Thorburn, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, began playing snooker at a young age and showed promise early on, winning the Canadian Amateur Championship in 1965 and 1966 before turning professional in 1968.
Thorburn established himself as one of the world's top players in the early 1970s, winning his first major tournament, the Rothmans Canadian Open, in 1974. He went on to win several other tournaments, including the Masters (1983) and the UK Championship (1984).
In 1980, Thorburn reached the final of the World Snooker Championship for the first time and defeated Alex Higgins to become the first Canadian to win the title. He defended his title in 1981, but lost to Steve Davis in the final.
Thorburn remained a winning player throughout the 1980s and 1990s, winning his last major tournament, the Scottish Masters, in 1993. He retired from professional snooker in 2003.
Now 75 years old and living in Markham, Ontario, Canada, Thorburn remains an avid snooker fan and still plays the game from time to time. In 2022, he announced his intention to compete in the World Senior Snooker Championship for the first time, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Jimmy White.
Video credits: World Snooker Tour YouTube channel
3. Steve davis
Image credits: DerHexer, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 4.0
Steve Davis OBE (born 22 August 1957) is a retired British professional snooker player who is currently a commentator, DJ, electronic musician, and author. He is best known for his domination of the professional snooker world in the 1980s, when in nine years he reached the finals of the World Snooker Championship eight times and won six world titles, ranking number one in the world for seven consecutive seasons.
Davies was born in Plumstead, London and started playing snooker at an early age. He turned professional in his 1978 year and quickly established himself as one of the world's top players. He won his first snooker world title in 1981, defeating Doug Mountjoy in the final. He also won titles in 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1989.
Davis played many other tournaments throughout his career, including the Masters (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988), the UK Championship (1981, 1984, 1985, 1988) and the World Matchplay Championship (1980, 1981). But I won. 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987). He was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame in his 1997 year.
Video credits: FreeSnookerTV YouTube channel
4. Stephen hendry
Image credits: Benutzer:Bill da FluteDerivative work MagentaGreen, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Stephen Hendry is a Scottish snooker player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He won the title in the World Snooker Championship seven times, in the British Championship six times and in the Masters five times. He was the best player in the world for eight consecutive years.
Hendry turned professional in 1985 and won his first world title in 1990. He dominated the sport in his 1990s and even won six world titles, becoming the first player to win four consecutive titles. During this time, he also won six British Championships and five Masters titles.
Hendry retired in 2012 but returned in 2021. Currently, he works as a commentator, expert and trainer.
In 2022, Hendry was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame. He is also a regular commentator and pundit for BBC Sport and Eurosport, and he is a coach to several professional snooker players.
Video credits: ArchiSnooker YouTube channel
5. John Higgins
Image credits: Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0”
John Higgins is a Scottish professional snooker player who is one of the best of all time. He has won four world titles, three UK Championships, and two Masters titles. He was the youngest world champion in history when he won in 1998.
Higgins is known for his all-round game and his ability to score heavily. He is also a very good break-builder.
In 2023, Higgins reached the finals of the World Snooker Championship and the UK Championship. Higgins reached the final of the World Snooker Championship, where he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He also reached the final of the UK Championship, where he lost to Mark Allen.
Video credits: World Snooker Tour YouTube channel
6. Mark williams
Image credits: Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mark Williams is a professional snooker player from Wales and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He won the title at the World Championship three times, at the British Championship twice and at the Masters twice. At times he was the best player in the world.
Williams is known for his long potting ability and ability to pull off difficult breaks. He is also a very good break builder. In 2023, Williams won the British Open and reached the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship.
Video credits: Snooker Planet YouTube channel
7. Ronnie O'Sullivan
Image credits: DerHexer, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 4.0
Ronnie O'Sullivan is a British professional snooker player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He has won the World Snooker Championship seven times, the British Championship seven times and the Masters seven times, all records so far. He also holds the records for most centuries and most breaks in professional competition.
O'Sullivan turned professional in his 1992 year and won his first snooker world title in 2001. He dominated the sport in his 2000s and his 2010s, and he even won six world titles, becoming the first player to win five titles in a row. During this time, he won the British Championship seven times and the Masters seven times.
O'Sullivan has continued to enjoy success in recent years, winning the World Snooker Championship in 2020 and 2022. He is also a regular commentator and pundit on BBC Sport and Eurosport.
In 2023, O'Sullivan reached the final of the World Snooker Championship, where he defeated Mark Williams 18-13 to win his eighth world title. He also reached the final of the UK Championship, where he lost to Judd Trump.
Video credits: Snooker Zone YouTube channel
8. Neil Robertson
Image credits: Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Neil Robertson is an Australian professional snooker player who has achieved great success throughout his career. He is a former world champion, former world number one and the only Australian to win a ranking tournament. He is also the only non-British player to win the Triple Crown in snooker.
Robertson has won 23 ranking titles in his career, and has been consistent in recent years. He is a highly regarded player on tour, known for his all-round play and ability to score many goals. In 2023, Robertson reached the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship and the semi-finals of the British Championship. He remains one of the best players in the world and will be a contender for major titles for years to come.
Video credits: Home of Snooker YouTube channel
9. Mark Selby
Imgae credits: DerHexer, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 4.0
Mark Selby is a British professional snooker player and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He has won the World Snooker Championship four times, the Masters three times and the British Championship twice. He is also a former world number one.
Selby is known for his all-around game, his high scoring ability and break-building skills. He is a highly respected player on tour and is considered one of the best players in the world. In 2023, Selby reached the final of the World Snooker Championship and the semi-final of the British Championship. He continues to be a major title contender.
Video credits: Snooker Planet YouTube channel
10. Judd Trump
Image credits: DerHexer, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 4.0
Judd Trump is currently a dominant force in the snooker world. He is the current world champion and number one in the world, having won a record 17 ranking titles. He is also a four-time Triple Crown Champion.
Trump is known for his speed and aggressive playing style and break-building skills. He is widely regarded as one of the most exciting players in snooker. In 2023, Trump successfully defended his world title and won the Masters for the second time. He remains the top contender for a major title.
Video credits: World Snooker Tour YouTube channel
11. Ding Junhui
Image credits: Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ding Junhui is a Chinese professional snooker player who is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time. He has won 14 major ranking titles, including three UK Championships and the World Snooker Championship. In 2023, he won the Six Red World Championship and reached the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship.
Video credits: Snooker Planet YouTube channel
Honorable Mentions:
There are innumerable players in the annals of snooker history who may not have reached the peak of the sport but have left an indelible impact via their remarkable abilities, sportsmanship, and services to the game. These are the players who, while not constantly at the top of the list, have unquestionably contributed to the world of snooker. Here are a few important honorable mentions in the history of snooker:
Jimmy White:
Video credits: SnifferDogBen YouTube channel
Known as the "People's Champion," Jimmy White's personality and swashbuckling style of play have won him fans all over the world. While he did not win a World Championship, his six finals appearances and countless other honors make him one of the sport's most popular figures.
Kirk Stevens:
Video credits: LF147 YouTube channel
The Canadian cueist created a reputation for himself in the 1980s with his unusual appearance, which included long hair and bright attire. Stevens was noted on the court for his flair and originality, as well as his famous break-building abilities.
Ali Carter:
Video credits: FreeSnookerTV YouTube channel
Carter, dubbed the "Captain," has long been a strong force in the world of snooker. He's made two World Championship finals and has garnered the respect of both players and fans for his perseverance in the face of personal adversity.
Tony Meo:
Video credits: madmoose147
Tony Meo was a highly skilled player from the 1980s who was sometimes underappreciated by his peers. He won the World Doubles title with Steve Davis and several other important victories during his career.
Peter Ebdon:
Video credits: FreeSnookerTV YouTube channel
Ebdon's cautious and meticulous style of play earned him the moniker "The Force." He is a former World Champion who is well-known for his devotion to the game.
Graeme Dott:
Video credits: Snooker Island YouTube channel
This Scottish player won the World Championship in 2006 thanks to his tenacity and superb safety play. Dott's career has been defined by his relentless concentration and ability to grind out victories.
Conclusion:
Image credits: DerHexer, Wikimedia Commons, CC-by-sa 4.0v
The debate over the best players of all time is an unending one in the world of snooker, where precision meets passion and every stroke is a masterpiece waiting to happen. Snooker's complex tapestry is woven with amazing abilities, from the early pioneers who lay the framework for the sport to the present stars who continue to enchant us with their mastery of the green baize.
We've looked at luminaries like Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan who have rewritten the record books and set new standards of brilliance. We've looked at the careers of players like Joe Davis and Ray Reardon, whose contributions to the game are indelible. We've praised Jimmy White's enduring charisma and admired Stephen Hendry's precision. And we've recognized the honorable mentions, each of whom has made an everlasting impact on snooker in their own unique way.
While it is impossible to rank these players definitively because their accomplishments span different eras and their techniques vary tremendously, what links them all is a genuine love for the game, an inexhaustible drive for triumph, and the capacity to take our breath away with their cue artistry.
Finally, who is the greatest snooker player of all time is a matter of personal opinion, affected by the memories and experiences that have resonated with each of us. Snooker, like any other sport, evolves as new stars emerge, leaving their imprint on history. The game's brilliance rests not just in its records and titles, but also in the sheer joy it offers to millions of fans throughout the world.
As we come to the end of our voyage through the world of snooker's greatest players, one thing is certain: the green baize will continue to see moments of brilliance, drama, and inspiration, reminding us why we love this sport so much. Whether you're a die-hard snooker fan or a casual observer, the legacy of these players exemplifies the ongoing fascination of a game where ability, strategy, and pure passion come together to produce magic on the table.
Comments