Snooker’s high stars are lasting longer than ever, with a few of the greatest on this planet now of their 50s and nonetheless competing for titles.
The legendary trio of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and John Higgins have all handed the half-century and all stay within the high 16 on this planet rankings.
Then come the 40-somethings who’re additionally pretty much as good as ever: Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins amongst them.
30 years previous was once seen as the start of the top on the baize, however now it appears unlikely to even be the midway mark of a profession.
That isn’t to say there aren’t younger skills round, as we’ve seen on the Crucible of late, with the final two world champions lifting the trophy of their twenties.
It’s as tough as ever for kids to make the breakthrough, with legendary names in some way nonetheless producing brilliance for at lot longer than they ever did prior to now.
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There are brilliant younger issues round on the skilled tour, although, and listed here are the 30 kids shining brightest, ranked by each what they’ve performed thus far and what they’re prone to obtain sooner or later.
30. Liam Davies – 19 years previous – Wales
29. Iulian Boiko – 20 – Ukraine
Nonetheless simply 20, it feels that Iulian Boiko has been round some time since first turning professional at 14. Progress has not been speedy since then, however has been noticeable, trying extra snug on tour final season.
28. Wang Xinbo 18 – China
Solely simply turning professional this season, however Wang Xinbo may make fast strides up the rankings. Received his first rating match three years in the past as a wildcard and gained two World Championship qualifiers comfortably in April. Seems to be nice.
27. Michal Szubarczyk – 15 – Poland
The youngest ever skilled may simply have gone his complete first season winless, however picked up some spectacular victories. Notably two of these got here in World Championship qualifying. He doesn’t flip 16 until January.
26. Lan Yuhao – 17 – China
It was simply the odd win right here and there in his first season on tour, however Lan Yuhao passes the attention check and appears to have a variety of potential. Mark Selby, Matthew Stevens and Michael Holt have all famous how good {the teenager} appears.
25. Artemijs Zizins – 20 – Latvia
Some huge wins at key occasions final season over the likes of Ali Carter and Luca Brecel noticed the Latvian cling onto his tour card. Isn’t delivering constantly but, however progress continues.
24. Gao Yang – 21 – China
WSF Championship winner final 12 months, Gao Yang is in his second stint on tour and is trying extra the half. Two years on the spin he has gained three matches in World Championship qualifying, however simply missed out on the Crucible each occasions.
23. Lengthy Zehuang – 29 – China
Rapidly established himself as a stable mid-ranker since turning professional in 2023, however extra regular than spectacular. An excellent participant, however not with the potential of some on this checklist.
22. Ben Mertens – 21 – Belgium
It’s been very under-the-radar progress from Ben Mertens, however into the highest 64 on this planet rankings at 21 is spectacular. Nonetheless ready for a deep run exterior the Shootout, however it’s coming.
21. Julien Leclercq – 23 – Belgium
The Belgian Beast has proven flashes, with a run to the Shootout ultimate in 2023 and qualifying for the UK Championship final season, nevertheless it appears like there’s loads extra to come back from the 6’6″ large.
20. Antoni Kowalski – 22 – Poland
19. Jiang Jun – 20 – China
One body away from a Crucible debut in April after beating Elliot Slessor within the penultimate spherical. A barely odd participant to observe, Jiang downed the likes of Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins, Dave Gilbert, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Chris Wakelin and Hossein Vafaei final season.
18. Louis Heathcote – 28 – England
Two of his three rating quarter-finals have come within the final two seasons, so progress continues, however we’re nonetheless ready for a giant breakthrough for the Hoover. The expertise is there, however one factor he should begin doing is win extra matches on the street as Chinese language occasions are an enormous assistance on the rankings.
17. Liam Pullen – 20 – England
The Yorkshireman’s first two years on tour have been robust, as you’d anticipate them to be, however final season he began displaying what he’s obtained. Wins over the likes of John Higgins and Chris Wakelin, a primary rating quarter-final and profitable 4 matches to make a Crucible debut.
16. He Guoqiang – 25 – China
A Crucible debut this 12 months – beating Jack Lisowski in qualifying – continued He’s speedy progress since turning professional in 2023. He has two wins below his belt over Ronnie O’Sullivan, plus victories over the likes of Neil Robertson, Wu Yize, Kyren Wilson and Barry Hawkins.
15. Liu Hongyu – 22 – China
Made a splash in his first season by making the semi-finals of the 2023 English Open, beating Shaun Murphy, Chris Wakelin, Mark Williams and Ding Junhui en route. That is still his most spectacular efficiency, however he has been regular in climbing the rankings.
14. Lyu Haotian – 28 – China
One rating ultimate, 4 extra semis and 4 journeys to the Crucible, it’s a really first rate return, however Lyu Haotian’s progress has stalled. He sits at quantity 61 on this planet rankings, having reached 24 at one stage, however there’s clearly nice expertise in there.
13. Jackson Web page – 24 – Wales
Motion Jackson is turning into a extra common face on the enterprise finish of occasions, with a rating ultimate and 4 quarter-finals over the past two seasons however consistency continues to be evading him. Progress appeared to stall a bit over the past marketing campaign, however is devastating when he hits type.
12. Xu Si – 28 – China
The 2024/25 season was Xu Si’s better of his profession, however the final marketing campaign noticed him return to the unspectacular outcomes of earlier years. He appears nice at occasions, making three maximums, however consistency continues to be missing after 9 years on tour.
11. Yuan Sijun – 26 – China
Turning professional in 2017, Yuan Sijun has been a coming man for almost a decade however he’s nonetheless but to reach. There’s nonetheless loads of time and is impressively ranked 30 on this planet, however he’s nonetheless to fulfil the potential he was displaying a couple of years in the past.
10. Aaron Hill – 24 – Eire
Two 147s final season and a 3rd rating quarter-final continued the Irishman’s march up the world rankings to effectively inside the highest 50. Enhancements are clear and the following step appears imminent, maybe semi-finals Triple Crown qualification.
9. Fan Zhengyi – 25 – China
Out of nowhere Fan Zhengyi beat a load of high gamers together with Ronnie O’Sullivan within the ultimate to win the 2022 European Masters. He hasn’t actually appeared like repeating that since, however three wins in World Championship qualifying this 12 months after which an epic 10-9 loss to Shaun Murphy noticed him trying good once more.
8. Stan Moody – 19 – England
{The teenager} reached his first two rating quarter-finals final season and is as much as a profession excessive rating of 40 after making a Crucible debut in April. He could have misplaced that World Championship opener to Kyren Wilson, however an exciting opening session confirmed what a hazard he’s to anybody. He beat Wilson, John Higgins, Ali Carter (twice), Barry Hawkins, Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong (twice) final season.
7. Lei Peifan – 23 – China
The 2024 Scottish Open victory was solely out of the blue however was a surprising win. He has backed it as much as an extent, qualifying for the Crucible twice since and beating defending champion Kyren Wilson there final 12 months. He got here by UK Championship qualifying in every of the final two seasons as effectively, so is racking up severe expertise for his age.
6. Pang Junxu – 26 – China
One of many least flashy kids to emerge from China lately however one of many more practical. He has a rating ultimate and two semis to his identify and has reached the Crucible 4 years on the bounce. Wins a variety of video games and appears a ache to play, which is a praise.
5. Si Jiahui – 23 – China
After his unimaginable World Championship semi-final run in 2023 it regarded like Si Jiahui was the following huge star. It continued to appear like that when he reached the German Masters and Wuhan Open finals, whereas he additionally beat Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump in spectacular vogue in huge occasions. Final season noticed him stall and drop behind a few compatriots on this checklist, however clearly the sport is in there.
4. Chang Bingyu – 23 – China
Again on tour final season after a ban, it was an attention-grabbing return and there’s a lot of pleasure about what Chang Bingyu can produce within the coming marketing campaign. A rating ultimate, two 147s and a whitewash win over Shaun Murphy with 100 per cent pot success have been notable highlights of the 2025-26 season. On his solution to the Scottish Open ultimate he beat Stephen Maguire, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby and Mark Allen.
3. Zhou Yuelong – 28 – China
Turning skilled in 2014 with an enormous quantity of expectation, it’s shocking Zhou Yuelong is but to land a rating title, however he has come shut, with 4 finals to his identify. As a result of we’ve seen a lot of him it’s tempting to suppose he could have peaked, however he may simply replicate thetitle-winning success of the likes of Xiao Guodong and Zhang Anda. In reality, his ceiling might be larger.
2. Wu Yize – 22- China
Crucible success in Might turned Wu Yize right into a famous person as he turned the second youngest world champion ever. It was simply his second rating title, however he may rack up an enormous quantity over the following 20 years.
Wu Yize has pushed onerous for high spot, however Zhao Xintong nonetheless holds on for now after an excellent season as world champion noticed him add three extra rating titles to his assortment.
He doesn’t flip 30 till April subsequent 12 months and we are able to anticipate a couple of extra trophies on the mantlepiece by then.
Nationalities of snooker’s 30 below 30
England – 3
Belgium – 2
Poland – 2
Wales – 2
Eire – 1
Latvia – 1
Ukraine – 1
As we’ve identified for a while, the highest younger expertise is overwhelmingly coming from China greater than anyplace else.
Britain is lagging behind, with extra coming from mainland Europe than the UK proper now.
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