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Champion of Champions snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan still surprised by the lack of younger players challenging the older generation of stars
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be chasing his fourth Champion of Champions title next week amongst a star-studded field of 16 - but there remains a shortage of exciting younger players.
Only five hopefuls are under the age of 30 - Hossein Vafaei (28), Luca Brecel (27), Zhao Xintong (25), Fan Zhengyi (21) and female star Mink Nutcharut (22) - and none of those are from the UK.
It speaks volumes that 33-year-old Judd Trump is still often referred to as one of the more 'youthful' challengers to the likes of O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Neil Robertson - as well as fellow golden oldie Mark Williams who failed to qualify for this year's staging in Milton Keynes - but thankfully their continued levels of brilliance maintains snooker's relevance and popularity in an era where more sports than ever are competing for exposure.
The Rocket is still snooker's youngest ranking event winner having won the 1993 UK Championship at the age of just 17 while Higgins clinched his first at 19 back in the 1994-95 season.
O'Sullivan told Eurosport: "I’m really surprised we haven’t got much better young players.
"The last really exceptional player to come through was Judd Trump. We’re always looking for new players. Is Jackson Page going to do it, or Aaron Hill? There’s Luca Brecel, but they hit that point and never press on.
“Zhao Xintong is the only one but he’s still unproven. He’s 25, he’s not a baby anymore. I know he’s won the UK and the German but look at Stephen Hendry’s CV by then, he was on three or four world titles.
“It’s weird and I can’t work it out. When a 21-year-old Jackson Page plays a 47-year-old John Higgins he should be a massive favourite, but he’s not. Turn it round and have a 21-year-old John Higgins playing a 47-year-old Jackson Page and it's a no contest!
"Jackson ended up playing the best game of his life and still couldn't beat him! It's not a criticism of Jackson at all - but we're still waiting to see the next Judd Trump. When he came along you thought it's in his hands to win tournaments. Is there anyone else coming along?
"When John came along at 17 you knew he'd be world champion, you could just tell."
Higgins, who beat 21-year-old Page 4-3 in that particular match at the Northern Ireland Open, which was eventually won by another middle-aged star in Mark Allen (36), had some sympathy for the younger generation.
He said: "I think it's harder for them because they have the likes of yourself, me and Mark Williams to deal with. At our age we should be finished. When we were coming through we were playing 48-year-olds and knocking them over pretty easily. It's a difficult sport nowadays."
Neil Robertson also had his say on the issue and feels there's a difference with how young players are brought through these days compared to the Class of 92's era.
He told Eurosport: "When I was younger, it was just before the internet kicked in. The form of entertainment for me was being in the snooker club for 12 hours, playing snooker for eight hours and playing on the pinball machines. Snooker clubs back then were such a fun place to be, and there were lots of juniors there around my age.
“It’s different now. Young players are going there trying to be ultra professional straight away, they’re not really playing for fun, whereas when I was younger it was all about fun. Young players now want to get on to the tour as quickly as possible and forge their way through, but I don’t know if they want to try and get better at the game.”
The 40-year-old added: "It’s tough because snooker’s not a sport where your age dictates when you’re going to retire, so the young players have to wait a long time to dislodge players like Ronnie. I’m 40 now, so the young players have to come through and dislodge us, whereas when I was coming through, Stephen Hendry retired at 43 and was clearly well past the player he was.
“Maybe that was just the mindset back then that when you got to 30 it was seen that the end was close, but it’s not like that now. Ronnie, John and Mark have shown that you can keep going if you’ve got the right mindset. If you’re healthy, then you can play the game as long as you want.”
Champion of Champions: Daily schedule & results
MONDAY OCTOBER 31
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Group 4 semi-finals - best of 7
- Mark Selby v Lee Walker
- John Higgins v Hossein Vafaei
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Group 4 final - best of 11
- Mark Selby or Lee Walker v John Higgins or Hossein Vafaei
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 1
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Group 3 semi-finals - best of 7
- Neil Robertson v Fan Zhengyi
- Kyren Wilson v Ryan Day
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Group 3 final - best of 11
- Neil Robertson or Fan Zhengyi v Kyren Wilson or Ryan Day
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Group 1 semi-finals - best of 7
- Judd Trump v Luca Brecel
- Mark Allen v Joe Perry
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Group 1 final - best of 11
- Judd Trump or Luca Brecel v Mark Allen or Joe Perry
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Group 2 semi-finals - best of 7
- Ronnie O'Sullivan v Robert Milkins
- Zhao Xintong v Mink Nutcharut
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Group 2 final - best of 11
- Ronnie O'Sullivan or Robert Milkins v Zhao Xintong or Mink Nutcharut
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Semi-final - best of 11
- Group 1 winner v Group 4 winner
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Semi-final - best of 11
- Group 2 winner v Group 3 winner
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Final - best of 19
- Semi-final 1 winner v Semi-final 2 winner
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Final - best of 19
- Semi-final 1 winner v Semi-final 2 winner