Trying to predict the future in any sport is tough – just have a look at bookmakers’ profits – but the stars have snooker have had a go at it.
Guessing who will be the top five in the world rankings at the end of this season would be tricky enough, but we’ve given the masters of the baize an even tougher task.
Here 15 players have had a go at predicting the top five in the world rankings in five years’ time.
There have only ever been 12 world number ones in snooker, so that spot doesn’t change too much.
The current top five boasts players aged from 33-50, which shows how difficult it is for young stars to break into the elite.
So will that trend continue or will we see a mix up at the top of the sport over the next half decade.
Metro asked 15 pros to make their picks…
Current top five in the world rankings
- Judd Trump
- Kyren Wilson
- Neil Robertson
- Mark Williams
- Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Selby
The former world number one said: ‘Probably Williams! He probably will! I know we sit here laughing but he probably will.
‘Listen, if Ronnie still wanted to play and he was choosing to play in a lot of tournaments, I’d say Ronnie would still definitely be in the top five but, he picks and chooses and he probably doesn’t play in enough tournaments.
‘So, I would say top five in the world would be: Judd Trump, Kyren [Wilson], Neil [Robertson], Mark Allen and I’ll put [Mark] Williams in there at five.’
John Higgins [laughing, who knows if he will be right?]: ‘Ronnie, Mark, me, Selby and Robertson‘
Elliot Slessor: You’ve got to be careful because the Class of 92 are getting to that age, but they’re still incredible.
‘I’ll go Judd, Selby, Neil, Murphy and me. That’s what we’ll go for.’
Kyren Wilson
The 2024 world champion opined: ‘Five years time? I would probably say myself, Judd, Zhao Xintong.
‘I’ve got to think of ages here…If Mark Williams carries on, yeah Mark Williams at the age of 55. And if Ronnie carries on and gets inspired by him, probably Ronnie at 55 as well. Let’s go with that.’
Barry Hawkins: ‘Trump, Kyren will probably still be up there. If Xintong gets his act together he’ll be up there. In five years’ time eh? Neil [Robertson]. Imagine if one of the Class of 92 are still in there? I’ll say one of them! Ronnie.‘
Jackson Page: ‘Hopefully me! I’ll be disappointed if not, that’s what you work for. Judd will have to be in there. Kyren will still be in there. You could look at youngsters, if I could pick one then Wu Yize. You’ve always got Selby, Robertson, people like that.
‘Whether the 92 will be there, I don’t know, the way they’re going they could be one, two and three!’
Shaun Murphy
The reigning Masters champion said: ‘On history, you’d have to say, in no particular order, O’Sullivan, Higgins, Williams.
‘Throw Trump in there because he’s just so far ahead. I’ll have to throw myself in there because I’m still trying.’
Aaron Hill – Trump, Kyren, Xintong and I’ll throw in two young fellas. Myself and Stan Moody
Michael Holt – In no particular order… Trump, Kyren, Robertson, Selby, O’Sullivan. All five of them love it enough to stay motivated.
Chris Wakelin
The current world number 16 said: ‘In five years’ time? I don’t think it’ll look much different than it is now. I don’t think it’ll be any different.
‘Kyren’s still young. Judd’s still young. In five years’ time, Neil’s not going to be 50. But then you’ve got the great, but blind, Mark Williams and not-so-soon-to-be-retired John Higgins. If Ronnie wants to play in enough tournaments, I’m sure he could be in the top five as well.
‘Hey, look, I’m on my way there. That’s my job over the next five years, is to put myself in that position. Obviously, you’ve got to be winning tournaments. So that’s my first aim, is to lift some more silverware. and try and get near that top five.
‘But in all honesty, I think in five years’ time, I’d be surprised if there’s one new name in there. If there’s five new names, then I’ll give you my house.’
Louis Heathcote: ‘Judd, Kyren, Allen, Murphy, Xintong.’
Stephen Maguire: ‘I couldn’t give a s**t. Five Saudi players we’ve never heard of. I don’t know. I don’t care. Not me.’
Jordan Brown
The former Welsh Open champion said: ‘I’ll go out on a limb, but there’s no question Williams can be there.
‘Zhao Xintong, no question he’ll get his form back. The kid’s special.
‘Judd, Kyren, no reason they can’t be at the top. And I’ll have to say Ronnie.
‘I’m thinking John Higgins as well but I know he’s at the stage where he’s going to sit out a few tournaments and I’m not sure his heart is really in it anymore.
‘Whereas Ronnie I do believe he’ll save himself for the big events and then there’s no question he’ll be in the top five.’
Joe Perry: ‘Judd Trump, Zhao Xintong, Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Mark Allen.’
Liam Pullen: ‘Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, the last one will be left blank for a reason.’
What does it all mean?
The most popular answers suggest Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Neil Robertson are likeliest to be in the top five in 2030.
Then there is a three-way tie between Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong for the remaining two spots.
Ultimately, the players do not see much change coming at the top of the game in the next few years.
There was the odd shout for the likes of Wu Yize and Stan Moody, while some players backed themselves to join the elite, but the consensus is that the current top stars are unlikely to be toppled.
Five years ago the top five in the world was Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy, so there has been little change in the last half decade, other than Kyren Wilson stepping up to the absolute elite of the game.
Can the likes of Wu, Moody, Aaron Hill or Jackson Page do that in the next five years? Their fellow pros think it will be very tough for them.