Snooker legend Mark Selby has shared his thoughts on the future of the sport once its greatest ever player, Ronnie O'Sullivan, eventually retires. The comments come after O'Sullivan suffered a surprise 6-4 defeat to Zhou Yuelong in his opening match at the UK Championship in York on Tuesday.
The Irreplaceable Atmosphere of the Rocket
Speaking after his own 6-2 victory over Lei Peifan, which occurred in the same session as O'Sullivan's loss, Selby was unequivocal about the unique quality 'The Rocket' brings to tournaments. 'For me, it’s always great when Ronnie is in a tournament,' Selby said. 'It has that extra vibe.'
He elaborated on the distinctive environment created by the seven-time world champion, who turns 50 this week. 'Even just playing there, being in the same session, with the crowd you get that atmosphere which you don’t really get with any other player,' Selby admitted. He paid respect to other top stars like John Higgins, Mark Williams, and Judd Trump but stressed that nobody else generates the same electric feeling among spectators.
Confidence in the Next Generation
Despite acknowledging O'Sullivan's singular appeal, the 42-year-old Selby expressed strong confidence in snooker's ability to prosper in a post-Ronnie era. When asked if a future without O'Sullivan was a concern, he replied firmly: 'No, because we’ve still got some great players coming through.'
Selby pointed to a host of talented and exciting players who he believes can captivate audiences:
- Zhao Xintong (28) - described as 'still very young'.
- Judd Trump (36) and Kyren Wilson (33) - noted as being 'still young'.
- Jack Lisowski (34) - highlighted as being 'very, very similar to Ronnie in how he plays'.
'The game will still survive when Ronnie goes,' Selby stated. 'It’ll be a shame, of course, because he has given so much to the game and he’s the greatest player to ever play the game.' He added his hope that O'Sullivan, currently ranked world number five and still enjoying the sport, continues to play for as long as his health allows.
Selby's Form and Missed York Clash
The Leicester cueman revealed he is feeling close to his best form, buoyed by his victory at the Champion of Champions last month. 'I feel like I’m somewhere close,' he said regarding his peak performance level, expressing a desire for a deep run in a Triple Crown event after a few years without one.
Selby had been on course to meet O'Sullivan in the last 16 in York, a prospect he relished. 'If you play Ronnie it would have been a great occasion and a tough game,' he remarked. Instead, he will now face Zhou Yuelong for a place in the quarter-finals, acknowledging the Chinese player's quality in beating O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan's early exit marks the second consecutive year he has lost in the first round of the UK Championship. His appearance at the Barbican was his first in the UK since a World Championship semi-final defeat to Zhao Xintong in May, as he now focuses on a reduced schedule predominantly featuring events in China and the Middle East.
