Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has offered glowing assessments of the game's next generation, drawing direct comparisons between two young prospects and the iconic champions Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
The Rocket's Verdict on Snooker's New Guard
Speaking on Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips channel in December 2025, the seven-time world champion, who had just turned 50, highlighted several youngsters impressing him on the professional tour. This comes at a time when veterans like O'Sullivan, John Higgins, and Mark Williams continue to dominate the world's top 10, with multiple players over 40 still firmly entrenched in the top 16.
O'Sullivan reserved special praise for 22-year-old Chinese player Wu Yize, whom he practiced with in Hong Kong before Wu's maiden ranking title win at the International Championship. In a surprising analogy, The Rocket likened Wu's effortless style to the tactical genius of 1980s dominator Steve Davis.
"I think Wu Yize, proper player, him," O'Sullivan stated. "He reminds me of a modern-day Steve Davis. Positional play... After day two or three, I was thinking, 'this kid, he's got a gift.' Little shots round the black, he just always got perfect position, perfect lines naturally."
Hendry's Heir and Other Talents Catching the Eye
O'Sullivan also identified a potential heir to Stephen Hendry's throne in 14-year-old Polish prodigy Michal Szubarczyk, the youngest professional in history. After watching him practice in China, O'Sullivan noted: "Great talent, he reminds me of you [Hendry], that action was lovely, it was straight. He was very zoned in. He's got a lot going for him."
Another young Chinese star earning recognition is 23-year-old Chang Bingyu, who pushed O'Sullivan to a narrow 6-5 defeat at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters this season and recently made a 147 maximum break in UK Championship qualifying. "I played him in Saudi, I was lucky to beat him," O'Sullivan admitted. "I rate him quite a bit. I really think he's good."
The High Bar for Snooker's Young Stars
Despite spotting these emerging talents, O'Sullivan, a professional since 1992, emphasised the unprecedented difficulty of breaking through in the modern game. He pointed to the incredible depth of quality throughout the rankings as the primary challenge.
"I think the standard now is just so high," O'Sullivan explained, citing his match against world number 76 Allan Taylor at the International Championship. "He can play! He doesn't look like he's going to miss... I looked at the ranking list the other day and there wasn't one player there I wanted to play, they're all good! It's tough now."
While questions persist about the pathway for snooker's youth amidst a landscape still commanded by seasoned champions, O'Sullivan's endorsements of Wu Yize, Michal Szubarczyk, and Chang Bingyu signal a bright future, with playing styles evoking the sport's greatest ever tactician and its most ruthless champion.
