Snooker icon Mark Selby has highlighted the crop of young talent he believes is finally ready to challenge the sport's enduring veteran champions. The four-time world champion, who continues to win titles in his forties, acknowledges the unprecedented dominance of older players but sees a new generation beginning to emerge.
The Ageing Vanguard of the Sport
The upper reaches of snooker have been characterised by remarkable longevity in recent seasons. The legendary 'Class of 92' – Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, and Mark Williams – all remain in the world's top 16 at the age of 50, a scenario few predicted years ago. Selby himself, alongside contemporaries like Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson, continues to lift trophies despite being north of 40.
This sustained success from the established stars has naturally led to questions about where the next wave of champions is hiding. Selby's answer is clear: the veterans are simply playing at a phenomenal level, but the young guns are now arriving.
Selby's Picks for Snooker's Future
In an interview, Selby pointed to several promising players from across the globe who are showing the potential to reach the summit.
From China, he singled out 22-year-old Wu Yize, labelling him a "very, very good player" following his recent International Championship victory. He also noted the impressive performance of 17-year-old Lan Yuhao at the Northern Ireland Open.
For British hopes, Selby expressed excitement about the progress of several home-grown talents. He praised 19-year-old Stan Moody for playing "great" and 20-year-old Liam Pullen for a strong season. Another teenager, Wales's Liam Davies (19), also earned a mention, with Selby noting his perfect role model in countryman Mark Williams.
"It's good that we've got a few UK boys coming through," Selby stated. "We got left behind for a little while with the young Chinese lads coming through so it's nice that we've got Stan, Liam and Liam coming through." He also humorously added 24-year-old Jackson Page to the list, joking "He had a beard when he was born!"
A European Revolution on the Baize?
Perhaps most intriguingly, Selby highlighted the potential for a shift beyond the traditional UK-China snooker axis. He discussed the sensational rise of 14-year-old Polish professional Michal Szubarczyk, the youngest ever pro, who has already notched seven wins on the main tour this season.
Selby revealed he has practised with another young Polish player, Antoni Kowalski, who spoke highly of Szubarczyk. "I just hope he doesn't put too much pressure on himself," Selby advised. "It would be great for the game if somebody like him comes through."
He also named Hungary's Bulcsu Revesz as part of a promising European contingent, signalling a welcome broadening of snooker's talent base. The future of the sport, it seems, is not only young but increasingly international.
