Snooker veteran Joe Perry has advised fellow 'Class of 92' legends Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins to emulate the philosophical approach of Mark Williams if they wish to continue competing at the sport's summit.
The Unwavering Trio Defying Time
All three snooker greats are now 50 years old and remain firmly inside the world's top 10 rankings, a remarkable feat of longevity. However, Mark Williams currently leads the pack at world number four and is the only one of the trio to have claimed a ranking title this season. His victory at the Xi'an Grand Prix made him the oldest ranking event winner in snooker history.
Williams' defiance of age continued last season with a run to the World Championship final. Perry, who also turned professional in 1992 alongside the three icons, believes the Welshman's secret lies in his mindset towards inevitable decline.
The Key is Acceptance, Not Perfection
"I think Williams, like he's said a few times... he's just dealing with it better," Perry told Metro. "He's still absolutely brilliant. They all are. Williams, arguably, is as good as he's ever been when he's playing well."
Perry pinpointed the crucial difference. Williams has accepted that he will have "some really bad days" and "horror performances" and is at peace with that reality. In contrast, O'Sullivan and Higgins, whose standards have been astronomically high for decades, can find poor form deeply unsettling.
"Whereas I think John and Ronnie, their standards have been set so high, it must be horrible sometimes to not play anything like what they're capable of," Perry explained. "I suppose they will eventually just accept it and just do what Mark's doing, just go out there and see what happens."
Brilliance Remains, Just Less Frequent
This is not to say Higgins and O'Sullivan are struggling. The Scot was a finalist at this season's International Championship, while 'The Rocket' reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters, famously compiling two maximum 147 breaks in the semi-final.
Perry notes that O'Sullivan's aura remains undimmed. "He still turns up to events and in the betting he's favourite or second favourite to win tournaments," said Perry, highlighting the Englishman's legendary status. "And he does still produce those moments. In Saudi he was incredible."
The challenge is the increased inconsistency. "Then we don't see much him for a few months and he throws in a couple of not so good performances and you think, 'oh, is this the end?' Then he's back again!"
The Real Retirement Test is Yet to Come
Perry, known as 'The Gentleman', believes retirement will only become a serious consideration when the legends face the prospect of tumbling down the rankings and playing in qualifying events in empty venues.
"I think the true test for them will come if they do drop down into the 40s and the 50s and they stop appearing at every venue," he stated. "When that situation changes and you become just another snooker player... it's very, very difficult then to stay motivated."
For now, all three are preparing for the Masters at Alexandra Palace next week. The draw sets up tantalising first-round clashes: Mark Williams plays Mark Allen on Monday, January 12, John Higgins faces Barry Hawkins on Tuesday, January 13, and Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Neil Robertson on Wednesday, January 14.
Perry's final advice to fans is simple: "I think we've just got to enjoy all of them for as long as we can." With their continued presence at the top, snooker enthusiasts have plenty more to savour.
