Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals who he rates as snooker's current best all-round player

O’Sullivan was speaking to Pluto TV on Saturday afternoon following his 6-4 semi-final victory over Kyren Wilson at the inaugural Snooker 900 Global Championship at the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Reading.

Chatting after the match, O’Sullivan was full of praise for reigning Masters champion Wilson, naming the 34-year-old as the sport’s top all-rounder at present.

Following back-to-back Chinese world championship winners in Zhao Xintong and newly crowned Crucible king Wu Yize, O’Sullivan was asked about up-and-coming prospects from snooker’s traditional stronghold of the UK, but pointed out 34-year-old Wilson - who won his maiden world title two years ago - as someone who he thinks will still have a big say in the coming years.

“Kyren’s still really young. I think he’s going to win some more world championships” said record 41-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan.

After claiming the blue riband prize in 2024, Wilson took his game to new levels, winning four ranking event trophies during his season whilst wearing the world crown.

This term has been a rollercoaster for Wilson who has had to contend with issues away from the table, and problems with a new cue after having to retire his old one that he enjoyed so much success with.

He failed to reach a single ranking event semi-final, but still managed to win two huge invitational titles - at the Shanghai Masters last August, and his second Triple Crown accolade at the Masters last January. Those victories alone saw him collect over half-a-million pound in prize money.

“For me he’s the best all-round player at the moment” said O’Sullivan. “Bottle, break-building, potting - he’s got the best all-round game.”

In the past, Wilson’s style has often been compared to that of Mark Selby’s, but O’Sullivan believes that Wilson’s game is more representative of a different four-time world champion.

‘The Rocket’ said: “I think he’s more like John Higgins...he doesn’t play the awkward safeties, he’ll play the traditional safeties. He can mix it if he has to, but he can score. He’s a good potter, he’s a very reliable cueist.”

O’Sullivan added by explaining how he feels that Wilson’s consistent cueing technique is a major asset to have. “Me and Selby are a bit similar; I know it might sound bizarre, but we lose our form we have to find it a bit - we rely on cueing well to feel like we can win a little bit, whereas these guys cue so well, I think that’s just parked up and it’s just about ‘play’, which is a great way to play snooker.”