RANKING THE BEST SNOOKER PLAYERS OF ALL TIME! 

Me too, deffo thought he was being his usual trolling self

I think that's exactly what he was doing.

For sure thought the same. Love Willo!!!

Nah, it appears he just didn't give it much thought 🤔

Yeah he always jokes and best mates with hendry and always mucking about when its hendry Yeah he was doing that here joking around

If Ronnie, Hendry and Higgins were at their prime in the 80s, good luck Davis. Gonna need it. Edit: also he is a sellout prick with all his masonic hand symbols. dark heart.

Davis was 33-2 win/loss at the Crucible 1983 to 1989 Hendry was 34-2 win/loss at the Crucible 1992 to 1999. Davis's run at the Crucible in the 1980's was akin to Hendry's run in the 1990's so you coukd say that it waa a Hendry type win/loss record even if Davis didn't go on a 29 siccessive match wins or win 5 world titles on the spin. 33-2 win/loss waan't as far off from the 29 in a row Hendry match wins from 1992 to 1997 as it turned out. 33-2 also says Davis made 7 successive world chapionship finals 1983 to 1989, and Davis also made 2 more world aemi finals the 2 years in the first 2 years of the 1990's it waa extremely competitive with Hendry's Crucible record in the 1990's.

@@dvidclapperton loved the nugget!….a time when even the most average player was a household name…..the 1980s was surely the golden era of snooker

Great point

Very true but if you do want to compare eras you can only go on the numbers. That's why it's the problem because of the points you make

Well actually it's more than that. A lot has to do with human psychology. Give you an example of what I mean: I'd wager huge reason why O'Sullivan was so successful was because... Hendry was so successful in the 90s. A huge reason why Hendry was so successful was because.... Steve Davis was so successful. A huge reason why Davis was so successful was because.... Ray Reardon was so successful. And so it goes... All these players basically grew up watching and admiring their idols ie older players and wishing they could follow them and match their records and even beat their records. But, to that end, it has to be said it is FAR EASIER going for a target already set than setting any target, or indeed competing when there's no records and no benchmark from the past (such as in Joe Davis' era, for instance). Like, was century breaks stat such a big deal in Joe's era? Doubt it. Triple crown wins? Hell, there wasn't even any Uk champ or masters back then. Most prize money won? Again, grew with the time and has to be accounted for inflation and new sponsorship and the rise of media coverage. Competition? Yes sure it grew steadily over time too. Should Joe Davis be "penalised" in this ranking only because snooker was only in its early stages?! Would Ronnie have won 15, 20 or 30 titles back in Joe Davis' era? Hell, we'll never know answer to those questions, and yet these ALL are relevant considerations in this discussion!

it makes no sense to compare these eras claiming these top players wouldnt be able to compete today i mean give Alex Higgins or Jimmy White the equipment and condition guys have today and they would destroy dudes like Carter.

Let’s put Ali Carter on a 1980s unbeaten table with thick slow cloth and heavy balls and see how does

Except it was a different era. Slower cloth. The ball were heavier and didnt split as easily. The balls had to be picked off one by one and Davis and Hendry were geniuses at this

I am glad someone else mentioned it, I was about to leave the same comment in Ali's favour.

Ronnie's favourite!🤫🤫🤔🫣🫣

Did you notice how the number of centuries during this world championship was less than half of each of the previous years? Do you know why that happened? Surely, today's players with a higher standard should have gained more centuries? But no! You all don't realise how much harder it is to play on a thicker cloth. The 70s and 80s had the thickest cloths of all. And the cloth during the 2024 world championship was like an ice skating rink compared to the deep water wading of a cloth you had back in the 70s and 80s. This should be enough proof that people like Reardon and Davis would not only compete in today's era but probably dominate it too. Davis came after Reardon, Hendry came after Davis, the class of 92 came after Hendry, but no single one talent has emerged to take on Ronnie & co since. Leading me to believe that Ronnie would likely never have won 7 world titles if someone like Davis or Hendry came soon after him.

@@dangermouse8466 This makes no sense at all. You naming 1-1 players from each era, like it was only them, then the 92 class (which is 3 ppl alone) is already more, also Mark Selby came after them so its four top 7, possibly top 5 players only from the 2000s/2010s

@@m.b.7198 It does make sense. You haven't been watching snooker long enough to understand. Not only that but you've never played on a BCE table and a modern professional table. Of course you won't know nor understand.

Well, ALL players have Ronnie on 1. No need for discussion there...

It’s not a toss of the coin. Every professional snooker player says O’Sullivan even Ali Carter who hates him. Where are you coming from?

That's unfair!

@@DeadlyKiss000 what's unfair going to bed early

@@SSNRR17 You miss the snooker! You know you love it!

I went to the doctor in the early 1980s with insomnia…..was expecting a prescription but was told to get some vhs of the grinder …..not a dating app though 😂😂

Funniest part about Ebdon as a pro was nothing like how he played as an amateur. He was a very attacking and quick player as a young player

I miss out two Mark Selby Mark williams

Jimmy white just no. Champion in choking as harsh as it is to say.

Not even in the top 10 is Jimmy White. Are u kidding?

Yes but what Karen doesn't understand is that modern tables are vastly different to the tables of the 80s. Today's tables are easier to play on.

@@dangermouse8466 Then why all the great players in the old era could not compete anymore. They had the same tables but only Ronnie, Mark and John were winning.

@@udtojanpestillos2094 The tables of the 80s and 90s played totally differently to today's tables. Today's tables are much easier to play on. Why? It's for ratings. The BBC and WPBSA decided they wanted matches finishing quicker because interest in the sport wouldn't wane. And if winning is everything to you, then Davis and Reardon ought to be higher ranked than Mark and John coz they won more world titles. I suggest you do some research on how different the tables are.

@@dangermouse8466 Yeah nowaday's tables are easier to play. But the best players of 80s and 90s were not able to play on these "easy" tables. Standard was just low in those days.

@@udtojanpestillos2094 Of course they could play. Reardon is well into his 90s and Davis is getting on too. What the hell are you talking about?

Tables were absolutely different way back then too. Centuries are much easier to make and hence the main reason why Hearn made the prize for a 147 quite low.

No way Higgins is above Henry.no way

Made me realise how luck we are to have most of them alive and playing. Not something you can say about many sports!

​@@WillC-wy5oyyea Ronnie and Hendry in their prime were quite a step above everyone else imo

No way Hendry wins 7 in this era, most of his wins came against a bottleless Jimmy, he even beat Nigel Bond for one of them but you can only beat whats in front of you, and he is still the second best because he was that good, players like Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins would be out their depth against the power scorers of today. Could they adapt to the modern game with better tables and balls? We’ll never know.

@@scottleicester4266 ..eras are there for a reason..I don't think Steve Davies beat top notch players or even reardon. But both names are on the 🏆 6 times each

He can’t ever be number 1 in anyone’s list. Every single pro says O’Sullivan

@@ababbington1well he can just to many cock smokers he done what ronnie did but twice as fast

Yes definitely 💯

Fred Davis was well past his peak in the Reardon era despite getting to later stages of tournaments in his late 50s to mid 60s this tells us his much better brother Joe Davis would have dominated the 70s at his peak and probably 80s minimum.

@@wizzgamernot sure you understand my point? The greatest players of each era would have been great players in todays game no doubt with much better conditions and equipment. I’m not taking about who was past their best when I’m only say peak Davis Joe or Fred would thrive in todays game with the fantastic conditions. Flip it the other way and send today’s pampered top 16 to the 1950s conditions and they’d struggle to make 50 . That’s way I always think the debate of who’s the greatest is impossible to say. There’s no way to prove it.

Absolutely! He and then Hendry paved the way.

Wrong Davis should be Joe

@@jefferybilling9093 do not understand!?

@@darrenvidler5298 Joe Davis, the 15 times world champion and unbeaten in a competition match. Watching him play was magic, especially when you consider the equipment, balls, cloth etc.at that time.

​@@jefferybilling9093He competed against a handful of players in events that could barely be called tournaments.

It's funny that he is often viewed as an underachiever even though he has won almost 30 Titles (including 3 Worlds and the triple crown in one Season). Shows the massive talent and understanding of the game he (still) has.

He wasn't wrong.

Rory Bremner

They all fused Flashdance with MC Hammer sh*t...

@@donovanpain83 😂

@@danielosullivan7940 The Office will be watched in 50 years and looked on as pure genuis. Don't think Gavin and Stacey will...

Einstein and newton just don’t quite cut it 😂

Yes I'm a firm believer that talent is talent and if you dropped any of the old guard in to todays game they would raise their standards to compete with the players of today.

Fair point. But going purely on statistics, you can see why they don’t get picked in the list. We’ll never know

Yeah he beat Higgins in 2010 when he was past it. Prime he would be competitive

The question wasn't "let's postulate on how Fred Davis for example would fair against Ronnie if he was born decades later and had all the same equipment" Jessie Owens was amazing but he would still not even get on his National team now, time move on..sport evolves and people get better.

Well said!

Absolutely the guy at his best was a machine

I think Steve davis set the benchmark for the players that followed so I'd put him top of the tree

1 - Ronnie (genius) 2 - Higgins (match player) 3 - Hendry (fearless) 4 - Selby (torturer) 5 - Davis (match player) 6 - Williams (genius) 7 - Reardon (psychologist) 8 - Ebdon (spiritual healer)

Don't dare put Selby ahead of Hendry again lol.

@@Revolver1981 Selby has Hendry's breakbuilding abilities but with a better tactical game, and is the only player in history to beat Ronnie in all 3 TC finals. Before you bring up stats, Selby had to compete with a prime Class of 92 as well as Trump, Robertson, Murphy, Allen etc all in their primes.

@@SURGASURGE12 Hendry in his day was unbeatable.

You would be so wrong.

Probably a longevity thing

The standard definitely went up after Hendry retired. I'd say a prime John Higgins is better than prime Hendry. Higgins has won tournaments dropping only a couple of frames, completely unplayable!

@@soberlifestyle hahaha thats exactly the problem no one is touching prime Hendry

@@mikescorpio13 Exactly. People dismiss Hendry, because they only remember him playing when he was in a steep decline of form. They're quick to forget that he completely DOMINATED the game for an entire decade and still holds records that even Ronnie isn't breaking. I still think prime Hendry beats prime Ronnie. Ronnie might, arguably, be more talented, but Hendry had nerves of steel. Even if he was 9-0 down, in a first to 10, you wouldn't bet against him coming back and winning 10-9. Ronnie, as great as he is, has a tendency to sulk when things don't go his way and we saw that against Bingham this year. It's always been his biggest downfall, but if he had Hendry's bottle, he'd be World Champion every year.

@@tizmond are you delusional? A prime henry was nearly untouchable, but he is no way beating a prime ronnie! Ronnie, in his prime, would mean you not getting a chance to take a shot in the whole match, you'll be sat in your sit the whole time and only go to the table when it's your turn to break off 😂😂

Absolutely, I totally agree with you. It's shameful that Ali Carter does not understand this.

Not just the balls, but the cloth. Old cloth was much thicker/heavier. Today's cloth is fine, and conducive to the balls opening up, leading to more big breaks.

@@saltiresteel6647 Yes, this is true as well. Maybe some of the players DO understand that there can be no fair comparison made just by looking at the number of century breaks being made, or 147s. Stephen Hendry, for one, ought to know, and Steve Davis and Jimmy White surely do. The difference is more obvious in golf, where I expect even Gary Player, in his eighties, is able to hit the ball farther than he did in his twenties. But it seems that neophilia is the order of the day, and that homage must be paid to modernity, no matter how much or how little it merits it.

@@dangermouse8466 Perhaps he does, and he's just going through the TV Interview ritual of saying the "right" thing in a slightly different way from how the others are saying it. Shaun Murphy came closest to letting the cat out of the bag, I thought. Well done him!

More to do with the barrels of beer old darts players used to drink!

Think you said it better than me but the same sentiments. Put Alex higgins knowing he has to practice 7 hours a day to make it and it’d be inconceivable he wouldn’t be ranked higher than the Wilson’s. Put a common theme from all current players is to put down hendry and davis

​@@rwachwater4408 Alex could do things on the snooker table with thicker, slower cloth that modern players struggle with! Put him on a modern heated snooker table and he would be pulling of shots that only a prime Trump could achieve...

@@rwachwater4408 I didn’t even mention Alex, but you’re right, add Jimmy to that, too, their natural talent, with discipline & modern day playing conditions, they would be twice the players they were.

@@thesmithsnerdno disrespect to these players but if you’ve lived through these eras, without fear or favour how would Ricky Walden get on if he was an 80s player? He’s not a top 8 1980s player yet he hovers round the top 16 in 2024.

If you are at the table making a century how can anyone say in their chair stop you?

Jimmy White 🤣

Only if we’re counting world seniors titles.

1 - Ronnie (genius) 2 - Higgins (match player) 3 - Hendry (fearless) 4 - Selby (torturer) 5 - Davis (match player) 6 - Williams (genius) 7 - Reardon (psychologist) 8 - Ebdon (spiritual healer)

1 Ronnie 2 Hendry 3 Davis 4 J Higgins 5 Selby 6 Williams 7 R Reardon 8 A Higgins 9 J Trump 10 N Robertson

@@GarethHaynes I agree with this order entirely... maybe switching A Higgins and Trump, but that can be argued both ways.

Exactly. Hendry was the first player to combine the all out attacking style of Higgins/White and combine it with the determination & dedication to practice of Steve Davis. Davis changed the sport in the 80's, in terms of the amount of practice hours you have to put in to reach the top Hendry took it to a whole other level in the 90's in terms of shot making & break building

Totally agree. Prime Hendry would be winning titles today without question. The 2024 WC for a start!

Nobody would ever have won 7+ world titles in a decade 3 decades running. Nobody makes centuries in back to back visits 4 times to come to 8 centuries in a whole 8 frame multisession. 147's in back to back visits of a world semi final or final, no way. Nobody has ever made 6 centuries in the same 8 frame multisession before. 7 centuries have only ever been made in a match by a person(s) just once including at the Crucible. Well 7 centuries by a person(s) has/have been achieved at the Crucible before, so 7 centuries in a match is a record for the Crucible. Hendry is not the only player to have made 7 centuries in a match looking at the stats of various websites quoting results and breaks made.

Higgins and Williams primes were around 2000-2010. Hendry never beat them many times during that period as he was in decline. If Jimmy hadn't been so messed up Hendry wouldn't have 7 titles.

@@Patthis67 Hendry won 2 (of the last 3 thst he won) out of the last 5 world championships of the 1990's beating Williams or O'Sullivan, or both on the way, first in 1995 and then 1999. First time Hendry played Williams was in 1997, Hendry won but it was only in round 2 not the semi final, but he didn't go on and win the tournament. Some claim that John Higgins and Williams were at their peaks pre 1996 when Hendry was still winning the world championship every year. Hendry never played Higgins at all at the Crucible in the 1990's, and only met O'Sullivan and Williams at the deepest pointa of the world championships in the semi final and final of thr world championships in 1999. If they were all at their peaks whem Hendry was winnimg 5 in a row at the Crucible 1992 to 1996 why weren't all 3 of them also in the top 4 at the same time during that period and meeting the 3 of them on a regular basis in the world semi final and final.

They sound so short sighted and arrogant. The modern game is superior lol talent transcends time. It’s like saying you can’t compared different generations of footballers because the game has changed 😂 I watched the World championships. This lot are not more talented then previous generations. Alex Higgins the GOAT!!

I would have to agree with this.

Hendry will always be the best player ever for a period of time just like Tiger Woods was and Jack Nicklaus was before him.

Hendry is so far above john higgins... these robots are being ridiculous.

@@beniteztheconmanMatchplay aside also Higgins is a match fixer so that docks him some points in my book

But all the players say higgins is the most complete player ever.

@@raqeebahmed9932 definitely the most balance in skillsets offense-defense-knowledge of the game experience-pressure he can do it all at a high level.

i think this is a fair list. I never saw Reardon compete so i can't say him.

@@dgeneratio1 Yes, that's why I left him out. I can only comment from the time I've been watching ie from 1981 onwards.

Ok, to be fair, I did watch some of Reardon's matches but not enough to make an informed opinion.

Absolute nonsense!!

​@markhoad5921 Try saying that to Davis's opponents of the 1980's, who were pinned to their chairs for most of the match, or faced with shots where the cue ball was welded to the baulk cushion.

I agree. Davis easily makes the top 5 on my list.

in their prime

Alex Higgins would intimidate these new players like they never felt before hahaha he would be my top choice for raw talent only and will to win.Hendry was the beast of the pack.No way new players would have compete with these 2.

@@mikescorpio13 yeah similar thoughts to yours, agree Hendry was like a steamroller but in slower motion rather than like ronnies version lol

That’s my pick as well 👍

If alex maybe.john higgins and williams are so average

Ding over Robertson and Judd?! Paul Hunter because he died?

Glad someone brought up Paul Hunter. Taken too soon and could have accomplished much more I feel.Judd not really mentioned, which I feel should be in more people's lists. So many good players now,making it a harder choice than when Davis and Hendry were dominating. I'm just really pleased to have enjoyed them all. Ronnie is pretty much top of everyone's list understandably.

Think that’s how I’d have it too

1 - Ronnie (genius) 2 - Higgins (match player) 3 - Hendry (fearless) 4 - Selby (torturer) 5 - Davis (match player) 6 - Williams (genius) 7 - Reardon (psychologist) 8 - Ebdon (spiritual healer)

What higgins? John or Alex?

@@DannyShine well different people might have different opinions mate

Also, you can't compare the 70s and 80s to modern era when there are big tournaments almost any week, whereas in those days there were only some 6 or seven all year. Ronnie has taken all the records because now it is so much more easy - in that regard.

Hendry created the modern breakbuilding game that everyone currently uses. He probably lacked the safety play of Higgins, but there's never been a better attacking player. He is literally the blueprint, and was the best at it. 😊

They were differentime, the pockets were smaller in those days.

@@lf67hh28Peiple forget this also hendry played to a level in the final of the uk against Ken that none of them and I mean none them can play too not even Ronnie. Ronnie is the greatest but hendry butchers him in a one table long format game both at the best

@michaelmulhall5007 Ronnie himself still states that Hendry was a level above him at his peak...that's all you need to know, really.

I agree. This ridiculous underpaying of Steve Davis. Well I watched him and he was class above every other player in his prime and would beat most of the Top 16 now. You think Davis couldn't beat Murphy? Theres also this myth that he was just a great tactical player but he was actually an incredible breakbuilder, way better than everyone around him. There was a time when he was on 300 plus centuries when everyone else was well below 200 (apart from Jimmy). I remember him getting 3 centuries in a row in one match and of course the first televised 147. Have a look at that break on YT and you'll see how good he was, at a time when tables had a big nap and the balls were much heavier (they didnt ping apart like they do at the slightest touch now). People get confused. The game hasn't evolved its just changed and Steve was one of the first to actually change it.

Well, there was only about 3 or 4 players around then.

Milkins and Higgins are in my top 5 too, Osullivan and Reardon, not sure about the other

Poomjaeng

Yes, John Higgins above a 90s Hendry makes no sense.

Ciff Thorburn

Yes, like take a line of coke of ir

Judd as well possibly, some of the shots he pulls off are unbelievable

Hendry had a century within a year of playing for the first time!

Ronnie would beat them both with a cue in his left foot …. The only genuine comparison is hendry v Ronnie. I think hendry was the best tbh ….ronnie more take talent but hendrys head and temperament

Alex Higgins. Fuck off! The man made about centuries in the all his WSC appearances. Hendry made 16 in 1...

😂😂😊

1 - Ronnie (genius) 2 - Higgins (match player) 3 - Hendry (fearless) 4 - Selby (torturer) 5 - Davis (match player) 6 - Williams (genius) 7 - Reardon (psychologist) 8 - Ebdon (spiritual healer)

Oh get lost you are definitely 100% biased Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins are the best all round players Williams would be in the top 5 but first? No way You're biased all day long because of where you live

And the other three? ;)

Some people don’t understand certain jokes.

@alanhodges8839 You call that a joke? What a lame and pathetic comeback for such a shit comment you gave You're clearly arrogant and biased and your comment just then proves me right BIASED !!!!!!!!

Even Ronnie said that Mark could be the best player of all time if he wasn't so indifferent to it.

I just hope john did not lose that on purpose.

Lmao.

Have Williams over selby

Mark Williams is a much better player than Steve Davis was.

1 - Ronnie (genius) 2 - Higgins (match player) 3 - Hendry (fearless) 4 - Selby (torturer) 5 - Davis (match player) 6 - Williams (genius) 7 - Reardon (psychologist) 8 - Ebdon (spiritual healer)

@@jmarsh5485 Selby above Ebdon come on.

@@jmarsh5485 sorry he's in there😂

Reardon, Charlton and Thorburn wouldn't be charging around the table today.

1 - Ronnie (genius) 2 - Higgins (match player) 3 - Hendry (fearless) 4 - Selby (torturer) 5 - Davis (match player) 6 - Williams (genius) 7 - Reardon (psychologist) 8 - Ebdon (spiritual healer)