The six players with most ranking titles in snooker history are all British. Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui are the only non-Brits with more than six ranking titles. Brits are the only nationality to have won multiple world titles.
As a result, there’s inevitably significant overlap between the greatest British snooker players of all-time and the best players in the sport’s history.
Some players who are often among the snooker betting favourites for major events, like Judd Trump and Mark Williams – arguably the greatest Welsh snooker player of all time, have missed the cut in our list of the five best British players.
Given the different structure of the tour, it’s tricky to compare past greats like Alex Higgins and Ray Reardon with the most successful players of the 21st century.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
There is no debate about who deserves top spot in these rankings. In fact, that’s been the case for a while.
Ronnie O’Sullivan matched Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world titles in 2022. His 41 ranking titles are far clear of anyone else, and he’s in a league of his own with over 1,200 century breaks.
The Rocket has transcended snooker. His risk-taking, quick-playing style is captivating for casuals and diehards alike. A knack for controversy has only increased interest in the sport. Snooker will be worse off when O’Sullivan calls it a day.
Stephen Hendry
An unstoppable force and a safe sports betting option throughout his peak, Stephen Hendry is a seven-time world champion. There were three years – 1991, 1997, 1998 – when Hendry wasn’t world champion during the 1990s.
Succeeding Steve Davis as the dominant force of snooker, Hendry set a record of 36 ranking titles. He was world number one from April 1990 until May 1998, and even returned for a brief stint in the second half of the 2000s.
Some of Hendry’s records are now in O’Sullivan’s possession, but that doesn’t undermine his achievements. The Scot turned professional as a teenager and defined an era of snooker.
Steve Davis
Behind O’Sullivan and Hendry in Triple Crown titles, Steve Davis really couldn’t rank higher than third in this list.
Davis owned the 1980s in the way Hendry was the preeminent figure of the 1990s. Mocked on Spitting Image for his uninspiring interview remarks, the Romford Slim played the percentages and tended to grind down his opponents.
Snooker was a much more popular sport in Davis’ time than it is today (partly due to fewer channels being available). The modern greats have earned plenty of cash themselves, but they have not reached Davis’ level of fame. He was the highest earning British sportsperson for a portion of the 1980s.
John Higgins
A world champion in three different decades, John Higgins has had four spells as world number one. Hendry and O’Sullivan are the only players with more ranking titles and prize money in snooker’s biggest events.
While he didn’t have a period of dominance comparable to the three players above him, Higgins’ longevity speaks volumes. His first ranking final was in 1994, yet he’s still competing in ranking events deep into the 2020s.
The Wizard and Wishaw holds the record for the longest stint in the top 16.
Mark Selby
Victory over Higgins in the 2024 British Open final earned Mark Selby his 23rd ranking title. The Jester from Leicester has nine Triple Crown titles (tied with Higgins), including four World Championships and three Masters.
Selby was the world’s best player from 2014 until 2020. His performances have waned slightly since then, but his body of work is still enough to rank fifth.
