Four-time world snooker champion doesn’t hesitate when naming the greatest player of all time

SNOOKER legend Mark Selby insists Ronnie O’Sullivan is the best player of all time.

O’Sullivan, 48, is only one world championship away from breaking the record he currently shares with Stephen Hendry – both of whom have won it seven times.

However, Selby, 41, has been adamant it is The Rocket who stands out as the all-time greatest.

Nevertheless, the four-time world champion did warn O’Sullivan that he will need to maintain a level of hunger and health to retain the top spot.

Selby told the World Snooker Tour podcast back in 2022: “He is the greatest player to ever play our game.

“To still be playing the standard he’s playing is incredible at his age, and to still be at the top of the game as world champion is incredible.

“The biggest thing for me is the hunger and you need to stay healthy as well.

“When you get older the hunger can go a little bit, you don’t put so many hours in and you can’t cheat this game, put a couple of hours in here and there and expect to win big tournaments.

“The hunger is still there at the moment and I’m healthy. As long as I maintain that aspect then who knows?”

Nevertheless, O’Sullivan’s form has been inconsistent in 2024 as he was knocked out from the first round at the UK Championship from Barry Hawkins.

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

The exact same thing happened to Selby, who lost to Jack Lisowski.

O’Sullivan, though, has previously denied the accolade that his fellow snooker great has bestowed on him.

He told the BBC earlier this year: “I don’t regard myself as the greatest.

“I’m one of them, maybe. You’ve got Hendry, [Steve] Davis, and my hat’s in the ring with them.”