Name a more evergreen trio in sport… we’ll wait. Perhaps tennis’ Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have a claim to this accolade, but there is no longevity quite like that shown by snooker’s ‘Class of 92’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams. The three legends are into their latest Crucible quarter-finals, and here’s your chance to vote on their respective merits.
The World Snooker Championship is in full swing – and surprise, surprise, the ‘Class of 92’ are appearing at the sharp end once again.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams are the sport’s timeless triad, defying the doubters as they continue to battle a burgeoning band of pretenders.
Consider the year of their Crucible debuts, with ‘The Rocket’ first playing in Sheffield a mind-boggling 32 years ago:
‘Absolutely shocked!’ – Crucible left stunned by double ‘crippling blow’ to Zhao’Absolutely shocked!’ – Crucible left stunned by double ‘crippling blow’ to Zhao
HALO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
‘Absolutely shocked!’ – Crucible left stunned by double ‘crippling blow’ to Zhao
26 minutes ago
O’Sullivan: 1993
Higgins: 1995
Williams: 1997
O’Sullivan, 49, had barely played in the months preceding this year’s edition of the worlds, but has shown encouraging signs of a return to form in his progression to the last eight, taking on Si Jiahui for a place in the last four.
Meanwhile, Higgins and Williams – 49 and 50, respectively – meet each other in the quarter-finals in their latest encounter of a rivalry spanning three decades.
But what is it about these players that makes them so great? And with such a huge bank of evidence to draw on, how do they compare in all aspects of the game?
As the quarter-finals progress – all live on TNT Sports and discovery+ – here is your chance to have your say…
Flashback: Best safety play? Best temperament? O’Sullivan rates who has best snooker attributes
Long-potting
Whilst the game of snooker is multi-faceted, slotting a long-range red is invariably how the Class of 92 have got their baize dominance going.
The studious, steady glare of Higgins down the table has become the stuff of folklore, cue brushing his chin before sinking another beauty to get himself off and running.
Contrast that with the rapid flair of O’Sullivan, or the powerful flourishes from Williams, and it’s clear how the trio are so different even in this one area.
But if you had to choose someone likeliest to sink a long red, who would it be?
Who is the best long potter?
O’Sullivan
Higgins
Williams
Break-building
Once they’re in the balls, that’s where O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams have really made their opponents pay over the years.
And the all-time numbers for frames played per century made show this level of consistency:
Player Frames played per century Rank
O’Sullivan 9.6% 3rd
Higgins 6.9% 12th
Williams 4.9% 33rd
Data: CueTracker, min. 10 matches
In your view, who has been the best break-builder among the three?
Who is the best break-builder?
O’Sullivan
Higgins
Williams
SUBMIT
Safety
What about if a frame gets nuggety? Stopping an opponent scoring is as crucial as knocking in the balls themselves, and the Class of 92 are consummate exponents of this art.
Neil Robertson is one player who agrees.
“Safety play is the most important thing in the game now, absolutely,” Robertson said late last year.
“It went through a phase where long-potting was the most important, and the break-building but now it’s gone… especially with all the Chinese players who are capable of playing top-eight standard snooker on their day, it’s the safety.”
Who has exhibited this skill best over the years?
Who is the best safety player?
O’Sullivan
Higgins
Williams
Mindset
Finally, being a ‘tournament animal’ is an ability that has stood the three players in such good stead during their careers.
Knowing how to win ugly, how to stay in matches, how to weather an opponent’s purple patches… the mental challenge of snooker is like no other.
Clearly O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams – with 14 world titles between them – have shown this in spades – but who is the best at it?
Who has the best mindset?
O’Sullivan
Higgins
Williams
SUBMIT
The experts have their say
We took our questions to TNT Sports experts Jimmy White and Alan McManus. How did they compare against your votes?
Long-potting
White and McManus were unanimous in their voting over the finest ball-striker from range in the Class of 92.
The pair agreed Williams trumps his colleagues in that particular department, ahead of second-placed O’Sullivan, whose long-game they deemed stronger than Higgins.
As it turns out, the former snooker stars were in direct agreement with you, the public. Williams took the overwhelming majority of the vote, edging slightly ahead of O’Sullivan, with Higgins ranked third.
Break-building
When it comes to prolonged runs at the baize, White felt O’Sullivan was the strongest of the three-man crop. Behind him, Higgins ranked second, with Williams in at third. McManus was, once again, in agreement with the snooker legend.
As it turned out, the public were again completely in line with the experts – O’Sullivan taking a huge lead in that vote, taking over 90%.
