John Higgins claims Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to boost new Snooker Players Association - 'He's really excited'

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A new independent body has been created to represent the commercial interests of the sport's leading players. Four-time world champion John Higgins will act as chairman of the Professional Snooker Players Association (PSPA) with Ronnie O'Sullivan "excited" by the plans of the new group, according to a BBC report. Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy are reportedly also on board.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to join Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby by signing up for the new Professional Snooker Players Association (PSPA), according to four-time world champion John Higgins.

Higgins will be the first chairman of the new independent body which has been created to represent the commercial interests of the players in collaboration with the sport's governing bodies, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), World Snooker Tour (WST) and the WPBSA Players' Board.

A report on the BBC also claims world No. 1 Trump, and former world champions Wilson, Selby, Stuart Bingham and Masters champion Shaun Murphy are part of the players committed to the new group.

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Other professionals to sign up are Barry Hawkins, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson, Jack Lisowski, Stephen Maguire, Mark Allen, Ryan Day and Joe Perry, who retired at the end of last season.

Former Indian Open champion Matthew Selt has reportedly been appointed as a director alongside lawyers Ben Rees and Mark Kenkre.

Higgins said seven-time world champion O'Sullivan, who turned professional alongside the Scotsman in 1992, will be the next player to join alongside Ding Junhui and Xiao Guodong as he seeks to "champion the sport".

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"I've had lots of discussions with Ronnie" said Higgins. "He's really excited about it, so it's full steam ahead."

Higgins also said the PSPA has been created to "to enhance the sport's future, while safeguarding player welfare and commercial interests" and compete with the growth of other "top sports".

"Snooker deserves a strong, independent players' association that stands for fairness, transparency, and progress," said Higgins.

The announcement comes two days before the start of the £2.3m Saudia Arabia Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, the richest ranking event outside the World Championship, which carries a first prize of £500,000, the same as the Crucible winner earns.

In a statement to TNT Sports the WST said they are looking forward to meeting with the new group and hearing their plans.

"WST always welcomes and encourages dialogue with all 128 players on the tour.

"We endeavour to create the best possible opportunities for players to achieve success in the sport and have significantly increased prize money in the last few years.

"We look forward to meeting with this new group and hearing their ideas in further developing the sport."

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