World Grand Prix 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams set to create history in world snooker rankings
By Desmond Kane
Published 04/03/2025 at 17:23 GMT
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50 is set to become the new 40 in snooker with the record-breaking evergreen 'Class of '92' on course to create new history by ending the 2024/25 season inside the world's top five. New World Open champion John Higgins is set to join Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams in celebrating their 50th birthday at the very summit of the sport, a feat never achieved in the modern era of professionalism.
Higgins doubles in re-spotted black to win key frame against Carter
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Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams are on course to end the season inside the world's top five in 2025 – an astonishing 33 years after the sport's 'Class of '92' turned professional.
The trio – who have a remarkable 14 world titles between them – all turn 50 this year, but show no signs of faltering in their ongoing quest for major prizes in the sport.
Higgins endured a four-year run without lifting a trophy, but his 10-6 win over Joe O'Connor in the final of the World Open in Yushan on Saturday saw the Scotsman move up five places to eighth in the latest provisional world rankings.
The outlook looks better for the rejuvenated 32-time ranking event winner – who defeated Ali Carter 4-3 in the opening round of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong to set up a last-16 meeting with Kyren Wilson – in the latest end-of-season rankings with Higgins on course to end the campaign as world No. 5.
Judd Trump is set to end the season as runaway world No. 1 with world champion Wilson in second spot, but next come O'Sullivan, Williams and Higgins.
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It is a remarkable achievement for Higgins, who spent a week out of the top 16 for the first time since April 1995 before reaching the British Open final in September.
Despite missing several events this season, O'Sullivan's ranking victories at the UK Championship and World Grand Prix last season have cemented his stay among the leading places.
Since the inception of the world rankings in 1976, no three players aged 49 have occupied such a lofty position in the sport.
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Ray Reardon was world No. 1 at the age of 50 when he became the oldest winner of a ranking event at the Professional Players Tournament in 1982 and the Welsh icon remained ranked inside the top 16 until 1987.
Reardon's fellow six-time world champion Steve Davis was ranked inside the top 16 at the age of 50, but the success of O'Sullivan, Higgins and Williams has set a new benchmark for achievement in the modern history of the sport.
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The ground-breaking consistency of O'Sullivan, Higgins and Williams also leads a wider trend in the sport that sees battle-hardened players over the age of 30 dominate the game.
Si Jiahui is the only player in his 20s set to finish the season inside the top 16, in 16th spot, with half of the elite, also including Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy, Tom Ford and Ali Carter, in their 40s.
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