In the following article, we have carefully prepared for you, you will find the best snooker players who ever played the game, not the top snooker players of our current age.

Yes, most players mentioned below are still active and present in both charts, too, but our attention here is focused on the people who made the sport what it is today.

Top 10 Best Snooker Players in the World – Chart & Facts

Before we start examining the list of the best snooker players in the world, we decided it would be a great idea to show them to you first and provide links to their biographies.

That is in case you are already familiar with some of them and want to turn more attention to the rest of the legends in the sport of snooker.

Each of these players could be called an “ambassador of snooker” because they all contributed to its popularisation. All of the top 10 snooker players of all time have reached different pinnacles in the sport, considered impossible by many before them.

Most of these professional players are still active, and you can find them participating in every reputable international event featured on the best online betting sites for Snooker in the United Kingdom.

Keep reading to learn about their personal information, professional achievements and other interesting facts from their past and future that you would like to find as a fan of Snooker.

1. Ronnie O’Sullivan – The Legend of Snooker

Ronnie O’Sullivan is considered the best snooker player ever because his achievements surpass any other player’s in the sport’s history. He was born in England in 1975 and had quite a troublesome childhood.

His mother and father were convicted for different crimes, and he was supposed to care for his little sister. He started his amateur career at 9, while his first significant win was when he was 13 years old – the British Under 16 Championship.

Between 13 and 17, he showed a never-seen potential; soon enough, all of his efforts paid off. A few days before he turned 18, he won the 1993 UK Championship for the first time and became the youngest pro player in the history of snooker.

He became famous for his drug issues and severe depression over the years, but that was nothing that he couldn’t overcome. His career had many ups and downs, but that didn’t stop him from becoming the best snooker player of all time.

He holds so many records, so we don’t see how someone can surpass him any time soon. He won the World Championship, the UK Championship, and the Master’s Championship seven times each.

His winning streak includes many more competitions worldwide, like the Irish, Scottish, Hong Kong, and Shanghai Masters several times each, plus many other championships. Nowadays, he holds 39 professional titles, more than any other player.

He also became the oldest snooker player in history to win the World Championship of snooker and a proud member of the Order of the British Empire in 2018. There is no other player like Ronnie O’Sullivan, that is for sure.

Because we can’t explain the biography and achievement of Ronnie O’Sullivan with a few words, that is why we suggest you him complete biography.

2. Stephen Hendry – The Scottish King of Snooker

Stephen Hendry is another legend of snooker that has its place among the top 10 snooker players of all time. He dominated the sports in the 1990s and retired in 2012, but recently (in 2021), he returned to the pro leagues.

Stephen was born in 1969 in South Queensferry, Scotland. At 14, he won his first amateur championship – the Scottish Under 16. A year later, he became the youngest winner of the Scottish Amateur Championship.

A year later, at 16, he entered the pro leagues. The same year, he won the Scottish Professional Championship for the first time and qualified for the World Championship.

At that time, he was the youngest player ever to attend that competition. Until 1989, he was a three-time winner of the Scottish Pro Championship and a one-time winner of the Masters.

Most of his achievements in the 1990s put him on a pedestal and won him second place on the list of best snooker players. He literally dominated the World Championship that decade.

We won the title seven times, in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1999. Of course, he reached the final several more times before retirement in 2012 but never won another one.

These are not his only achievements. In total, he has 36 professional titles. Some of the most relevant ones are five UK championships, several British Opens, four Grand Prix, three European Opens, one Malta Cup and more.

We didn’t even mention the many Masters wins (six times) and the rest of the Australian, Hong Kong, Irish and London Masters that he has won over the years.

Since his return in 2021, he competed several times in large tournaments like the World Snooker Tour, the World Championship, Gibraltar Open, German and European Master and more. Still, he was not able to win any prizes.

We hope that in the following years, we will see a match between the two titans of Snooker, him and Ronnie O’Sullivan. One thing is guaranteed – it will be an epic battle.

3. Steve Davis – The Snooker Legend of the 80s

Steve Davis is another English player who made many miracles with his snooker cue. He became famous in the early 1980s by winning the World Championship six times in that decade.

He was born in 1957 in London. His father showed him how to play snooker at the age of 12 while they were spending time in the local working men’s club.

Steve learned a lot from the books of another legend that we will later overview in this chart of the best snooker players ever – Joe Davis. When he was 18, he started playing for money against different people in the Lucania snooker halls.

His first noticeable win was in 1976 – the English Under-19 Billiards Championship. Two years later, in 1978, he was accepted as a snooker pro player and became the youngest player ever to play the game (at least at that time).

His debut in the World Championship was in 1979, but he lost against Dennis Taylor and fell out of the competition. He almost won the championship in 1980, but Alex Higgins stopped him at the semi-finals.

That year, he won his first significant title – the UK snooker Championship, which marked the beginning of a long winning streak. Between 1980 and 1990, he took six World Championship titles in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1989.

In between them, he won the UK Championship several times, the Grand Prix, the Irish Masters, other Masters tournaments, and more. In the following decade, he won several other titles but could never acquire another world one.

Steve Davis continued playing until 2016, when he finally retired. His spotless reputation brought him a total winning score of 28 professional titles. Like many of the top 10 snooker players of all time, he is considered an ambassador of snooker.

That is because of his contribution and many professional wins that made the sport more popular in the UK and globally. Now it’s time to get familiar with one of his slightly older rivals – Alex Higgins.

4. Alex Higgins – Founder of Modern Snooker

Alex Higgins is one of the first prevalent snooker players who brought the game to a broader audience. He doesn’t have that many titles because there were not many tournaments and championships at his time.

Plus, the World Championship was not considered a ranking event for the first time in 1974. However, we will start with short information about his background and origin.

Alexander Higgins was born in 1949 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His family lived near the Jam Pot, a billiard and snooker hall. This is the place where he started playing the game when he was only ten years old.

As a teenager, he wanted to become a horse racing jockey, but he gained some weight and became unfit for that occupation. This was when he realised that snooker could be a way to make money.

In 1967, he joined the snooker league of the Mountpottinger YMCA, where he overcame his weaknesses and became an outstanding player. A year later, he felt ready to try his luck at the Northern Ireland Amateur Snooker Championship.

He won the tournament and became the youngest winner of the contest at the age of 18. In the following year, he participated again, but luck was not on his side this time, and he lost and fell out of the competition.

To pursue a pro career in the sport, he moved to England. His talent was recognised by the tycoon John McLaughlin, who helped him get on his feet and continue chasing his dream of becoming a pro-snooker player.

In 1972, he felt confident enough to try his luck at the World Championship for the first time and even win it. A year later, in 1973, he debuted at the Pot Black tournament but lost his first game.

His next significant memorable match was at the final of the World Championship in 1976 against the legendary Ray Reardon, but he could not win the game. In 1980, Higgins lost another finale against Cliff Thorburn.

Finally, in 1982, he won the World Championship a second time by beating Reardon. We missed to mention that he was able to win the Masters competition in 1978 and 1981. His last significant win was in 1989 in the Irish Masters Championship.

He continued playing, but in 1994, it became evident that he had cancer and underwent two surgeries in 1994 and 1996. From then on, his health started slowly withdrawing until his death in 2010.

Alex Higgins won nearly £4 million for his entire career and became the founder of the game of snooker that we know nowadays. This is why he is ranked fourth on this chart among the best snooker players ever.

5. John Higgins – The Wizard of Wishaw

Known as the Wizard of Wishaw, John Higgins is a professional Scottish snooker player who is still active and still among the best snooker players in the world.

Before we continue any further, we would like to underline that he is not related to the legend Alex Higgins that we just overviewed, but he is no less a player than him.

He was born in 1975 in Wishaw, Scotland, which is the reason for his nickname. Unfortunately, there is not much information about his childhood and personal life. Therefore, we will continue with his professional career and how he became one of the top snooker players.

John Higgins became more famous in 1992 when he reached the quarter-finals of the British Open competition. His first more prominent win was when he was 19 on the Grand Prix. The same season, he won his first British Open title and an International Open one.

1998, he won his first World Champions, the UK Championship, and the Masters tournament at the same time. This immediately brought him to media attention, raising his net worth and confidence.

In 1999, he could not get the world title, but he won the Grand Prix. 2000, he won his second UK Championship title but lost the world title final.

2001, it was the same; he lost the world title but became the first player to win the season’s three opening tournaments – British and Scottish Opens and the Champion Cup.

The successive prominent win was against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2005 Grand Prix finale. The following two years were not great for John Higgins, but he returned in 2007 by winning the World Championship a second time.

Two years later, in 2009, he did it again, winning his third world title against Michael Holt. We can say that the following decade, 2010 – 2020, was very promising for Higgins, and it won him this place among the top 10 best snooker players in the world.

He won only one World Championship in 2011, but four Welsh Opens, one Indian Open, one Australian Goldfields Open, one International Championship and several more reputable competitions worldwide.

Since 2020, he acquired one more Masters title in 2021 but lost the rest of the contests. The most dramatic loss was in the World Championship semi-finals 2022 against O’Sullivan.

We are waiting to see what the future will bring for John Higgins and if he can rise again and move up into the ranks of the list of the best snooker players in the world.

6. Joe Davis – The Undisputed Father of Snooker

Joe Davis is one of the first legends of the sport since its establishment in 1875. His era was long before the foundation of the world ranking and all the many events we have today.

In the 1910s, snooker was mainly played among billiard players in the UK as a fun amateur game. In 1927, the first Professional Snooker Championship occurred in London, where everything started.

Joe was born in 1901 in a big family with six children. He was only eleven when he started playing billiards and decided to pursue a professional career.

His first win in the sport was two years later. When he was 13, Joe won the District Amateur Billiard Championship, but his pro career started six years later when he was already 18 years old.

The first significant achievement was in February 1920 when he beat Albert Raynor. By the end of that year, Davis was holding the highest recorded break in billiards – 468. By 1926, he was already a proven pro player with a decent winning score.

In the same period, snooker started gaining more popularity across the United Kingdom, and the interest towards the sport led to the foundation of the first World Championship in 1927.

Joe Davis was the first champion of this game, who owned the first place for the first 15 consecutive years, from 1927 to 1940. The 15th event was held after the end of the war, in 1946.

Davis retired from the sport after the World Championship in 1946. Up to this date, he is the only personal among the best snooker players in history who was able to hold one title for 20 years in a row.

We shall not miss to tell you that he also won the English Billiard Championship in 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1932, and for all of his achievements, he became part of the Order of the British Empire in 1963 as a gratitude for his contribution.

7. Jimmy White – The Most Fluid Snooker Style

Jimmy White is one of the top snooker players, which we consider a bit unlucky because he has impressive skills and a proper playing style, but he could not win any World Championships.

Let’s start with a bit of a background, and then we will explain why he deserves a place among the best snooker players of all time and what is so special about him.

James White, also known as “the Whirlwind”, is an English pro snooker player born in London in 1962. Even as a kid, he spends most of his time in the snooker hall of Ted Zanoncelli’s.

His first amateur win was in 1979 when he took first place at the English Amateur Championship. A year later, he became the youngest winner of the World Amateur Snooker Championship, he was only 18 at the time.

Two years later, he had already established himself as a professional Snooker player but lost his first match at the 1981 World Championship against Steve Davis. Still, he acquired the Scottish Masters title the same year.

In 1982, he again lost his chance at the World Championship by losing to Alex Higgins. In 1984, he won his first Masters title but lost the final of the world competition again.

Between 1985 and 1990, he won his second Masters tournament and first Grand Prix and Irish Masters. 1987 was a bad year because we lost the British Open, the UK, and the World Championship.

Generally, 1988 was good for him, but he missed his chance at the semi-final of the World Championship. The same happened the following year when he lost the quarter-finals against John Virgo.

All this didn’t discourage him because he won many other competitions in the following decade of 1990-2000, like the World Masters in 1991, the European League in 1993, and the Scottish Masters in 2000.

The older he gets, the better his game becomes. The most successful period of his career was between 2009 and 2020 when he won three times the World Seniors Championship, the UK Seniors Championship, the Seniors Irish Masters and several more reputable contests.

The truth is that in the last two decades, he has concentrated more on non-ranking tournaments and senior ones. Despite that, he is a great player with tons of skills. He is known as the player with the most fluid playing style.

Over his career, he faced some of the best snooker players of all time, but didn’t have enough luck to beat them and take more significant ranking titles like the World Championship.

He reached the World’s Championship finale six times but lost all of them. Four against Stephen Hendry, one against Steve David and one against John Parrot. We can’t say he has no skills, so it must be luck.

8. Mark Selby – The Jester from Leicester

Mark Selby is another snooker legend born in England. He is still active and among the biggest contenders for the world’s most prestigious titles. He has won four World Championships and 22 ranking events, which places him among the best snooker players ever.

His journey began in 1983 in Leicester, where he was born and where his career started. At the age of eight, he was already into billiards, and a year later, he started playing snooker with his brother.

Mark Selby’s childhood was not easy because his mother abandoned him, and later on, when he was 16, his father passed away because of cancer. The person that helped him develop as a pro snooker player was Malcolm Thorne.

Malcolm is the brother of the famous snooker player Willie Thorne. He took Mark and his brother under his wing, started training them before the death of their father, and helped them through their difficulties.

Mark’s first noticeable win was in England’s Under-15 Championship in 1998. A year later, in 1999, he started his professional career. He reached several semi-finals and finals in the following years but never scored a win.

Despite that, his overall performance qualified him for the World Championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. After the finale of 2007, Alex Higgins told the public that he considers Mark the fastest-improving player on the tour.

We can say that the objective prosperity in Selby’s career started in the following decade, 2010 – 2020. In 2011, he won the Shanghai Open, and in 2012, he took his first UK Championship title, proving that hard work always pays out.

The actual rise of Mark Selby started in 2014 when he finally won his first World Championship against the best Snooker player in the history of the sport – Ronnie O’Sullivan.

From that moment onwards, he took that confidence and grew significantly as a pro player. Between 2015 and 2020, his achievements won him a place among the top 10 snooker players of all time.

In 2015, he won the China and German Opens. In 2016, he beat O’Sullivan for a second time in the World Championship finale. That’s not all, he won four other international ranking events that year.

In 2017, he eliminated John Higgins in the World Championships finale and secured his third title. That year and the following, he won the China Open tournament, including other competitions.

In 2019 and 2020, Mark won twice the Scottish Open, once the English and once the European Masters contest. Then, in 2021, he won the World Championship for the 4th time in his career.

As you can see, he has been a beast in the last few years, and we expect him to achieve much more in the following decade. He is moving up in the ranks of the top snooker players, and we don’t expect him to stop.

Maybe he will become the next Ronnie O’Sullivan or even better; who knows? We don’t see Mark Selby stepping off the top charts in the following years, and we are impatient to see how his career will develop in the near future.

9. Ray Reardon – Dracula of Snooker

Ray Readon is a Welsh pro-snooker player who became famous in the ’70s and retired in the ’90s. For over 20 years as a pro player, he has won the World Championship six times, together with many other non-ranking competitions.

Ray was born in 1932 in the Welsh city of Tredegar. His uncle introduced him to snooker when he was only eight years old. At ten, he was already practising twice a week in the local worksmen club.

As a kid, he preferred billiards more than snooker, but he never considered sports a livelihood. Therefore, he became a miner in the local iron and coal company called Ty Trist Colliery.

At 28, he quit the mining business and moved to Stock-on-Trent to become a police officer. Meanwhile, he was playing snooker mainly for fun in the different amateur leagues around the country.

He decided to switch to pro snooker in 1967. It took him two years to win his place in the World Championship, but he lost the quarter-final against Fred Davis. In the following 1970, he won the title for the first time.

1972, Ray lost the quarter-final, but that was for the last time. In the following four years, between 1973 and 1976, he was the world’s undisputed champion. 1977, he lost it, but in 1978, he won it for the last time in his career.

Of course, these are not his only achievements. Between 1970 and 1980, he won several Pot Black tournaments, Masters, Pontins Professional, Welsh Professional Championship, Golden Masters, and others.

1979 and 1980 were not good years because most of the time, he could reach the finals of each tournament he played in but lost most of them. The truth is that after 1980, his career started withdrawing.

In the last decade before his retirement in 1991, he faced many top snooker players like Alex Higgins, Steve David, John Virgo, and Jimmy White, but luck was not on his side.

He tried to return to the game on the World Seniors Masters in 2000 but without success. He will be remembered for his nickname Dracula and many great games against some of the best players in the history of snooker.

10. Dennis Taylor – The Underrated Irishman

Dennis Taylor is the 10th on our list of the best snooker players ever. He doesn’t have many titles and achievements, but he is still quite a famous and respected player and commentator.

Dennis was born in 1949 in Coalisland, Northern Ireland. None of his relatives are involved with snooker or play the sport like many of the top 10 best snooker players in the world we mentioned so far.

At 18, he won his first amateur title in the British Junior Billiards Championship in 1968. Shortly after 1972, he officially became a pro player and debuted in the World Snooker Championship in 1973.

He fell out of the competition after the first round after a loss to Cliff Thorburn. In the following years, he became way better and reached the semi-finals in 1975 and 1984 and the finals in 1979.

Yes, but he could not take the world title until 1985 when he defeated Steve Davis. Many fans of the sport call this match one of the best and most interesting ones in history.

Unfortunately, that is his only world title. Of course, he has a few more ranking ones, like the Grand Prix in 1984 and plenty of non-ranking like the Irish Professional Championship, Canadian, Australian and Tokyo Masters.

In 2000, he retired from the professional sport and became a snooker commentator, but he also continues competing in the senior leagues occasionally. 2021, he announced that the World Senior Championship would be his last.

In 2022, BBC removed him from the commentator’s chair, but it never became public knowledge of why they set apart. Dennis Taylor is among the best snooker players of all time because of his contribution to the sport as a player and commentator.

FAQ

You probably have additional inquiries after this lengthy article on the top 10 best Snooker players ever. For your convenience, we have collected the most frequently asked questions and put them below for you. In each answer, there is a link; use it to explore more info on the subject.

The world champion Phil Taylor has proven that the skill of playing darts has no limits. Read along to learn all about Phil Taylor’s success, and feel free to use the navigation bar below to jump to a relevant section in the blog post.

Phil Taylor’s Early Life – The Rise of a Champion

Before Phil Douglas Taylor became a world champion in darts, he was living with his family in the small town of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, leaving school at just 16 years of age. He spent most of his early years making ceramic toilet roll handles, earning just £52 a week.

He always had an interest in sports, specifically the game of darts. He loved playing it casually, and eventually, he was able to move to a house in Burslem that was very close to the Crafty Cockney pub, owned by Eric Bristow.

He was gifted a set of darts for his birthday in 1986 by his wife Yvonne, and that’s when he started taking this hobby of his seriously. Eventually, he started playing the game at Bristow’s pub, and everyone saw he was way ahead of his opponents. Bristow saw potential in Phil and would later become his mentor.

Eric started sponsoring Taylor and loaned him £10,000 to help kick-start his career as a professional darts player. This loan also helped Phil Taylor support his family. He then stopped working in the ceramic industry and spawned the start of an immensely successful professional career in darts, beginning in 1987.

Phil got his iconic nickname ‘The Power’ and ended up dominating the game, winning 85 titles and records in 16 World Championships. As he is now retired, people can’t bet on him on the best darts betting sites in the UK anymore, but he will truly be remembered as a champion.

The Beginning of Phil’s Success

Phil’s initial career years had a rough start, but he was able to pull through. Taylor and Bristow travelled to Las Vegas in 1987, and this marked the beginning of Phil Taylor’s darts career.

Phil was beaten in the first round in the North American Open, showing that he needed some time to earn recognition. But his first career title didn’t take too long. He won the Canadian Open in 1988, where he defeated the then-world champion Bob Anderson in the final.

Moving on to his next event, the British Open and the semi-final of the Winmau World Masters in 1989, Taylor would earn his first World Champion qualification. His participation in the Open events gave him a head start, but his win in 1990, as a 125-1 unseeded outsider, made him stand out.

From there, Taylor would win several more events up until 1993, when he became the landlord at the Cricketers Army in Newcastle-under-Lyme. From 1994 onwards, Phil Taylor’s darts career would move to the PDC and BDO World Championships, which we’ll discuss next in the blog post.

BDO and PDC – Phil Taylor’s Professional Ascent

The only available professional darts body at the time of Phil’s career start was the BDO World Championship. This was the time when Taylor beat his mentor Eric Bristow in 1990. We mentioned the Open Tournaments that followed, and we’ll delve into the following events of Phil Taylor’s darts career.

Up until 1993, the rising star Phil played in competitions organised by the BDO, along with other founding players of the then-called WDC in the well-documented split in professional darts. Then, in 1994, Phil lost the final to Priestley in the PDC, marking the first and last loss for Taylor in the darts’ premier competition.

From 2004 up until 2006, Phil Taylor’s world titles only grew in numbers, but this was the time when he met his real challenger, Raymond van Barneveld. However, this did not stop Phil, as he gave a stunning performance, beating him in 2007.

2008 was the year Taylor failed to claim the PDC World Championship, and then in 2009, he was able to regain it. The list below will give you a timeline of some of the Phil Taylor darts wins in the BDO and PDC:

BDO Major Finals:

PDC Major Finals:

These are just some of the Phil Taylor darts wins. As you can see from the data above, the darts champion was very active throughout his time and has proven to be worthy of the Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor nickname.

Phil Taylor’s World Titles, Achievements and Winnings

In total, Phil has won over 85 tournaments and many awards. The champion truly proved he’s the best. In total, Phil Taylor’s career earnings sum up to £7.1 million, which is a staggering amount.

It’s hard to pick which win is the one that stands out the most, but we can surely say that Phil is arguably the best darts player of all time. Nevertheless, as seen in the markets and advertisements of the best betting sites for UK players, other legendary players also deserve recognition.

Phil has aired on national British television multiple times, having over 10 televised appearances. By the end of his career in 2018, he had won matches against the world’s most skilled rivals – Dennis Priestley, John Part, Raymond Van Barneveld, and many more.

Phil Taylor’s Net Worth and Current Life

Phil Taylor’s net worth totals up to over £8,000,000. This has been accumulated throughout his very active darts career. For the time period of 1995 to 2002, Phil won eight consecutive World Championships and many more afterwards. The table below will give you insight into his progress.

It goes without saying that Phil succeeded in cementing himself in darts’ history. In our opinion, his accumulated net worth is entirely deserved. After the 2018 World Championship, Taylor announced his retirement.

In 2022, he made a comeback and participated in the 2022 World Series Darts Championship, but he lost in the quarter-finals. We don’t know if we will ever see him again play professional darts, but any appearance of him in the future will surely be inspiring to all people who love the game of darts.

Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor – The Retirement of a King

It’s time to give you our thoughts on Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, the ultimate world darts champion. Starting as a regular English worker, Taylor climbed up the ranks with pure skill and talent. He will most definitely be remembered as the greatest darts player of all time, and with good reason.

To say he nailed the darts game would be an understatement. Winning over 85 tournaments and setting several World Championship records, he deserves his iconic nickname. Even though Phil retired, we will never forget his immeasurable success. The darts industry moves forward, awaiting its next rising star.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the section below, you’ll find quick answers to the segments discussed in the blog. We covered a lot, and the most common inquiries are below – you can click on the links that will take you to the relevant section of the blog post.

On Tuesday August 29th 2023, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) formally announced that it “…has updated the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming to prohibit the use of athletes in internet gaming (igaming) advertising and marketing in Ontario.”

The statement outlined other expected changes as well, citing “…the standards have also been strengthened to restrict the use of celebrities who would likely be expected to appeal to minors.”

In fact, the AGCO has also extended this ruling to cartoon figures, celebrities, entertainers, role models, social media influencers, and other symbols. The rules also apply to ads for online casinos in Ontario.

How will these changes affect sports fans? Read on to learn more about what this could mean for everyone who enjoys watching sports.

When Will These Changes Take Effect and How Did They Come To Be?

As of now, the new restrictions are tentatively set to begin on Wednesday February 28th, 2024. But how did these restrictions successfully transpire?

Throughout April 2023, the AGCO consulted with multiple stakeholders regarding its proposal for the ban including gaming experts and mental-health groups. This came exactly one year after the official launch of single-event sports betting (April 4th, 2022).

The initial charge was led by a number of concerned parties including politicians, parents of minors, and a group called ‘The Campaign to Ban Gambling Advertising’. The latter group is led by former Toronto mayor John Sewell and Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) board member Karl Subban.

Subban’s experience with both sports and children make him the perfect leader for this initiative. “A lot of the marketing is focusing on grabbing the attention of the most vulnerable, the youngest of our population,” Subban explained during an interview with CBC Toronto. As a school principal and a hockey coach with three sons who all went on to become professional hockey players, his words carry weight.

On the other side of the ledger, one of the biggest political advocates for these changes is Canadian senator Martha (‘Marty’) Deacon. On Tuesday June 20th, 2023, Deacon introduced Bill S-269 in the Senate in hopes to forming a national framework surrounding the regulation of sports betting advertising.

In an interview with CBC, Deacon stated very similar reasoning to Subban in regards to the dangers of sports betting ads without limits. She re-iterated that sports betting ads are often “very attractive, and addictive, and sensational.” Vivid colour schemes, coupled with famous faces, are a deadly combination when it comes to enticing the young and vulnerable.

Movement on Bill S-269 has been slow since June’s first chamber sitting. That being said, things are still moving in a positive direction as the first reading is complete and the second reading is in progress.

Who Are These Ads Hurting the Most?

As touched on above, sports betting ads are most effective on young and vulnerable people – such as gambling addicts and children. “They catch the attention of young people,” Subban told CBC Toronto during an interview. “It’s a powerful way of marketing to them, which we know can have a harmful effect on young people.”

Unsurprisingly, Subban is far from the only concerned parent. In fact, Deacon has heard from several parents around the province who are worried sick about their children. “I have parents who are sending me distressing messages.” Deacon stated during an interview with CBC.

Sports betting operators will actually still be allowed to use celebrities during ads under one condition: for the exclusive purpose of advocating for responsible gambling practices. Millions of dollars are spent on sports betting advertisements each year, and the Canadian betting sites themselves must also take some social responsibility.

Canada already has laws in place limiting alcohol and tobacco ads. Passing legislation for sports betting ads can be done in a very similar way, and should have a very positive effect on curbing the appeal and mitigating those who are at-risk.

What Does This Means for Sports Betting Ads in Ontario Going Forward?

In short, some of the most well-known and frequently played sports betting ads will have to be gone by Wednesday February 28th, 2024.

Examples of this include popular BetMGM commercials featuring the likes of hockey superstars Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid. Other famous athletes and celebrities such as Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews as well as actors Aaron Paul and Mike Smith have made frequent appearances in ads of this nature.

These upcoming restrictions are a step in the right direction, but far from the end. In addition to Deacon and Subban, several others are calling for even more action including a national ban on sports betting ads altogether.

Shortly after the AGCO announcement, the Ontario NDP released a statement citing that “Health professionals have been sounding the alarm about the impact that online gambling advertising is having on people, especially on youth. Today’s news is welcome — now we need to follow the advice of experts and keep pushing for more.”

With so many supporters advocating for change, the sky’s the limit in terms of future sports betting ad bans.

Sources

Before we dive into the subject and examine Ronnie O’Sullivan’s livelihood, we decided it would be a good idea to give you a chance to choose what you want to read first.

Below is a navigation that will help you jump to the preferred part of the article. If you decide to read it all, know that we will start with a short Ronnie O’Sullivan bio and continue with its snooker achievements.

Then we will give you more info on the latest snooker news about Ronnie O’Sullivan and his next matches. The best is yet to come, so keep reading to reveal it all.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Bio – Long Story Short

We shall start with some bits of his personal life and childhood so you get familiar with his background and what formed him into who he is today. The truth is that Ronnie O’Sullivan`s life has been a rollercoaster.

He was born on December 5th, 1975, in the Midlands of England – Wordsley near Birmingham. He is a result of the love between the Englishman Ronald John and the Italian lady Maria Catalano.

In his childhood, he spent a lot of time in Sicily with his relatives from his mother’s side while his father was taking care of a sex shop in the heart of London.

As you can guess, at a young age, he moved to Chigwell, an area on London’s outskirts. His first touch with snooker was thanks to his cousin from his mother’s side – Maria. She is a known English snooker player at that time.

The tribulations in his life began in his teenage years when his father was sent to prison for murder in 1992. Four years late r, in 1996, his mother was sentenced to a year in jail for tax evasion.

This was when his life went sideways because, at 21, Ronnie was supposed to care for his little sister when he was eight years old. On top of that, his first daughter, Taylor-Ann, came into this world in that period.

The good about that time is that he was already a rising star, but after we summarise Ronnie O’Sullivan’s personal life, we will get to his amateur and pro snooker career.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Early Life

For now, we can only tell you that he is one of the youngest players in the sport’s history.

It is not a secret that Ronnie O’Sullivan had a drug-related issue due to the difficulties in his life and troublesome childhood.

The truth is that those issues didn’t obstruct him from becoming one of the best players in the world. His relationship with Jo Langley is considered a turning point for him in a positive way.

This was pretty much everything most important from the Ronnie O’Sullivan bio of his personal life that you should know about.

In the following headings, we will turn more attention to his professional career and achievements, which are many.

Please keep reading to find out why his odds at the best snooker betting sites are always great and why people and other professional players call him an “ambassador of snooker”.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Pro Snooker Career & Achievements

Ronnie O’Sullivan is considered a legend in the snooker sport not only because he is a brilliant player with a stunning winning score but also because he is the youngest and currently the oldest world champion in snooker history.

He started playing the game at 7, while two years later, at 9, he was already participating in amateur tournaments. At the age of 13, he was already a champion in the British Under 16 championship.

Two years later, in 1991, in the English Amateur Championship, Ronnie O’Sullivan became the youngest player that made a maximum break in the tournament. The same year he won another two competitions – IBFS Under-21 and the Junnior pot Black.

All this made him famous before he even started his pro snooker career. In 1992, he finally moved to the professional leagues, and he won 74 of 76 matches that year, and by doing this, he was qualified for the World Championship in 1993.

He lost the game, but it was still a significant achievement for a player under 20 years old. The following year, a few days before his 18th birthday Ronnie O’Sullivan won the 1993 UK Championship.

With this win, Ronnie O’Sullivan set another record for the youngest winner in a ranking event, but this is far from everything. In 1995, he became the youngest winner of Masters.

In the following years, he set up several more personal and global records for diverse things.

At the World Championship in 1997, he achieved his first maximum break in a pro league.

It was completed in less than six minutes, which up to this date stays as a Guinness World Record for the fastest maximum break. Also, in 1997, he won his second UK Championship title.

Scandals were not missing either. In 1996, he attacked a press officer, which cost him a fine of €20,000 and two-year ban from participating in the World Championship.

Another inconvenience happened in 1998 when he was stripped of his Irish Master first-place title due to a positive drug test. However, that was unsurprising because Ronnie O’Sullivan was an honest alcohol and drug abuser.

Nearly a decade after his professional debut, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s cue was still hot. He won his first World Championship in 2001. Still, despite being the first title of this type, it raised him to second place in the world snooker ranking.

That was not for long, because Ronnie O’Sullivan finally became the world’s number one player the following year by winning the UK Championship for a third time. After that, he started working with the famous champion and current trainer Ray Reardon.

This is how he secured a second World Championship in 2004. In 2005, he won his second Masters title. Unfortunately, the following two years after that were troublesome for him.

He suddenly shaved his head during the World Championship tournament, which showed his struggle.

The following year, in 2006, at the UK Championship, he left the arena during his match with Stephan Henry, which cost him a fine of £20k.

In Ronnie O’Sullivan’s next match at the UK Championship in 2007, he once again proved that nothing can stop him when he is concentrated. That was not all. Apart from winning the UK Championship for a fourth time, he also took his third Masters title.

The following years were nothing short of success for him. In 2008, he won his third world title by defeating Ali Carter. In 2009, a fourth Masters title became a fact, again putting him first in the global chart of best snooker players.

Ronnies couldn’t keep the same pace in the following two years, but in 2012 he defeated Carted and took the world title for a fourth time. In the next 2013, he defended that title against Barry Hawkins.

The following year, he was defeated in the final round of the World Championship, but he won the Masters title for the fifth time by defeating Ricky Walden. He set a new record for most points without reply in that match.

This is not all. Apart from the Master’s title, in 2014, he took first place at the UK Championship for a fifth time. 2015 was not that successful, but 2016 and 2017 again proved that he is a legend in the sport.

In both years, he got first place at the Master’s Championship, while in 2017 and 2018, he won the UK Championships, which made his total number of top-tier titles 19, more than any other player in our recent history.

In the following period until 2020, he couldn’t win any Masters, World, or UK Championships, but he won the Players, and Tour Championships and made his 1000th century break. He is the first person in history that reached that goal.

In 2020, he triumphed in the World Championship after defeating Kyren Wilson. 2021 was not that successful, but in 2022 he returned to get the world title again.

Latest Achievements

Ronnie O’Sullivan was 46 years old in 2022, which made him the most senior champion in history of snooker. Don’t forget that he was also the youngest player in history, which is impressive.

We missed mentioning that in 2022, he won the Hong Kong Master tournament, which over 9000 spectators observed. Up to this date, this is considered the biggest audience for a snooker match in history.

It is a fact that Ronnie O’Sullivan has spoken of retirement since 2012, but we believe that he is not yet ready to do it and that he has way more to give to the sport.

We assume that in the following years, he will win more titles simply because he is one of the best, or maybe even the best snooker player in the world nowadays.

Only the fact that he owns seven titles of each of the three most reputable tournaments in the world: the World Championship, the UK Championship, and the Master’s Championship is enough to call him e legend.

There isn’t another player like Ronnie, and we don’t even see the chance of someone reaching his achievements in the sport soon. We are thrilled to see what more his potential will reveal until the end of his career.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Net Worth Today

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s net worth nowadays goes above £30 million, more than any other player in the sport of snooker. If he continues to win so rapidly different titles, we expect that sum to grow exponentially.

Enough about his past. It is time to discuss what is expected from the future because every next Ronnie O’Sullivan match is an event you shouldn’t miss. Look at the most recent news about the legend in the following heading.

Ronnie O’Sullivan News & Next Matches

We will split this subject into several separate ones, starting with some more relevant Ronnie O’Sullivan news, then moving on to the events he is expected to participate in the nearest feature.

Barry Hearn on Ronnie O’Sullivan Contribution

Before we tell you about O’Sullivan’s next matches, we want to share a recent statement from one of the former chairman of the World Snooker Tour – Barry Hearn.

In an interview, he said that he considers Ronnie O’Sullivan, Alex Higgins and Jimmy White as the three players that contributed most to the sport of snooker and its global popularity.

He called Ronnie an ambassador of snooker, but he also mentioned that he could be difficult at times, causing slight issues due to his criticism towards the organisation of the events and the sport in general.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Retirement Plan

Being over 25 years in the game is challenging but still very satisfying for Ronnie O’Sullivan. Those are his words. In one of his recent interviews with “The Mirror”, he said that he probably has not more than a couple of more years before he finally retires from the sport.

But don’t forget that he mentioned retirement in 2012, and he is still in the game, so always expect the unexpected. There is genuinely nothing to prove because, at the moment, there isn’t a player with similar score.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Rivalry with Luca Brecel Could Emerge Again

We hope to see a titans clash in the following Shanghai Masters tournament this September. Ronnie O’Sullivan’s next match is against Ali Carter, which will be an exciting game to watch.

Yes, but Luca Brecel is also participating in the event, which may end up in them both playing against each other for a 24th time. The current score is 13 wins for Ronnie O’Sullivan and 10 for Luca Brecel.

We hope that to happen because it will be a super exciting game, where the number of spectators could exceed the Japanese record of 9000 from 2022. Observing a match between players with such high ranks is always a pleasure.

Ronnie O’Sullivan Next Mathes

In the summer and fall of 2023, Ronnie O’Sullivan is expected to participate in three of the major tournaments across the globe. You can see the dates and his first opponents below.

Knowing the fast rate at which Ronnie O’Sullivan’s cue can pot , we expect him to continue playing matches in the future. Maybe he will win his 40th professional title this year.

You can easily track all the recent Ronnie O’Sullivan news online or on our page because we promise to keep you posted about all relevant developments in his career and the sport of snooker.

FAQ

If you are looking for the most frequently asked questions about Ronnie O’Sullivan and all aspects of his life, you will be glad to hear that we have gathered them for you in the section below. Еach answer leads back to relevant parts of the article, where you will find more info on the subject.

Our research unveiled some interesting trends regarding how Canadians from different provinces and cities feel about Christmas. Let’s take a look.

Holiday Anticipation Across Canada

In a surprise twist, New Brunswickers—largely regarded as the friendliest, cheeriest Canadians—are actually the bah humbuggiest. How much do they look forward to Christmas, on a scale from 1 to 10? Around 6.3, on average. The Canada-wide average is significantly higher, coming in at 7.4.

Prince Edward Island is the third Sroogiest province during the holiday season, scoring an average of 7.0 on the excitement scale. You might think that an east vs. west trend is emerging, but Quebec breaks that pattern since it’s the province that looks forward to Christmas the most, with an average anticipation score of 8.8.

Ontario is the most polarized province when it comes to looking forward to the holidays. Residents of Windsor, Ontario, can’t wait for Christmas, responding with an average of 9.2, but people from Vaughan dread the holidays, judging by the 4.6 average ranking its residents respond with.

Western Canadians show similarly diverse feelings about the holidays. Residents of Richmond, British Columbia, report a level of excitement of 9.0, while people from Burnaby, BC, say they feel more like 6.3 towards Christmas, on average. Guess Santa won’t be getting the GOOD cookies this when he touches down in Burnaby…

The Provinces LEAST Excited for Christmas, Ranked

The 15 Canadian Cities LEAST Excited for Christmas, Ranked

Where are You, Christmas?

Only 62% of survey respondents say they feel joy and excitement towards the Christmas season.

We don’t want to bum you out, but that means a whopping 38% agree with Cindy Lou Who and can’t find joy around the holidays. If that’s not a dagger to the heart, we don’t know what is.

A sizable 15% of Canadians say they’re indifferent toward the holidays, while 13% say it stresses them out. We’re not sure if feeling indifferent is better or worse than feeling stressed, but together, feeling lackadaisical and anxious are the most frequent emotions felt by Canadians at Christmas after joy.

Loneliness was the fourth most common emotion, making up 5.3% of responses. And that just breaks our heart. Come down from Mount Crumpit and share some roast beast with us.

So what gives? What is it, exactly, that’s robbing Canadians of their holiday cheer? The answer, according to our data, is not the Grinch; it’s money.

Nearly three-quarters—71%—of Canadians say that the economic pressure of the holiday season limits their ability to enjoy Christmas. Additionally, 61% of responders report that family obligations negatively affect their mood around the holidays, and 73% say that social obligations—work parties, gatherings with friends, etc.—put a damper on their holiday spirit.

Perhaps surprisingly, only 32% said that they feel more stressed about work during the Christmas season. That means that finances—and NOT the fact that you have to see your annoying Aunt Edna or deal with Greg from accounting at the holiday party—are far and away the greatest source of holiday stress for the vast majority of Canadians.

That’s What Christmas Means to Me

Think about the word “Christmas”. Christ is right there in the name, and yet only 12.5% of Canadians say they attend religious services during the holiday season. Canadians are overwhelmingly more likely to participate in gift-giving—79%—or decorating—63.4%—than they are in religious events.

It’s reasonable to assume that as religions continue to lose followers every year, replacing the holiday season’s previous focus on community with pressure to buy more things may be contributing to the increasing number of people who feel fa-la-la-la-lost during the holidays.

We’re not experts or anything, but something about standing in line all night at Best Buy, waiting to stampede through the store and wrestle someone for a big-screen TV, might make people feel a little less fond of the holidays.

The data loosely supports this hypothesis: 54% of the people we surveyed report that the representation of Christmas in the media and advertisements doesn’t align with their personal experience of the holiday.

While that’s not a dramatic difference, the fact that more than half of responders feel that Christmas is misrepresented in popular culture is a smoking gun, in our opinion. Perhaps a Red Ryder carbine-action 200 range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time.

Wrapping Up: Tying a Bow on Canada’s Christmas Feelings

When Michael Bublé comes out of hibernation, only 62% of Canadians feel excited about it. It’s not overbearing family members, work stress, or too much on the holiday calendar that stresses people out. According to our data, it’s financial pressure.

An overwhelming 71% of Canadians say they feel increased financial pressure during the holiday season, and 54% say they don’t feel like Christmas is represented appropriately in media and advertising. It’s almost like co-opting a time traditionally meant for spending time with friends and family and turning it into a way to boost revenue is bad for people’s mental health. Almost.

Methodology

We surveyed 3,000 Canadians in November 2023 to learn how they really feel about the holiday season. The survey participants were 52% women, 47% men, and 1% nonbinary/other, with a median age of 32. Our survey included questions about their primary feeling toward the holiday season and how social obligations affect their mood around Christmas.

Fair Use

Our content and visuals can be shared for any non-commercial purpose. If you share our content, please link back to this page to acknowledge our original research, writing, and image production.

The sportsmanship and elegance on the court have placed Roger Federer among the most influential figures worldwide. Now, we’ll follow the tennis maestro’s life and career that extend far beyond his Grand Slam titles.

During the time of his active years on the court, Federer’s matches ranked among the most popular sports events in the world, followed by millions of fans, placing bets on the top ten tennis betting sites in the UK.

The navigation below will help you jump to the preferred section of this article. Starting with a short overview of Roger Federer’s biography, we’ll continue with his career, achievements, and net worth.

Furthermore, we’ll give you more details on his record rankings, business ventures, and post-retirement activities. All of these have turned Roger Federer into one of the most influential sports personalities in the world.

Roger Federer Biography – Born to Win

Great people have great personalities, so let’s have a look at Roger Federer’s early life to see what formed his personality. As we go deeper, we’ll learn more about the challenges he’s faced and his determination to succeed.

Bor n on August 8, 1981, in Basel, Switzerland, Federer’s journey to tennis greatness began at an early age. His parents recognised his interest in sports at once and encouraged him to explore his passion.

Federer’s introduction to tennis came at the age of eight when he picked up a racket for the first time. He was immediately captivated by the game, and his talent became evident as he started honing his skills on the local courts.

As a junior player, he earned a reputation for his precise strokes, fluid movement, and innate understanding of the game. These attributes laid the foundation for what would become an illustrious professional career.

Blessed with hand-eye coordination and an innate feel for the ball, young Roger Federer was already displaying the potential that would eventually make him a global tennis sensation.

Recognising his talent, Federer’s parents enrolled him at the Swiss National Tennis Center in Ecublens, where he received formal training. He began working with coaches who saw his potential and helped refine his technique.

Peter Carter was the man who played a pivotal role in shaping Federer’s game, instilling in him the importance of discipline, hard work, and dedication to the sport.

Of course, Roger met many challenges on the road to the top. His transition from junior tennis to the professional circuit was marked by his decision to leave school at the age of 16 and focus on his tennis career.

This bold step underscored his commitment to realisi ng his dream of becoming a top-level tennis player. By 1998, he was already competing in international tournaments and earning recognition for his impressive performances.

As you can see, Roger Federer’s early years were as interesting as his professional career. In the next sections of our article, we’ll tell you more about his achievements, titles, and net worth for 2023.

Keep reading, and you’ll learn how Federer’s hard efforts and unconditional love for the sport set the stage for a remarkable career that would forever change the landscape of tennis.

Roger Federer Career & Achievements

Roger Federer’s professional career is a saga of excellence, determination, and sportsmanship. His journey from a young talent to a tennis icon has captivated the world and redefined the parameters of success in the sport.

His transition from junior player to international tennis sensation began in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Federer’s fluid playing style, combined with remarkable shot-making ability, caught the attention of fans and experts alike.

After an array of achievements as a junior player, the tennis legend’s breakthrough moment came at Wimbledon in 2003, when he claimed his first Grand Slam title, marking the beginning of an era of dominance.

Federer’s impeccable technique has earned him a record-breaking 20 Grand Slam titles. From his success at Wimbledon to his triumphs at the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open, Federer’s versatility is a testament to his tennis prowess.

Federer’s career has been marked by intense rivalries with other tennis greats, most notably Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. These rivalries have produced some of the sport’s most memorable and iconic matches, captivating audiences worldwide.

The battles on the court raised questions about arguably the best tennis player in the world, and the sportsman’s resilience on all surfaces has showcased the essence of competitive tennis at its finest.

As a testament to his greatness, Roger Federer has consistently shattered records and held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 310 weeks, showcasing his sustained brilliance and dominance over an extended period.

Despite his remarkable success, Federer faced multiple injury setbacks that tested his physical and mental resilience. However, his determination to the game let him make one of the greatest tennis comebacks in history.

Together with the other remarkable records, Roger Federer’s achievements include holding the most Wimbledon titles in history, along with countless other national and international records that underline his legacy.

As Federer’s career was entering its twilight years, his impact on tennis transcended statistics.

His grace, sportsmanship, and charisma have earned him the admiration of fans and fellow athletes worldwide.

In 2022, after 24 years of competition and challenges, Roger Federer decided to retire from tennis. His victories not only earned him fame but also substantial prize money, contributing to his business and net worth.

Roger Federer – Net Worth in Recent Years

Federer’s on-court success was complemented by a series of lucrative endorsement deals with some of the world’s most f amous brands. His association with companies like Nike, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, and Credit Suisse brought him substantial earnings.

Alongside the huge contribution to Roger Federer’s net worth, these partnerships solidified his status as a global brand ambassador. Coupled with his charisma and universal appeal, they have translated into an impressive financial portfolio.

Beyond the endorsement deals, Federer’s business acumen has played a pivotal role in his financial success. In 2013, he founded his own company, “Team8,” focused on athlete management, talent representation, and sports marketing.

This venture has further diversified his income streams and allowed him to invest in various opportunities beyond tennis. Among them was the Roger Federer Foundation, which made a significant difference in underprivileged children’s lives.

According to knowledgeable sources, in September 2021, Roger Federer’s net worth was estimated to be around £354 million. However, it’s important to note that this figure has changed due to various financial endeavou rs in the next years.

Meanwhile, Federer extended his partnership with many popular brands, which solidified his wealth. According to the prestigious magazine Forbes, Roger Federer’s net worth for 2022 exceeded £435 million, which is twice Nadal and Djokovic’s earnings.

As we already mentioned above, one of the most significant factors contributing to Roger Federer’s net worth is his business acumen. The tennis star has made shrewd investments in various ventures.

These include a co-ownership of the tennis tournament in his hometown of Basel, and a partnership with the Swiss running shoe company On. These strategic investments showcase Federer’s ability to capitalise on his brand and extend it into diverse industries.

However, like any financial journey, Roger Federer’s path to wealth hasn’t been without obstacles. The injuries he’s suffered during the years have affected not only his on-court performance but also his overall income.

Nevertheless, that was not enough to dethrone the tennis legend from the list of the richest sportsmen in the world.

Post-retirement, Roger Federer’s net worth for 2023 exceeded £475 million, making him one of the most influential sports figures.

His net worth is an undeniable testament to his prowess not only in tennis but also in strategic financial planning. From the courts to the boardrooms, he has demonstrated an ability to excel and innovate.

Although he’s retired from professional tennis, his net worth is likely to continue evolving, shaped by his investments and philanthropic endeavours. Regardless of the numbers, Federer’s legacy extends beyond his financials, encapsulating the essence of dedication, passion, and success.

Roger Federer Latest News

After going through Roger Federer’s career earnings, we will reveal the latest news about the tennis legend. With 24 years on the court and over £863 million total prize money won by Roger Federer, he hardly needs to work. However, the maestro keeps making headlines.

Together with the multiple advertising contracts with world-famous companies, Federer continues the work with his foundation, helping unprivileged children in the third world. Additionally, he participates in many charity events and campaigns and gains admiration off-court.

In the ever-evolving landscape of tennis, Roger Federer’s name remains a constant source of excitement and inspiration.

His journey, marked by remarkable achievements and personal resilience, captured the hearts of millions of fans worldwide.

As we eagerly followed his life and career, one thing is certain: whether he’s holding a tennis racket or making a difference off the court, Roger Federer’s influence on the world of sports will endure for generations to come.

FAQ

In the last section of our article, we included the most frequently asked questions about Roger Federer’s life and career earnings. So, if you need particular answers, follow the jump links below and they will take you to the right topic.