CLASS OF 92 RESISTS TIME
It took Ronnie 30 years as a professional, and 21 years since his first World Championship victory in 2001. Still the youngest ever winner of a Triple Crown event (1993 UK Championship at 17), O’Sullivan, 46, is now the oldest ever Crucible champion. The longevity is incredible for itself, but funnily enough Ronnie wasn’t the oldest player in the semifinal lineup this year. Nor was he the second oldest.
John Higgins and Mark Williams just refuse to go away. Williams, 47, could very much have been the one in the final against Ronnie this year had he converted his 16(33)15 lead against Judd in the semifinal. Williams was seeking his fourth World Title, with the most recent coming in 2018.
Higgins, 46, knocked out by Ronnie, came close to making a ninth final, having recently made three in a row from 2017 to 2019.
30 years on tour seem to have not taken it’s tool on these three talented players yet. All three of them won titles this season and rank amongst the World’s top 8 (Ronnie O’Sullivan is 1st, John Higgins is 5th, and Mark Williams is 7th). It’s an unprecedented achievement by each of them, and just made more special by the fact they’ve had each other to go against for three decades. But how long can they keep proving us they’re still the best? Won't time definitely catch up with them at some point?
Well, everything they’re doing right now is already unprecedent like I said and I think we should just quit trying to predict how much longer they can keep playing at the highest level. I had a very good chat with Barry Hearn about this in Sheffield this year, although I won’t quote him here since it wasn’t an interview or anything, but the thought of declination being the reason of their future eventual retirement is scary, because it would have to start at some point and since it hasn’t yet, you would think that they could maintain this level for many more years to come yet. Take Steve Davis for example, he started declining in the 90’s, but was still a handful for any top player in the 2000’s.
So, they might bow out the day they wake up and realise they’ve had enough, even though they can still play to the peak of their abilities. However long that takes.
Let’s just appreciate them while they’re still performing in the big stage. I know it’s something that’s been said for a while now and they still resist, though.
For me, it was wonderful to come to Sheffield for the first time this year and see all three of them playing to their very best standards at the Crucible - long may it continue for the Class of 92!
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