Snooker is a cue sport that developed in 1875 when the British troops started to play the game in India. In the earlier stages, snooker used to be played solely in the United Kingdom. Throughout the years, snooker has built a global fan base.
Global growth of snooker has allowed people to try his unique sport. This article will contain the best UK snooker players in history. We will analyse the different eras, stories, gained achievements and won trophies. So, who are the finest snooker personalities?
Best UK Snooker Players – Mark Selby
Mark Selby turned pro in 1999, but everyone saw his potential only in 2002. He demonstrated what he could do, and in the China Open tournament, he beat Joe Swail, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan. From 2014 to 2021, Mark Selby won four out of eight World Championships. He is among the TOP 10 snooker players who won at least four.
Selby is 40 years old and is in the fifth position in the world rankings. He ended the snooker season as number one on seven consecutive occasions from 2012 to 2018. Selby has compiled over 750 centuries during his professional career. During his spell as a pro, he made approximately 8 million dollars – $7,867,844. He had 1558 snooker matches and won 1057 (67.84%).
Mark Selby – Titles
Career titles of M. Selby.
WST Ranking-Event Titles
- 2022-23: English Open, WST Classic
- 2020-21: European Masters, Scottish Open, World Championship
- 2019-20: English Open, Scottish Open
- 2018-19: China Championship
- 2017-18: International Championship, China Open
- 2016-17: Paul Hunter Classic, International Championship, UK Championship, China Open, World Championship
- 2015-16: World Championship
- 2014-15: German Masters, China Open
- 2013-14: World Championship
- 2012-13: UK Championship
- 2011-12: Shanghai Masters
- 2007-08: Welsh Open
WST Minor-Ranking Event Titles
- 2015-16: Gdynia Open
- 2014-15: Riga Open
- 2013-14: Antwerp Open
- 2012-13: Paul Hunter Classic, FFB Open
- 2011-12: Paul Hunter Classic
- 2010-11: Players Tour Championship – Event 2
Professional Non-Ranking Event Titles
- 2023-24: Championship League Invitational
- 2018-19: Haining Open
- 2017-18: Haining Open
- 2012-13: Masters
- 2011-12: Wuxi Classic
- 2009-10: Masters
- 2007-08: Masters
Best UK Snooker Players – John Higgins
John Higgins evolved into a professional in 1992. He was a winner of the amateur World Masters in 1991. At the start of 1992/93, John was one of the most prominent prospects in the snooker world. During his first two seasons, he reached two ranking 1/4 stages.
He belongs to the trio of snooker players with the grandest amount of titles – 31. He has been the number one on four different occasions. Scottish J. Higgins also won 4 World Championships. J. Higgins is 48 years old and is in the 10th position in the world rankings. He has compiled over 993 centuries and made approximately 10 million dollars – $9,801,813. He had 1867 snooker battles and won 1295 (69.36%).
John Higgins – Titles
Career titles of J. Higgins.
WST Ranking-Event Titles
- 2020-21: Players Championship
- 2017-18: Indian Open, Welsh Open
- 2015-16: Australian Goldfields Open, International Championship
- 2014-15: Welsh Open
- 2012-13: Shanghai Masters
- 2010-11: UK Championship, Welsh Open, World Championship
- 2009-10: Welsh Open
- 2008-09: Grand Prix, World Championship
- 2006-07: World Championship
- 2005-06: Grand Prix
- 2004-05: British Open
- 2001-02: British Open
- 2000-01: UK Championship
- 1999-00: Grand Prix, China International, Welsh Open
- 1998-99: UK Championship
- 1997-98: German Open, British Open, World Championship
- 1996-97: European Open
- 1995-96: German Open, International Open
- 1994-95: Grand Prix, International Open, British Open
WST Minor-Ranking Event Titles
- 2013-14: Bulgarian Open
- 2012-13: Kay Suzanne Memorial Trophy
- 2010-11: Ruhr Open
Professional Non-Ranking Event Titles
- 2017-18: Championship League
- 2016-17: China Championship, Champion of Champions, Championship League
- 2005-06: Masters
- 2001-02: Champions Cup, Scottish Masters, Irish Masters
- 1999-00: Irish Masters
- 1998-99: Masters, Charity Challenge, Premier League
- 1997-98: Charity Challenge
Best UK Snooker Players – Steve Davis
Steve Davis turned into a professional in 1978. He battled professionally for more than 30 years. However, S. Davis also sometimes commentates for the BBC. He became the World Champion six times and has been the best player on the planet Earth for seven years. His domination in the 1980s is one of the most fascinating periods in snooker.
S. Davis became the first snooker player to make a 147 break in professional competition. He is also the first snooker millionaire, and during his phenomenal spell, won 80 professional trophies. S. Davis is a 66-year-old former player who has compiled 338 centuries and made more than 5.5 million dollars – $5,630,286. He had 1461 snooker matches and won 926 (63.38%).
Steve Davis – Titles
Career titles of S. Davis.
WST Ranking-Event Titles
- 1994-95: Welsh Open
- 1993-94: Welsh Open
- 1992-93: European Masters, British Open
- 1991-92: Thailand Masters, Classic
- 1988-89: International Open, World Open, World Championship
- 1987-88: International Open, Classic, World Open, World Championship
- 1986-87: International Open, Classic, UK Championship, World Championship
- 1985-86: British Open, UK Championship
- 1984-85: World Open, UK Championship
- 1983-84: International Open, Classic, UK Championship, World Championship
- 1982-83: International Open, World Championship
- 1980-81: World Championship
Professional Non-Ranking Event Titles
- 1990-91: Thailand Masters
- 1982-83: Classic
- 1981-82: British Open
- 1980-81: International Open, British Open, UK Championship
- 1979-80: Classic, UK Championship
Best UK Snooker Players – Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry became a professional in 1985 at the age of 16. He played on a pro level for 27 years. If S. Davis dominated in the 80s – S. Hendry elevated the game to an even grander apex in the 90s. S. Hendry won seven World Championships and has the same number of first positions in the world rankings.
S. Hendry featured in 77.7% of World Championship finals between 1990 and 1999, setting a modern-day record of seven titles. He is also the first snooker player to win 30 ranking titles and now has 36 in his pocket. The sports legend is a 55-year-old former player who has collected 777 centuries and made around 9 million dollars – $8,805,039. He had participated in 1306 snooker matches and won 889 (68.07%).
Stephen Hendry – Titles
Career titles of S. Hendry.
WST Ranking-Event Titles
- 2004-05: European Masters
- 2002-03: British Open, Welsh Open
- 2000-01: European Masters
- 1998-99: International Open, British Open, World Championship
- 1997-98: Thailand Masters
- 1996-97: International Open, Welsh Open
- 1995-96: UK Championship, World Championship
- 1994-95: World Open, UK Championship, World Championship
- 1993-94: European Masters, UK Championship, World Championship
- 1992-93: International Open, European Masters, Dubai Classic, World Championship
- 1991-92: Welsh Open, World Championship
- 1990-91: British Open, World Open
- 1989-90: Thailand Masters, Dubai Classic, World Open, UK Championship, World Championship
- 1988-89: Thailand Masters, Dubai Classic, UK Championship
- 1987-88: British Open
- 1986-87: World Open
Best UK Snooker Players – Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan must be the best to play snooker ever. He made his professional debut in 1992. In addition, Ronnie is the youngest player to win a ranking snooker event. He was only 17 years and 358 days old when, in 1993, R. O’Sullivan lifted the UK Championship trophy. Since then, everything has gone exceptionally well. He won seven World Championships and a historical number of Triple Crown events – 23.
R. O’Sullivan maintains the record for the most ranking titles. In 2020, he surpassed the previous record of 36, and his current number stands at 41. The snooker legend is a 48-year-old and does not think about stopping. He is also the first snooker player to collect more than 1000 centuries – 1254. His earnings are also the highest among the snooker personalities – almost 14 million dollars – $13,993,048. He had partaken in 1517 matches and won 1137 (74.95%).
Ronnie O’Sullivan – Titles
Career trophies of R. O’Sullivan.
WST Ranking-Event Titles
- 2023-24: UK Championship, World Grand Prix
- 2021-22: World Grand Prix, World Championship
- 2019-20: World Championship
- 2018-19: UK Championship, Players Championship, Tour Championship
- 2017-18: English Open, Shanghai Masters, UK Championship, World Grand Prix, Players Championship
- 2015-16: Welsh Open
- 2014-15: UK Championship
- 2013-14: Welsh Open
- 2012-13: World Championship
- 2011-12: German Masters, World Championship
- 2009-10: Shanghai Masters
- 2008-09: Northern Ireland Trophy
- 2007-08: UK Championship, World Championship
- 2004-05: Grand Prix, Welsh Open, Irish Masters
- 2003-04: Welsh Open, World Championship
- 2002-03: European Open, Irish Masters
- 2001-02: UK Championship
- 2000-01: China Open, World Championship
- 1999-00: China Open, Scottish Open
- 1997-98: UK Championship, Scottish Open
- 1996-97: Asian Classic, German Open
- 1993-94: UK Championship, British Open
WST Minor-Ranking Event Titles
- 2013-14: Antwerp Open
- 2011-12: Players Tour Championship Event 1, Kay Suzanne Memorial Trophy
Professional Non-Ranking Event Titles
- 2023-24: Shanghai Masters, Masters, Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker
- 2022-23: Hong Kong Masters, Champion of Champions
- 2019-20: Shanghai Masters
- 2018-19: Shanghai Masters, Champion of Champions
- 2016-17: Masters
- 2015-16: Masters
- 2014-15: Champion of Champions
- 2013-14: Champion of Champions, Masters
- 2011-12: Premier League
- 2010-11: Premier League
- 2009-10: Masters
- 2008-09: Premier League, Masters
- 2007-08: Premier League
- 2006-07: Premier League, Masters, Irish Masters
- 2005-06: Premier League
- 2004-05: Masters, Premier League
- 2002-03: Scottish Masters
- 2001-02: Premier League
- 2000-01: Champions Cup, Scottish Masters, Irish Masters, Premier League
- 1998-99: Scottish Masters
- 1996-97: European League
- 1995-96: Charity Challenge
- 1994-95: Masters
- 1993-94: Masters Qualifying Event