We continue with the series of articles on the best professional billiard players in the world. Last week we talked about Pool and now it’s the turn for Snooker. It is not easy to highlight only seven names among the many magicians of Snooker, but here are my favorite players that are still active.
1- Shaun Murphy
In late April I was pleased to see him play live in the semifinals of the World Snooker Championship and I still freak out with his game, his long pots, kindness and elegance. "The Magician" is a real gentleman, a billiard player who always has details with the public attending the press as long as necessary and uses his talents to help those who need it most: every time achieves a century he donates 100 pounds to a children's hospital in Manchester. So he deserves to lead this ranking.
Someone who also deserves the first place is the reigning world champion Stuart Bingham, who beat Murphy in the final. He achieved what many, including himself, was a feat almost impossible: win in Sheffield after 20 years as a professional and only two ranking titles achieved. Nobody bet on Bingham but he proved that with hard work and perseverance anything is possible. Now he is the king of Snooker.
The Rocket leaves no one indifferent. Some hate it and others love it. I belong to the second group and never get tired of seeing his 147s or compilations of his best shots. Whether you like his style and personality or not, anyone would recognize that he has done much for the sake of Snooker. Today I appreciate to see a much more serene and focused mentally Ronnie than a few years ago. So we must continue enjoying one of his best moments, though we will see him in fewer tournaments.
4- Judd Trump
Another young great player that someday will certainly be world champion. Much more focused than years ago, at the last World Championship he was a step away from reaching the final he had already played in 2011, but lost against Higgins. It was number one after winning the International Championship in 2012, one of its four ranking titles. What I like most about Trump is that he is not afraid to play offensive because he has a powerful attack.
5- Mark Selby
Billiardist by profession and joker by vocation. "The Jester from Leicester" is a nice and honest guy, as we saw in the documentary that Sky Sports gave him after becoming world champion in 2014. He still ranks first in the ranking of profit thanks to the world title and other tournaments won this year as the German Masters and the China Open.
6- Luca Brecel
This Belgian has long been considered a "young promise", but this season he has won major tournaments that have taken off quite much pressure from him. In February this year reached his best result being reaching the semifinals of the Welsh Open after defeating top players like Robert Milkins, Mark Selby and Ricky Walden. Higgins took him out the option to move to the final, but that was definitely a big turning point for Brecel. He is only 20 years old and has been 5 as a professional, so he still has a long journey.
7- Reanne Evans
Six times world champion and with a history of endless titles, this Snooker player is the best known and award-winning. Still, she remains being amateur because the structure and the awards at female circuit are completely different to the male. In addition to contest the women's tournaments she has participated several times in championships at men's professional circuit. This year she played the qualifiers of the World Snooker Championship, losing at the first round against former world champion Ken Doherty (10-8). She deserves to be in this ranking and deserves to be a professional Snooker player.
Now it's your turn. What are your favorite Snooker billiard players? Write it in the comments.
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