Neil Robertson has declared Ronnie O'Sullivan the greatest snooker player of all time, surpassing Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis. The 2010 world champion made the statement after O'Sullivan, despite a 10-7 defeat to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the 2026 World Open final, recorded the highest-ever professional break of 153 in the quarter-final against Ryan Day.
Robertson wrote on X: 'The best ever and the best there ever will be. Snooker fans, I hope you've cherished him over the years in the joy he's brought to millions over four decades.' His remarks echo earlier comments made at the Saudi Arabia Masters in October 2025, where he highlighted O'Sullivan's struggles with anxiety and called him 'an absolute champion'.
Robertson's opinion carries weight as he has competed against Davis, Hendry and John Higgins. Higgins, a four-time world champion, also believes O'Sullivan is the greatest, stating after losing to him in the 2022 World Championship semi-final: 'There is no debate in my eyes.' Shaun Murphy and even Hendry himself have labelled O'Sullivan the 'GOAT', with Hendry noting he 'taken the game onto a new level' as an 'artist'.
O'Sullivan, however, has previously called Hendry the greatest, comparing him to Tiger Woods and saying: 'When there's one man dominating the sport like he did, it's a different level.'
