Scottish snooker star Anthony McGill has argued that Ronnie O'Sullivan and other top snooker players do not receive the recognition they deserve, despite their extraordinary achievements. McGill, a two-time World Championship semi-finalist, believes O'Sullivan's dominance in snooker makes him the most accomplished athlete in any sport.
“I don’t think any snooker players get the recognition,” McGill said. “I know Ronnie is the biggest draw…but even Ronnie. For the standard he plays to - does any sports person out there play to a higher standard of their sport than Ronnie? There might be people who match it like Roger Federer in tennis, but nobody is as good at their game as what Ronnie is at this.”
McGill also highlighted John Higgins, a four-time world champion, as another player whose impact is underappreciated. “In terms of John, I’d say the same. It’s the way he is,” McGill added. The comments come amid ongoing debates about funding and prize money in snooker, with O'Sullivan himself criticising organisers for not offering more.
World Snooker chairman Steve Dawson has previously compared O'Sullivan to Federer, but urged the seven-time world champion to be more of a role model. Federer, who retired in 2022, remains a global brand, while O'Sullivan's divisive personality may limit his crossover appeal.
McGill, who faces John Astley in qualifying for the World Championship, expressed his desire to return to the Crucible. “It would be great to get back to the Crucible. When you are a kid watching on TV it looks massive, like Centre Court at Wimbledon. But when you play there, it is tiny,” he said.
