Ronnie O'Sullivan has been warned ahead of this year's World Snooker Championship that the sport's next superstar will soon emerge.
However, former English player Neal Foulds does not think anyone will ever be able to reach the levels of the Rocket.
O'Sullivan continues to dominate professional snooker, despite having been on the tour for over 30 years.
The 48-year-old has won five tournaments this season, including the first two Triple Crown events at the UK Championship and the Masters.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been warned that snooker's next superstar will soon emerge
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O'Sullivan lost in the final of the Tour Championship to fellow Class of '92 star Mark Williams on Sunday.
But he is in contention for a record-breaking eighth World Championship win to claim all three snooker majors in a single season for the first time in his career.
Foulds has hailed the longevity of O'Sullivan, Williams and John Higgins ahead of the Crucible.
He has been disappointed with the lack of competition O'Sullivan has had from younger players this season.
But Foulds is convinced a new superstar will make their mark soon, even if they don't match the feats of O'Sullivan.
Foulds told Sporting Life: "The remarkable longevity of that trio is in my opinion down to a combination of things.
"All three are immensely talented, but they’ve not always had things easy and early in their careers, don’t doubt for a second how hard they worked to get where they are.
"But the group of players below them in age, and perhaps quality, just haven’t delivered this season.
"Aside from [Mark] Allen, the likes of Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson have gone missing.
"We’ve actually had very few winners this term and that's been slightly disappointing.
"Despite that, I remain convinced that the next big thing is just around the corner, perhaps more likely from the Far East than in the UK, but it will happen and before long, we’ll have snooker’s latest superstar.
"We’ll never have another Ronnie O’Sullivan – he’s very much a one-off – but with Ding Junhui playing well again, the next generation in China are bound to be inspired to take up the game, and who knows what that might bring."
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Neal Foulds is confident in the emergence of a new snooker superstar
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O'Sullivan, meanwhile, was gracious in defeat following his first ranking final against Williams in 24 years.
He hailed the Welshman as one of the sport's all-time greats.
O'Sullivan said: "I think he's been the best player and the most consistent player for the last five years.
"The way he’s been hitting the ball, very rarely does he play a poor match.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is aiming to win a record-breaking eighth World Championship
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"The way he’s played this week and tonight. Just an amazing player really and so talented.
"I think he’s better now than he’s ever been. He just seems so strong.
"I tried, I gave it everything to stay in the game but if you don’t keep playing top level snooker he eats you alive.
"I thought I did well to get five frames today to be honest with you!"
