Ahead of his opening match at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, Ronnie O'Sullivan has identified three players who currently dominate the sport.
The seven-time world champion believes Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong have separated themselves from their rivals.
Speaking before Tuesday's encounter with Joe O'Connor in Jeddah, O'Sullivan offered his assessment of snooker's current hierarchy. The tournament features a substantial £2million prize fund, with the champion set to claim £500,000.
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The Rocket, who recently married Laila Rouass, was clear in his assessment of the current snooker landscape.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has given three players who he believes are the best in snooker
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"Kyren Wilson is strongest at the moment, closely followed by Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong is the world champion," he stated.
The veteran's comments come as the sport's elite gather for the year's second ranking event, where defending champion Trump secured victory in last year's inaugural edition.
The Rocket then emphasised the gap between this elite group and their competitors.
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"Those three are a level above everyone at the moment," he explained.
"There are seven or eight others behind them who are very good and experienced who can win this week. It's a very strong field."
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters represents the second ranking tournament of the season, with the sport's biggest names competing at the Green Halls venue. The substantial financial rewards on offer include a £2million total prize fund, with the eventual winner earning £500,000.
O'Sullivan faces Joe O'Connor in his opening match on Tuesday evening. His opponent expressed confidence about his current form and ambitions for the tournament.
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The Rocket believes Kyren Wilson is the best in the world
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The previous year's inaugural event concluded with Trump defeating Mark Williams 10-9 in a closely contested final. This year's competition promises similar drama with such significant prize money at stake.
O'Sullivan expressed enthusiasm about snooker's development in Saudi Arabia.
"It's an amazing event and I'm really excited to be here. The future is very strong here. This is big tournament," he remarked.
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The Rocket has invested in the region's snooker infrastructure by establishing an academy in Riyadh.
"We have the Riyadh Season event and the academy in Riyadh. Youngsters will learn the game and get better," he added.
Ronnie O'Sullivan had nothing but praise for Judd Trump
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"I will be interested to see in 10 years how it looks because maybe we'll have one or two professional players from Saudi."