2023’s Snooker Player of the Year
In 2023, the snooker Player of the Year was voted upon by SnookerHQ. Ronnie O’Sullivan, who had a strong hold at the top of the world rankings, remained the sport’s world number one for the entire year. Despite his repeated withdrawals from tournaments, including the Champion of Champions, O’Sullivan managed to maintain his dominance. His documentary film, Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything, also gained significant attention. Despite occasional inconsistent performance, O’Sullivan managed to secure prestigious titles, including a fifth Shanghai Masters victory and a record-extending eighth UK Championship. His consistent performance and desire for success made him a standout contender for the award.
O’Sullivan’s 10-7 victory over Ding Junhui in the final in York came nearly 30 years after his 1993 triumph at the same tournament.
At 48, O’Sullivan continues to thrive at the top of the game, showing few signs of his tenure at the highest echelons nearing an end. Judd Trump, a 34-year-old, went undefeated in October, bagging a hat-trick of ranking titles in just four weeks. Trump’s calendar year was strong from start to finish, winning the Masters for the second time in his career. He made four more appearances in finals, losing to Mark Allen in the World Grand Prix and again to the Northern Irishman at the Champion of Champions. He was also denied glory at the European Masters by Barry Hawkins and at the invitational Championship League by John Higgins. Despite losing in the first round of the World Championship, Trump’s confidence is almost back to the level shown between 2019 and 2021, and he has risen back to number two in the world rankings.
