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Snooker as a professional game has emerged as the most famous cue sport in the world.
We take a look at the top five
snooker players according to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) rankings.
5. Mark Allen
The Northern Irish player, who won the World Amateur Championship in 2004, is currently ranked fifth in the world rankings.
As a prolific break-builder, Allen has compiled more than 425 century breaks in professional competition.
The 34-year-old has won five ranking tournaments – 2012 World Open, 2013 World Open, 2016 Players Tour Championship Finals, 2018 International Championship and 2018 Scottish Open.
He won his first Triple Crown title at the 2018 Masters tournament. His highest break is 147, which he achieved in the 2016 UK Championship.
“It has been a long time coming. I was never sure it was going to come to be honest," Allen said after winning the 2018 Triple Crown title.
"I have knocked on the door for so long but now I can say I have won a Triple Crown title."
4. John Higgins
The Scottish player is one of the most successful players in the history of the sport having won 30 ranking titles.
Higgins, who is ranked fourth in the world, has four World Championships and three UK Championships, as well as two Masters titles.
The 45-year-old is also fifth behind Stephen Hendry (7), Steve Davis (6), Ray Reardon (6) and Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) in terms of world titles in the modern era.
Known as a prolific break-builder, he has compiled 790 century breaks in professional tournaments, second only to O'Sullivan.
3. Mark Williams
The Welsh legend is a three-time World Champion having won the World Snooker Championship in 2000, 2003 and 2018.
Williams became the second-oldest winner of the World Championship at the Crucible (Ray Reardon was the oldest winner in 1978, aged 45) in 2018.
Currently ranked third in the world, Williams is often noted for his single-ball long potting ability which earned him the nickname "The Welsh Potting Machine."
He is the first player to win all three versions of the professional World Championship – the World Snooker Championship, the Six-red World Championship and the World Seniors Championship.
2. Neil Robertson
The Australian star is currently ranked second in the world having won the 2019 Champion of Champions tournament for the second time in his career.
Robertson is also one of thirteen players to win both the world and UK titles, and one of eleven to win the Triple Crown of World Championship, UK Championship and Masters.
Nicknamed the 'Thunder from Down Under', Robertson became the first player to make 100 centuries in a single season (2013/14), and is still the only one.
The Thunder From Down Under is considered to be the most successful player from outside the United Kingdom in the sport's history.
1. Judd Trump
The Englishman is widely regarded as the best snooker player in the world having won several major competitions in recent years.
Trump, who is the reigning world champion and the current world number one, won the 2018 Northern Ireland Open and 2019 World Grand Prix.
The man nicknamed Mr Haircut 100, became the first player to win over £1 million in prize money in a single season (2018/19).
Mr Haircut 100 has also won six ranking tournaments thus far this season setting a new record for the most ranking titles in a single season.
"Judd played brilliantly. He's a real special player, a special talent and he deserves to be world champion," Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan praised Trump after he was crowned 2019 world champion.
"It's now a matter of how many he can get. He's finally got that monkey off his back and now he can relax and enjoy his snooker."
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