Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins remain at the centre of attention in snooker as the two veteran stars continue to consider how much longer they will remain on the professional circuit.
The pair, members of snooker’s famous “Class of ’92”, have shared one of the sport’s longest rivalries. Their careers have repeatedly crossed at major tournaments, including the W orld Championship, where their latest meeting produced another memorable contest.
At the 2026 World Championship, Higgins came from behind to defeat O’Sullivan 13-12 in a dramatic second-round match at the Crucible. O’Sullivan had twice built a five-frame advantage, but Higgins fought back to win six consecutive frames across the final two sessions. He eventually secured victory in the deciding frame.
Despite the intensity of their battles over the years, the rivalry between the two has remained largely centred on competition around the snooker table. Their latest Crucible meeting once again demonstrated how closely matched the two legends can be, even at this stage of their careers.
The bigger question now concerns what comes next.
O’Sullivan, who is 50, has already outlined a possible timeline for the end of his professional career. In July, he said he had two more opportunities to try to win an eighth World Championship title and indicated that 2028 could become an important point in his decision-making. He also made clear that he does not want to go through qualifying should his ranking fall outside the automatic qualification places.
“I’ll reassess in 2028,” O’Sullivan said, while leaving open the possibility of continuing if circumstances remained favourable.
His comments came after he had slipped to 12th in the world rankings following a reduced tournament schedule. The seven-time world champion has also spoken about the physical and mental demands of competing at the highest level at the age of 50.
Higgins, meanwhile, has also begun discussing his own retirement plans.
The 51-year-old Scot recently suggested that he could continue for another couple of years before bringing his career to an end. Speaking about his future, Higgins said he was considering reducing the number of tournaments he plays rather than suddenly stopping altogether. He explained that gradually tapering his schedule could make the eventual transition away from professional snooker easier.
Higgins’ comments have therefore added another layer to the future of the “Class of ’92”. O’Sullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams have remained prominent figures in professional snooker for more than three decades, but all three are now approaching the later stages of their careers.
For O’Sullivan and Higgins, the possibility of retirement does not necessarily mean an immediate end. Both players have indicated that they still want to compete while they remain motivated and capable of performing at the highest level.
Their careers have already produced numerous memorable encounters. World Snooker Tour recorded their 73rd meeting ahead of their 2026 Crucible clash, with O’Sullivan holding a 39-33 head-to-head advantage at that point.
The latest chapter ended with Higgins celebrating another major victory over his long-time rival. Yet their story may still have several more chapters to come.
With O’Sullivan looking towards 2028 and Higgins speaking about the possibility of retiring within the next couple of years, snooker fans could still see the two legends sharing the table several more times before either finally decides to put away the cue for good.
For now, however, neither player has announced an immediate retirement. Their future remains open, with both continuing to compete while considering how and when their extraordinary careers should eventually come to an end
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