Ronnie O’Sullivan will be looking over his shoulder as Judd Trump closes on his records (Image: Getty)
Former world champion Dennis Taylor believes could overtake ‘s tally of ranking titles if the latter isn’t careful. ‘The Rocket’ has endured a shaky 2024/25 season, while world No1 Trump continues to rake in some of snooker’s top awards.
O’Sullivan, 48, finds himself in the midst of a sour patch and has failed to make it past the last 16 of his last four tournament appearances. He most recently lost in the last 32 of the UK Championship to out to Barry Hawkins, whom Trump defeated in the final to collect his 30th ranking title.
Seven-time O’Sullivan still sits some way ahead on 41, but that record is coming further within his rival’s grasp every year. And while Taylor – who was crowned world champion in 1985 – is tentative in making his prediction, he suggested O’Sullivan’s trailing form could create an opening for ‘The Ace in the Pack’.
“There’s a possibility that [Trump] could do that [set a new ranking title record], but there’s an awful lot of players standing in his way and the level is getting higher all of the time,” he told Betway. “With the way he plays the game and his break building, he can go on to maybe beat that record, it would be some record.
“But then again, Ronnie is not finished yet. He’s struggling quite a bit, Ronnie, maybe away from the table he’s not fully focused on the game. I’m not sure if he is putting the practice in, he’s always done that, Ronnie, and you don’t get the results he gets without putting the practice in, but there’s a little ingredient missing at the moment.”
O’Sullivan has appeared relaxed on the matter despite his dip in form this year. His recent defeat to Hawkins was frustrating given he led 4-2 before losing four frames in a row, and it was a similar story when he gave up a 3-0 lead to Xiao Guodong at the Champion of Champions nine days prior.
Dennis Taylor believes other players may get in Trump’s way (Image: Getty)
And yet the baize icon appeared nonchalant in his breakdown of the collapse that unfolded at the York Barbican. O’Sullivan said in a post-match interview that he “felt okay” and was positive about his practice game, suggesting his opponent merely played better on the day.
After winning his eighth UK Championship last year, along with a number of non-ranking titles, it seemed as though O’Sullivan was fully capable of contesting any tournament. Fast-forward to today, however, and his form looks indicative of a player who may be on the exit ramp at the elite level.
The only ranking tournaments in which he has managed to make a deep run so far this season both came on Asian soil. The Rocket reached the semi-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix in late August before bowing out of the last eight in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters around one week later.
Trump, on the other hand, has reached at least the quarter-finals of all but one of the tournaments he’s competed in so far this season. His third-round exit at the International Championship last month was an anomaly by his standards, and he’ll hope to keep closing the gap on O’Sullivan’s ranking title record next year.
Taylor believes there are a few players currently competing who could impede the Bristolian in that regard. But on current form, at least, the jury is out as to whether O’Sullivan will be adding to his total anytime soon.