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When a teenage Ronnie O'Sullivan spoke about his snooker idol in 1990, he remarked "he creates new techniques … not many players possess that ability".

This early statement revealed O'Sullivan's unique approach. His drive extends beyond mere victory encompassing redefining excellence in the sport.

Now, 35 years later, he has surpassed the achievements of those he admired and during this week's UK Championship, where he holds records for both the most veteran and youngest champion, O'Sullivan will mark reaching fifty.

In professional sports, for a single 50-year-old competitor is impressive enough, yet his half-century signifies that multiple top-ranked world players are now in their fifties.

Mark Williams together with the Wizard of Wishaw, similar to The Rocket became professionals over thirty years ago, similarly marked their 50th birthdays recently.

Yet, this remarkable longevity isn't automatic in this sport. Stephen Hendry, who shares the distinction alongside Ronnie for most world championships, won his last ranking event at 36, while Davis' victory at the 1997 Masters, nearing forty, was considered a major surprise.

The Class of 92, though, stubbornly refuse declining. This article examines why three 50-year-olds stay at the top in world snooker.

The Mind

According to the legend, now 68, the primary distinction between generations is psychological.

"I always blamed my form for failures, rather than retraining my mind," he explained. "It felt like inevitable progression.

"Ronnie, John and Mark have proven that's not true. It's all mental… careers can extend beyond predictions."

The Rocket's approach has been influenced by psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters, their partnership starting since 2011. In his 2023 documentary, his documentary, O'Sullivan asks him: "What's my potential age, to avoid uncertainty?"

"If you focus on age, you activate negative expectations," Peters responds. "Thoughts like 'Oh, I'm 46, I'll decline!' Avoid that mindset. If you want to win, and keep delivering, disregard your age."

This guidance Ronnie adopted, mentioning recently that turning 50 "acceptable," adding: "I avoid putting excessive pressure … I appreciate this life stage."

The Body

While not an athletic sport, success still relies on physical traits usually benefiting younger competitors.

Ronnie stays fit through running, but it's challenging to prevent other age-related issues, like worsening eyesight, something Mark knows very well.

"I find it funny. I need spectacles for everything: reading, medium distance, far shots," Mark stated this season.

The Welsh player considered lens replacement surgery delaying it repeatedly, most recently in November, mainly because he keeps succeeding.

Williams might benefit from neuroplasticity, a psychological concept.

A vision specialist, who coaches athletes, noted that without conditions such as cataracts, the brain can adjust to impaired vision.

"Everyone, after thirty-five, maybe early 40s, experience the eye lens stiffening," she explained.

"However our minds adjust to difficulties throughout life, even into old age.

"But, even if vision isn't the issue, other physical aspects may fail."

"In time in games requiring accuracy, your body fails your mind," Davis commented.

"Your cue action doesn't perform as required. The first symptom I felt was that while alignment was good, the speed was off.

"Delivery weight is the critical factor with no easy fix. That will occur."

Ronnie's psychological training paired with careful body management often stressing the role of diet for his success.

"He avoids alcohol, consumes nutritious food," said a former champion. "You wouldn't guess thirty years younger!"

Mark similarly realized nutritional benefits lately, disclosing in 2024 he added pre-game nutrition, which he claims maintains stamina during long sessions.

And while Higgins shed over three stone in 2021, attributing it to regular exercise, he currently says the weight returned though intending setting up equipment for renewed motivation.

The Motivation

"The toughest aspect as you older is training. That passion for snooker needs to continue," added another expert.

Williams, Higgins and O'Sullivan aren't exempt challenges. Higgins, a four-time world champion, stated in September he finds it hard "to train consistently".

"However, I think that's normal," John added. "As you age, focus changes."

Higgins has contemplated skipping some tournaments yet limited by the ranking system, where major event qualification rely on performance in smaller competitions.

"It's a balancing act," he explained. "Negatively affect mental health attempting to attend every tournament."

O'Sullivan, too has reduced his tournament appearances after moving to Dubai. The UK Championship is his initial home tournament currently.

Yet all three appear ready to stop playing. Like in other sports where legendary rivals like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic motivated one another to greater heights, similarly O'Sullivan, Higgins and Williams.

"When one wins, it makes others wonder why not the others?" commented an analyst. "I think they've inspired each other."

Absence of New Rivals

After his latest major victory at the 2024 Masters, O'Sullivan remarked that new generation "need to improve because I'm declining failing eyesight, a unreliable arm and knee problems and they still lose."

Although a Chinese player won this year's world title, rarely have players emerged to dominate the tour. Exemplified by this season's results, where 11 different winners have taken the first 11 events.

Yet challenging when facing O'Sullivan, with exceptional natural talent unmatched in sports, remembered since his youth on a 1992 gameshow.

"His technique, was obvious instantly," he said, observing the teen potting balls quickly to win prizes including a fax machine.

Ronnie often states that winning tournaments "isn't everything."

However, he has suggested previously that losing streaks help maintain drive.

It's been nearly two years without a tournament win, but Davis believes this birthday could motivate him.

"Perhaps that turning 50 is the spark Ronnie needs to demonstrate his greatness," said Davis. "We all recognize his genius, but Ronnie enjoys astonishing people.

"Should he claim the UK Championship, or the worlds, it would amaze the crowd… Achieving that a historic feat."