by Dan-cat » 22 Aug 2016 Read
I think there are some interesting and charismatic players coming through. McGill, Kyren, Woollaston, Luca, Teppy, Maflin. Obviously charisma is subjective, these are just the ones I find interesting. They have to win repeatedly to make a splash though, and it seems that experience counts for so much at the moment, I just don't see it happening. They have to attack the wall of established players Higgins, Allen, Walden, Trump, Williams, Marco, Barry, Robbo, Selbs, Bingham.
If there was a wunderkind coming through we'd have heard about him by now.
McGill talks about this in this interview here, he's a smart guy:
“I have noticed the age groups recently, they are quite distinct. There are a lot around 45 years old still, then your O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams just gone past 40. Then there are the Murphy, Robertson, Maguire and Selby group. And now there is myself, Kyren, Michael White, Jack Lisowski, Laim Highfield. In the UK there doesn’t seem to be a flood coming through behind us, unlike China where there are really good teenagers doing damage already. But I view Kyren as a real danger and rival in the future. His all-round game is very strong, his temperament is strong, and he just seems a clever player full of confidence. He is going to take some stopping when on form. Michael White is the same and has also won a ranking tournament. And just a bit younger than us are Oli Lines, who looks a real player, and Luca Brecel. I’m not sure too many other 24/25 year olds you haven’t heard of will now burst through from nowhere. What is exciting looking at some of these guys is that I don’t think I am at my peak yet, so neither are they. At 30, even mid-30s, you have gained lots more experience, you are a better player, but your eyes have still got another good few years. The days of someone coming through and blowing everyone away at 18 and 19 like Higgins and O’Sullivan did are gone, they were special, once every never players.
“Experience plays a big part for us mortals, even the Chinese wonder-kids find it tougher. I am delighted to win one at 25, Kyren has done that, and Michael, and we won’t be at our peak for 5-10 years, so we can challenge for a long time."