Barry Hearn has called for Ronnie O’Sullivan to be knighted for services to snooker. The Rocket, 49, is one of Britain’s most successful sportspeople and was awarded an OBE in 2016. His seven World Championships is a record he jointly shares with Stephen Hendry.

But his haul of 23 major Triple Crown titles is five more than next best Hendry. O’Sullivan is a figure who transcends the sport and has been at the top of the baize game for over three memorable decades. And World Snooker Tour Honorary President Hearn, 76, said: “Well to put it in context, Ronnie O’Sullivan has been the best player in the world for many years. There’s no question about that. I mean the boy is a total phenomenon.

“There’s a case to say that he deserves to be picked out and to be knighted for services to snooker. Ronnie is cross-generational, isn’t he? Ronnie, when he plays, my wife watches. My grandchildren watch.

“Because he is something magical. I mean he’s human. He has different parts of attitude that may not appeal to everybody. But for his sheer excellence, I think there’s a very good case to be made. And I would welcome it.”

O’Sullivan touted the idea of opening a string of academies in the UK fronted by the famous Class of 92 to try and unearth the next generation of snooker stars from these shores.

The Chinese revolution which has long been earmarked is finally coming to fruition with 10 players from the country under the age of 30 in the top 50 as opposed to two from the UK.

A record 10 players qualified for the Crucible, smashing their previous best of six, and with the talent emerging from the country it is a sign of things to come over the next few years.

And snooker supremo Hearn, whose life changed when Steve Davis became world champion in 1981 is ready to back the project in principle.

He said: “To use his name would be a very valuable asset in trying to promote grassroots. And I think if he has really serious ideas, I would welcome a meeting between him and World Snooker.

“I would 100 per cent welcome it and get beyond him solidly to launch a series of Ronnie O’Sullivan snooker academies all over the country to inspire young people to play. Ronnie O’Sullivan is the complete deal. He’s the full package.

“You know, he’s young, he’s quite belligerent sometimes. He says what he feels straight off. For you guys, I mean he’s like a licence to thrill because he’s never going to be unquotable.

“If he really has a passion for leaving his mark on future generations by way of academies or whatever, I think World Snooker would get behind it a hundred per cent.”