Ronnie O’Sullivan has been awarded an OBE in the New Year honours.

Chigwell’s 40-year-old O’Sullivan has won the World Championship five times, alongside five UK Championship and five Masters titles. He has made a record 788 century breaks, including 13 maximums.

The player nicknamed the Rocket is popular among snooker fans across the globe for his charisma and exciting style of play.

He had not previously been recognised in the honours system, but will now be made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) which has been awarded to just two other snooker players: Steve Davis and Terry Griffiths.

Several others have been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) including Stephen Hendry, Ray Reardon, John Higgins, Mark Williams, John Parrott and Jimmy White.

O’Sullivan missed the first few months of the current season but will be back at the Dafabet Masters in January.