Ronnie O'Sullivan denied Crucible newcomer Stephen Maguire a debut win at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield today.
But after completing an entertaining 10-6 victory O'Sullivan tipped his Scottish rival to become world title holder in the next few years.
Indeed, the Rocket was full of praise for European Open champion Maguire but not so complimentary about the game's slower players.
O'Sullivan, who now plays Andy Hicks for a place in the quarter-finals, said: "Stephen is a great player. "He will definitely win this one day, maybe two or three times.
"I think snooker is in great shape with the likes of him, Ryan Day, Ali Carter and Ding Junhui.
"However, those players who are not so exciting, let them play in their own tournament.
"The ones that want to play snooker and go shot to shot with each other should play in an another event."