List of world number one snooker players explained

The sport of snooker has utilised a world rankings system since 1975, used to seed players on the World Snooker Tour for tournaments. Originally rankings were published once a year, at the culmination of the season, however, since 2010, the rankings have been changed to be updated after every ranking tournament.[1] The number one ranking has been held by twelve players; Ray Reardon was the first to hold the position, and was followed by Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui and Mark Allen.

Hendry held the number one position for the longest time under the annual format, holding it for nine years in total. Since it changed to a rolling format in 2010, Selby has held the rank longer than anyone else.

History

The sport of professional snooker first adopted a ranking system for the 1975–76 season, which saw Ray Reardon ranked in the top position. An Order of Merit was published in the 1975/76 season to determine the seedings for events, and the first set of official rankings the following year used the same criteria.[2] Certain events carried ranking points, and at the end of the season, they were tallied. The World Snooker Championship originally was the only event to offer ranking points, until the 1982 International Open.[3] Over the next 22 seasons, five men held the first position; Reardon (1976/77 to 1980/81), Cliff Thorburn (1981/82), Reardon again for 1982/83, Steve Davis (1983/84 to 1989/90) and Stephen Hendry (1990/91 to 1997/98). From 1998/99 to 2009/10, the title was shared by Ronnie O'Sullivan (five seasons), John Higgins (three seasons) and Mark Williams (three seasons), while Hendry regained the position for the 2006/07 season. In the first 34 years of the world rankings, only seven players held the number one position.

For the 2010–11 snooker season, the world rankings were changed to be updated after each tournament carrying ranking points.[4] This was altered from the 2014–15 snooker season, where ranking points were based entirely on the prize money won from qualifying events.[5] Since the introduction of the new system, Higgins, Neil Robertson, Williams, Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, and O'Sullivan have all attained the number one rank. Selby has also seven seasons ranked in first place, putting him in joint third place overall with Reardon and Davis, O'Sullivan is in second with (eight times) and behind Hendry (nine times).[6] [7]

List of players

Hendry holds the record for most seasons at number one under the traditional system, with nine seasons (1990/1991–1997/1998 and again in 2006–07). His first spell of eight consecutive seasons in this position is also a record.[8] Under the rolling ranking format, Mark Selby holds both the total and consecutive records.[6]

Periods

The snooker players ranked number one in the world are listed below for each period since the introduction of the ranking system.[9] [10]

No.! scope=col
Nationalityscope=colPlayerscope=colFromscope=colToscope=col class="unsortable"
[11]
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(3) [12]
[13] [14]
(4) [15] [16]
(3) [17] [18]
[19] [20]
10[21] [22]
(2) [23] [24]
(2) [25] [26]
(3) [27] [28]
(2) [29] [30]
(4) [31] [32]
(3) [33] [34]
(5) [35] [36]
11[37] [38] [39]
(4) [40] [41]
(2) [42] [43]
(6) [44]
(4)
(3)
(7)
(4) [45]
(8) [46]
(5) [47]
12Present

Total time spent at number one

Annual format (1975–2010)

Years !!scope="col"
Longest
consecutive
period !		NationalityPlayer
9 8
7 7
6
5 2
3 2
2
1 1

Rolling format (2010–present)

Days !!scope="col"
Longest
consecutive
period !		NationalityPlayer
† †
† as of

Players ranked number one at the start of the season

Per season

Seasons held
Season NationalityPlayer
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)

Per frequency

Number of times held
Seasons Longest
consecutive
period 		NationalityPlayer
9 8
8 2
7 7
7
6
4 2
2
2 2
1 1
1 1

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rankings FAQ . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 16 August 2021 . 28 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210428221451/https://wpbsa.com/rankings/rankings-faq/ . live.
  2. Web site: Turner . Chris . Historical World Rankings . https://web.archive.org/web/20120608214119/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/HistoricRank1.html . 8 June 2012 . Chris Turner's Snooker Archive . 28 April 2011.
  3. Book: Hayton, Eric . Cuesport Book of Professional Snooker . 149.
  4. Web site: worldsnooker.com . Williams Supports Rankings Overhall . . 2 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100626000811/http://www.worldsnooker.com/PTC1_news(Williams_Supports_Rankings_Overhall)-2324.htm?tid=166 . dead . 26 June 2010.
  5. Book: Hayton, Eric . The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker . 2004 . Rose Villa Publications . Suffolk . 978-0-9548549-0-4 . 107.
  6. Web site: Ranking Records . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 16 August 2021 . 13 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210813070001/https://wpbsa.com/rankings/ranking-records/ . live.
  7. Web site: 2005–6 Main Tour Two Year Rankings . 9 September 2021 . Global Snooker . https://web.archive.org/web/20081005051808/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Rankings/05-6twoyrrks.htm . 5 October 2008.
  8. Web site: Årdalen . Hermund . Ranking History . Snooker.org . 25 June 2011 . 14 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814082744/http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/history.asp . live.
  9. Web site: Turner . Chris . World Number Ones . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313150441/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/No1.html . 13 March 2012 . Chris Turner's Snooker Archive . 1 December 2010.
  10. Book: Downer, Chris . Crucible Almanac . 2012 . 143.
  11. News: Reardon Retains Title . 13 May 2013 . The Canberra Times . 3 May 1975 . 14 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200414224939/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110636173 . live.
  12. Web site: 2010 World Open results . Global Snooker . 18 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100914031450/http://www.global-snooker.com/2010-World-Open-Final-Venue-Results.asp . 14 September 2010.
  13. News: Neil Robertson beats Ronnie O'Sullivan in World Open . BBC Sport . 20 December 2011 . 26 September 2010 . 8 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110408080134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/9035008.stm . live.
  14. Web site: 12Bet.com UK Championship 2010 . Global Snooker . 4 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101227132415/http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-uk-championship-2010-final-stage-results.asp . 27 December 2010.
  15. Web site: Hirschowitz . Ivan . Higgins – My Finest Hour . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 14 December 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101217091612/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2243824%2C00.html . 14 December 2010 . 17 December 2010.
  16. Web site: Betfred.com World Championship (2011) . Snooker.org . 3 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190816033208/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=28 . 16 August 2019 . dead.
  17. Web site: Chinese Cracker Into Semis . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 27 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110429202539/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2348379%2C00.html . 27 April 2011 . 29 April 2011.
  18. Web site: Shanghai Masters (2011) . Snooker.org . 24 July 2011 . 20 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190820103342/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=96 . live.
  19. News: Mark Selby beats Mark Williams to win Shanghai Masters . BBC Sport . 20 December 2011 . 11 September 2011 . 28 April 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120428001723/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/14870798 . live.
  20. Web site: International Championship (2012) . Snooker.org . 14 August 2012 . 1 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171001105912/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=185 . live.
  21. Web site: Trump Hammers Ebdon To Become No 1 . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 2 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104083607/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0%2C%2C13165~2968097%2C00.html . 2 November 2012 . 4 November 2012.
  22. Web site: williamhill.com UK Championship (2012) . Snooker.org . 8 October 2011 . 22 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121022145932/http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=198 . live.
  23. Web site: Hafez, Shamoon . UK Snooker Championship 2012: Mark Selby beats Mark Davis . 8 December 2012 . BBC Sport . 8 December 2012 . 10 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121210233244/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/20652501 . live.
  24. Web site: BetVictor Welsh Open (2013) . Snooker.org . 10 January 2013 . 4 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190404124310/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=219 . live.
  25. Web site: Updated Rankings – Trump Back On Top . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 19 February 2013 . 19 February 2013 . 29 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140429200905/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3081190,00.html . live.
  26. Web site: Bank of Beijing China Open (2013) . Snooker.org . 7 January 2013 . 25 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171025145638/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=215 . live.
  27. Web site: Official world rankings issued after the China Open 2013 . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 2 April 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130418002242/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/b3/bb/0,,13165~179123,00.pdf . 18 April 2013 . dead.
  28. Web site: European Tour Event One (2013) . Snooker.org . 30 May 2013 . 24 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224093851/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=260 . live.
  29. Web site: Issued after the Bulgarian Open 2013 (ET1) . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 12 June 2013 . 13 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928182255/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/47/bd/0,,13165~179527,00.pdf . 28 September 2013 . dead.
  30. Web site: Dafabet World Championship (2014) . Snooker.org . 6 May 2014 . 8 April 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140408050152/http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=297 . live.
  31. Web site: Skilbeck . John . Mark Selby dedicates first world title to late father . London Evening Standard . 6 May 2014 . 5 May 2014 . 7 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220322/https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/other-sports/mark-selby-dedicates-first-world-title-to-late-father-9324716.html . live.
  32. Web site: Australian Goldfields Open (2014) . Snooker.org . 7 July 2014 . 7 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140707031744/http://snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=333 . live.
  33. Web site: World Rankings after the 2014 Australian Goldfields Open . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 7 July 2014 . 8 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140707155224/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/ab/c2/0,,13165~180907,00.pdf . 7 July 2014 . dead.
  34. Web site: European Tour Event One (2014) . Snooker.org . 11 August 2014 . 25 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181125022841/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=336 . live.
  35. Web site: World Rankings after the Riga Open 2014 (ET1) . 11 August 2014 . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 12 August 2014 . 12 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812121456/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/13/c3/0%2C%2C13165~181011%2C00.pdf . live.
  36. Web site: Coral UK Championship (2014) . Snooker.org . 8 December 2014 . 7 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207165428/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=353 . live.
  37. Web site: World Rankings after the Coral UK Championship 2014 . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 8 December 2014 . 11 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141214182426/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/2/c5/0%2C%2C13165~181506%2C00.pdf . 14 December 2014.
  38. Web site: Kreativ Dental European Tour Event Five (2014) . Snooker.org . 15 December 2014 . 25 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181125081439/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=340 . live.
  39. Web site: China's Ding To Top Rankings . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 3 December 2014 . 4 December 2014 . 9 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141209041402/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~4344708,00.html . live.
  40. Web site: World Rankings after the Kreativ Dental Lisbon Open 2014 (ET5) . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 15 December 2014 . 15 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141230170631/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/3e/c5/0%2C%2C13165~181566%2C00.pdf . 30 December 2014.
  41. Web site: Asian Tour Event Three (2015) . Snooker.org . 24 January 2015 . 28 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328210810/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=344 . live.
  42. Web site: World Rankings after the Xuzhou Open 2015 (AT3) . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 27 January 2015 . 29 January 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150130113140/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/a7/c6/0%2C%2C13165~181927%2C00.pdf . 30 January 2015.
  43. Web site: Kreativ Dental German Masters (2015) . Snooker.org . 8 February 2015 . 19 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160319215108/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=355 . live.
  44. Web site: World Rankings after the German Masters 2015 . 8 February 2015 . worldsnooker.com . World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association . 9 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150210235319/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/f9/c6/0%2C%2C13165~182009%2C00.pdf . 10 February 2015.
  45. Web site: Caulfield . David . 19 October 2021 . Judd Trump Returns to World Number One Spot . 9 March 2022 . SnookerHQ . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019111658/https://snookerhq.com/2021/10/19/judd-trump-returns-to-world-number-one-spot/ . 19 October 2021 . live.
  46. Web site: Rankings update thunder storms to third . 8 November 2021 . wst.tv . 8 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211108160636/https://wst.tv/rankings-update-thunder-storms-to-third/ . 8 November 2021 . dead.
  47. Web site: Rankings update: O'Sullivan hits top spot . 4 April 2022 . wst.tv . 4 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220404140533/https://wst.tv/rankings-update-osullivan-hits-top-spot/ . 4 April 2022 . dead.

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