List of world number one snooker players

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Ronnie O'Sullivan is the current world number one. Ronnie O'Sullivan at Snooker German Masters (DerHexer) 2015-02-06 07.jpg
Ronnie O'Sullivan is the current world number one.

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 rank has been held by eleven 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 and Ding Junhui.

Contents

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

Stephen Hendry ended the season ranked at number one on nine occasions; more season finishes in the top spot than any other player. Stephen Hendry PHC 2011.png
Stephen Hendry ended the season ranked at number one on nine occasions; more season finishes in the top spot than any other player.

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] [3] 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. [4] 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 [note 1] , 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. [2]

For the 2010–11 snooker season, the world rankings were changed to be updated after each tournament carrying ranking points. [7] This was altered from the 2014–15 snooker season, where ranking points were based entirely on the prize money won from qualifying events. [8] 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. [3] 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). [3] [9]

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. [10] Under the rolling ranking format, Mark Selby holds both the total and consecutive records. [3]

Periods

The snooker players ranked number one in the world are listed below for each period since the introduction of the ranking system. [11] [12]

Number one players
No.NationalityPlayerFromToRef
1Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Ray Reardon 3 May 197520 April 1981 [3] [13]
2Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Cliff Thorburn 21 April 198116 May 1982 [3]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Ray Reardon (2)17 May 19822 May 1983 [3] [note 1]
3Flag of England.svg  England Steve Davis 3 May 198329 April 1990 [3]
4Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Stephen Hendry 30 April 19904 May 1998 [3]
5Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland John Higgins 5 May 19981 May 2000 [3]
6Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Mark Williams 2 May 20006 May 2002 [3]
7Flag of England.svg  England Ronnie O'Sullivan 7 May 20025 May 2003 [3]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Mark Williams (2)6 May 20033 May 2004 [3]
Flag of England.svg  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (2)4 May 20041 May 2006 [3]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Stephen Hendry (2)2 May 20067 May 2007 [3]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland John Higgins (2)8 May 20075 May 2008 [3]
Flag of England.svg  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)6 May 20083 May 2010 [3]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland John Higgins (3)4 May 201026 September 2010 [14]
8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Neil Robertson 27 September 201012 December 2010 [15] [16]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland John Higgins (4)13 December 20102 May 2011 [17] [18]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Mark Williams (3)3 May 201111 September 2011 [19] [20]
9Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby 12 September 20114 November 2012 [21] [22]
10Flag of England.svg  England Judd Trump 5 November 20129 December 2012 [23] [24]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (2)10 December 201217 February 2013 [25] [26]
Flag of England.svg  England Judd Trump (2)18 February 201331 March 2013 [27] [28]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (3)1 April 20139 June 2013 [29] [30]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Neil Robertson (2)10 June 20135 May 2014 [31] [32]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (4)6 May 20146 July 2014 [33] [34]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Neil Robertson (3)7 July 201410 August 2014 [35] [36]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (5)11 August 20147 December 2014 [37] [38]
11Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Ding Junhui 8 December 201414 December 2014 [39] [40] [41]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Neil Robertson (4)15 December 201424 January 2015 [42] [43]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Ding Junhui (2)25 January 20158 February 2015 [44] [45]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (6)9 February 201524 March 2019 [46]
Flag of England.svg  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)25 March 201911 August 2019 [3]
Flag of England.svg  England Judd Trump (3)12 August 201922 August 2021 [3]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (7)23 August 202117 October 2021 [3]
Flag of England.svg  England Judd Trump (4)18 October 20217 November 2021 [47]
Flag of England.svg  England Mark Selby (8)8 November 20213 April 2022 [48]
Flag of England.svg  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)4 April 2022Present [49]

Total time spent at number one

Players ranked number one at the start of the season

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Alex Higgins would have been ranked number one in the 1982–83 season, but had ranking points deducted as a result of disciplinary action after assaulting a press officer. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masters (snooker)</span> Snooker tournament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010–11 snooker season</span> Series of snooker tournaments

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Shanghai Masters</span> Snooker tournament

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The 2013 Sports Lottery Cup Wuxi Classic was a professional ranking snooker tournament held between 17 and 23 June 2013 at the Wuxi City Sports Park Stadium in Wuxi, China. It was the first ranking event of the 2013/2014 season.

The 2014 China Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament, that took place between 31 March and 6 April 2014 at the Beijing University Students' Gymnasium in Beijing, China. It was the eleventh ranking event of the 2013–14 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 snooker season</span> Series of snooker tournaments

The 2016–17 snooker season was a series of professional snooker tournaments played between 5 May 2016 and 1 May 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 snooker season</span> Series of snooker tournaments

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional snooker career of Ronnie O'Sullivan</span>

Ronnie O'Sullivan started his professional snooker career in 1992 and is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His play and accomplishments are described by some peers and pundits as being the greatest in the modern era of snooker. O'Sullivan is a seven-time world champion, and holds many records, including the fastest maximum break in professional competition; the highest number of century breaks; the highest number of maximum breaks, and the most Triple Crown event titles (23).

References

  1. ↑ "Rankings FAQ". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Turner, Chris. "Historical World Rankings". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Ranking Records". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Hayton, Eric. Cuesport Book of Professional Snooker. p. 149.
  5. ↑ Osley, Richard; Gray, Sadie (25 July 2010). "Snooker legend Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins is dead". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
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  7. ↑ "Williams Supports Rankings Overhall". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  8. ↑ Hayton, Eric (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker. Suffolk: Rose Villa Publications. p. 107. ISBN   978-0-9548549-0-4.
  9. ↑ "2005–6 Main Tour Two Year Rankings". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
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  12. ↑ Downer, Chris (2012). Crucible Almanac. p. 143.
  13. ↑ "Reardon Retains Title". The Canberra Times. 3 May 1975. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  14. ↑ "2010 World Open results". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
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  23. ↑ "Trump Hammers Ebdon To Become No 1". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 2 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
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  31. ↑ "Issued after the Bulgarian Open 2013 (ET1)" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
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  33. ↑ Skilbeck, John (5 May 2014). "Mark Selby dedicates first world title to late father". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
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  37. ↑ "World Rankings after the Riga Open 2014 (ET1)" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 11 August 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
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  48. ↑ "Rankings update thunder storms to third". wst.tv. 8 November 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  49. ↑ "Rankings update: O'Sullivan hits top spot". wst.tv. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.

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