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List of world number one snooker players

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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 conclusion of a season: this had the effect of ensuring the World Champion would be the top seed for the entirety of the subsequent season. Since 2010, however, the rankings were changed so that they would 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.

photo of Judd Trump
Judd Trump is the current world number one.

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

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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

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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

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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. Nationality Player From To Ref
1   Wales Ray Reardon 3 May 1975 20 April 1981 [3][13]
2   Canada Cliff Thorburn 21 April 1981 16 May 1982 [3]
  Wales Ray Reardon (2) 17 May 1982 2 May 1983 [3][note 1]
3   England Steve Davis 3 May 1983 29 April 1990 [3]
4   Scotland Stephen Hendry 30 April 1990 4 May 1998 [3]
5   Scotland John Higgins 5 May 1998 1 May 2000 [3]
6   Wales Mark Williams 2 May 2000 6 May 2002 [3]
7   England Ronnie O'Sullivan 7 May 2002 5 May 2003 [3]
  Wales Mark Williams (2) 6 May 2003 3 May 2004 [3]
  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 4 May 2004 1 May 2006 [3]
  Scotland Stephen Hendry (2) 2 May 2006 7 May 2007 [3]
  Scotland John Higgins (2) 8 May 2007 5 May 2008 [3]
  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (3) 6 May 2008 3 May 2010 [3]
  Scotland John Higgins (3) 4 May 2010 26 September 2010 [14]
8   Australia Neil Robertson 27 September 2010 12 December 2010 [15][16]
  Scotland John Higgins (4) 13 December 2010 2 May 2011 [17][18]
  Wales Mark Williams (3) 3 May 2011 11 September 2011 [19][20]
9   England Mark Selby 12 September 2011 4 November 2012 [21][22]
10   England Judd Trump 5 November 2012 9 December 2012 [23][24]
  England Mark Selby (2) 10 December 2012 17 February 2013 [25][26]
  England Judd Trump (2) 18 February 2013 31 March 2013 [27][28]
  England Mark Selby (3) 1 April 2013 9 June 2013 [29][30]
  Australia Neil Robertson (2) 10 June 2013 5 May 2014 [31][32]
  England Mark Selby (4) 6 May 2014 6 July 2014 [33][34]
  Australia Neil Robertson (3) 7 July 2014 10 August 2014 [35][36]
  England Mark Selby (5) 11 August 2014 7 December 2014 [37][38]
11   China Ding Junhui 8 December 2014 14 December 2014 [39][40][41]
  Australia Neil Robertson (4) 15 December 2014 25 January 2015 [42][43]
  China Ding Junhui (2) 26 January 2015 8 February 2015 [44][45]
  England Mark Selby (6) 9 February 2015 24 March 2019 [46]
  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) 25 March 2019 11 August 2019 [3]
  England Judd Trump (3) 12 August 2019 22 August 2021 [3]
  England Mark Selby (7) 23 August 2021 17 October 2021 [3]
  England Judd Trump (4) 18 October 2021 7 November 2021 [47]
  England Mark Selby (8) 8 November 2021 3 April 2022 [48]
  England Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 4 April 2022 6 May 2024 [49]
12   Northern Ireland Mark Allen 7 May 2024 25 August 2024
  England Judd Trump (5) 26 August 2024 Present

Total time spent at number one

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Players ranked number one at the start of the season

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b 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]

References

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  1. ^ "Rankings FAQ". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Turner, Chris. "Historical World Rankings". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "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.
  6. ^ "Alex Higgins: The genius". The Belfast Telegraph. Independent News & Media. 26 July 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  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.
  10. ^ Årdalen, Hermund. "Ranking History". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  11. ^ Turner, Chris. "World Number Ones". Chris Turner's Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  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.
  15. ^ "Neil Robertson beats Ronnie O'Sullivan in World Open". BBC Sport. 26 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 April 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  16. ^ "12Bet.com UK Championship 2010". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  17. ^ Hirschowitz, Ivan (14 December 2010). "Higgins – My Finest Hour". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  18. ^ "Betfred.com World Championship (2011)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  19. ^ "Chinese Cracker Into Semis". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  20. ^ "Shanghai Masters (2011)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  21. ^ "Mark Selby beats Mark Williams to win Shanghai Masters". BBC Sport. 11 September 2011. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  22. ^ "International Championship (2012)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  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.
  24. ^ "williamhill.com UK Championship (2012)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  25. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (8 December 2012). "UK Snooker Championship 2012: Mark Selby beats Mark Davis". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 December 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  26. ^ "BetVictor Welsh Open (2013)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  27. ^ "Updated Rankings – Trump Back On Top". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  28. ^ "Bank of Beijing China Open (2013)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  29. ^ "Official world rankings issued after the China Open 2013" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  30. ^ "European Tour Event One (2013)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  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.
  32. ^ "Dafabet World Championship (2014)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  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.
  34. ^ "Australian Goldfields Open (2014)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  35. ^ "World Rankings after the 2014 Australian Goldfields Open" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  36. ^ "European Tour Event One (2014)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  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.
  38. ^ "Coral UK Championship (2014)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  39. ^ "World Rankings after the Coral UK Championship 2014" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  40. ^ "Kreativ Dental European Tour Event Five (2014)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  41. ^ "China's Ding To Top Rankings". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 3 December 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  42. ^ "World Rankings after the Kreativ Dental Lisbon Open 2014 (ET5)" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 15 December 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  43. ^ "Asian Tour Event Three (2015)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  44. ^ "World Rankings after the Xuzhou Open 2015 (AT3)" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 27 January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  45. ^ "Kreativ Dental German Masters (2015)". Snooker.org. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  46. ^ "World Rankings after the German Masters 2015" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 8 February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  47. ^ Caulfield, David (19 October 2021). "Judd Trump Returns to World Number One Spot". SnookerHQ. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  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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