Snooker world rankings
Encyclopedia
The snooker world rankings are the official system of ranking professional snooker
players to determine automatic qualification and seeding for tournaments on the World Snooker Tour
. They are maintained by the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
. Rankings points are awarded using a progressive system, in which a player is awarded more points for reaching a round than the player who only reached the previous round. The point allocation is dependent on the importance of the tournament, with the world championship receiving a greater distribution of points than the other tounaments. The rankings are based on performances over the last two years, and historically were only updated once a year at the start of the season, but are now updated after every tournament.
, organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
, and who gets an invite to prestigious invitational events. Tournaments open to the membership are often played in two stages—a qualification stage and the "venue stage"—usually at different locations. Players usually come into events in different rounds based on their ranking, and the top players in the sport are usually seeded through to the venue stage and do not have to play a qualification match. In particular, the top 16 ranked players automatically qualify for the final stages of the World Championship
and the Masters
, so as well as interest in who will be number one, there is typically a lot of interest in which players are likely to maintain or acquire "top 16 status". Players are awarded ranking points according to the round they reach in ranking tournaments—specially designated tournaments that carry ranking status. The tariffs usually reflect the importance and prestige of a tournament, and every professional member of the WPBSA is assigned a ranking, whether they are active on the circuit or not.
By the 1982/1983 season many more tournaments were being contested, and it seemed reasonable to take those results into consideration as well. The Professional Players Tournament and International Open
were awarded ranking status, working on the same system but with the world championship from 1983 onwards carrying double points. The Classic
carried ranking points from the 1983/1984 season
, and the UK Championship
and British Open
from 1984/1985
.
The ranking point allocation was revised slightly with winners of all bar the world championship now receiving six points, runners-up five, down to one point for the last 32; the world championship more or less stayed as it was with ten points for the winner, incrementally reduced by two points for each preceding round, but now awarded one point for the last 32 in line with the other tournaments. In addition to ranking points, merit and frame points were also awarded which were used as a tie-break when players were on equal ranking points. The revised system was now based on only the two previous seasons, and updated annually after the world championship.
When the game went open
for the 1991/1992 season, the ranking point allocations were altered by several factors to accommodate the influx of new players. Since then, the tie-break system has also been dropped, but the system has remained basically the same up until the 2009/2010 season
, with players awarded incrementally more points for each successive round, the world and UK championships carrying slightly more points than the other events, and the rankings updated annually after the world championship. For the 2010/2011 season
, the system was revised once more to incorporate ranking updates after every tournament—instead of once a season—in an effort to make the seedings for tournaments more reflective of current form.
events carry a top tariff of 2000 points, with the grand final carrying 3000 points for the winner. Each round win is worth slightly more points than a win in the round before; for example, a second-round qualifying loser in the World Championship gets 500 more points than a first-round qualifying loser, while the winner gets 2000 more points than the runner-up. This allows the system to incorporate qualifying-round results as well as results from the final stages.
Although the basic system is stable, it is subject to minor changes every year with tournaments being added and removed from the rankings list and adjustments made to the points system.
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
players to determine automatic qualification and seeding for tournaments on the World Snooker Tour
World Snooker Tour
The World Snooker Tour is a circuit of snooker tournaments organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for their members. To compete as a professional player, players must be WPBSA members. The circuit comprises a two-tier tour structure, with a primary tour and a...
. They are maintained by the sport's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
. Rankings points are awarded using a progressive system, in which a player is awarded more points for reaching a round than the player who only reached the previous round. The point allocation is dependent on the importance of the tournament, with the world championship receiving a greater distribution of points than the other tounaments. The rankings are based on performances over the last two years, and historically were only updated once a year at the start of the season, but are now updated after every tournament.
Background
The rankings determine the seedings for tournaments on the World Snooker TourWorld Snooker Tour
The World Snooker Tour is a circuit of snooker tournaments organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for their members. To compete as a professional player, players must be WPBSA members. The circuit comprises a two-tier tour structure, with a primary tour and a...
, organised by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
, and who gets an invite to prestigious invitational events. Tournaments open to the membership are often played in two stages—a qualification stage and the "venue stage"—usually at different locations. Players usually come into events in different rounds based on their ranking, and the top players in the sport are usually seeded through to the venue stage and do not have to play a qualification match. In particular, the top 16 ranked players automatically qualify for the final stages of the World Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
and the Masters
Masters (snooker)
The Masters is a professional snooker tournament and the second longest running tournament outside the World Championship. Although not a ranking event, it is regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments on the circuit, earning the second biggest prize money.-History:The tournament was held...
, so as well as interest in who will be number one, there is typically a lot of interest in which players are likely to maintain or acquire "top 16 status". Players are awarded ranking points according to the round they reach in ranking tournaments—specially designated tournaments that carry ranking status. The tariffs usually reflect the importance and prestige of a tournament, and every professional member of the WPBSA is assigned a ranking, whether they are active on the circuit or not.
History
As more players started to compete on the circuit in the 1970s, it became increasingly necessary to seed the tournaments, precipitating the "Order of Merit" for the 1975/1976 season. The system was very basic, with seedings based on the results of the last three world championships, with the winner awarded five points, the runner-up four, and so on down to one point for players who lost in the last 16. Rankings were formally introduced in 1976 after the World Championship for the 1976/1977 season, using the same criteria.By the 1982/1983 season many more tournaments were being contested, and it seemed reasonable to take those results into consideration as well. The Professional Players Tournament and International Open
Players Championship (snooker)
The Players Championship was a professional snooker tournament. It is the most recent name of the ranking tournament held in Scotland every year. The tournament has had a bewildering number of name changes in its history. Until recently it was commonly known as the Scottish Open, and prior to that...
were awarded ranking status, working on the same system but with the world championship from 1983 onwards carrying double points. The Classic
Classic (snooker)
The Classic was a professional snooker tournament, which began in 1980 and ended in 1992. It was originally a non-ranking event, but became ranking in 1984. Steve Davis has won the event six times and was the last champion.-History:...
carried ranking points from the 1983/1984 season
Snooker season 1983/1984
The snooker season 1983/1984 was a series of snooker tournaments played during the years 1983 and 1984. The following table outlines the results for ranking events and the invitational events.-Calendar:...
, and the UK Championship
UK Championship (snooker)
The UK Championship is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It is the second biggest ranking tournament after the World Championship and is one of the Triple Crown events.-History:...
and British Open
British Open (snooker)
The British Open was a professional snooker tournament. It was a ranking tournament from 1985. The tournament has not been held since the 2004/2005 season....
from 1984/1985
Snooker season 1984/1985
The snooker season 1984/1985 was a series of snooker tournaments played during the years 1984 and 1985. The following table outlines the results for ranking events and the invitational events.-Calendar:...
.
The ranking point allocation was revised slightly with winners of all bar the world championship now receiving six points, runners-up five, down to one point for the last 32; the world championship more or less stayed as it was with ten points for the winner, incrementally reduced by two points for each preceding round, but now awarded one point for the last 32 in line with the other tournaments. In addition to ranking points, merit and frame points were also awarded which were used as a tie-break when players were on equal ranking points. The revised system was now based on only the two previous seasons, and updated annually after the world championship.
When the game went open
Open (sport)
An Open in sports terminology refers to a sporting event or game tournament that is open to all people, regardless of their age, ability, gender, or other categorization. Opens are usually found in golf, tennis, quizbowl, snooker, darts, volleyball, ultimate, squash and chess....
for the 1991/1992 season, the ranking point allocations were altered by several factors to accommodate the influx of new players. Since then, the tie-break system has also been dropped, but the system has remained basically the same up until the 2009/2010 season
Snooker season 2009/2010
The snooker season 2009/10 was a series of snooker tournaments played during 2009 and 2010. The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.- Calendar :- Official rankings :...
, with players awarded incrementally more points for each successive round, the world and UK championships carrying slightly more points than the other events, and the rankings updated annually after the world championship. For the 2010/2011 season
Snooker season 2010/2011
The 2010/11 snooker season is a series of snooker tournaments played during 2010 and 2011. The following table outlines the results and dates for all the ranking and major invitational events.- Calendar :-New professional players:...
, the system was revised once more to incorporate ranking updates after every tournament—instead of once a season—in an effort to make the seedings for tournaments more reflective of current form.
Provisional rankings
When the official rankings were only calculated once a year, players and pundits closely tracked the ranking points earned during a season. The "provisional rankings" (which had no official status in the game) were the rankings based on the ranking points accumulated in the previous season, combined with those accumulated thus far in the current season, and as the season progressed they converged on the official rankings for the following season. The provisional rankings gave an indication of a player's form, and as the season approached its dénouement, the provisional rankings would become a source of tension as the battle for the number one spot, top 16 places, and tour qualification intensified.Current system
The current system utilises a rolling format in which a player's rank is calculated from points accumulated over the preceding two years, with points attained from tournaments in the current season replacing the points from the corresponding tournaments from two seasons ago. Rookies are awarded "starter" points equivalent to the points of the lowest ranked player on the Main Tour. Unlike the previous system where the rankings were only updated annually, the rankings are now updated after every ranking tournament. The rankings set the seedings at the start of the season, and at three further points throughout the season.Ranking point schedule
For each ranking tournament, players score ranking points based on the round they reached. Players who lose their opening match receive half the ranking points for that round. The current system awards 5000–7000 points for winning most tournaments, 8000 for winning the UK Championship, and 10000 points for winning the World Championship. The Players Tour ChampionshipPlayers Tour Championship
The Players Tour Championship is a snooker series comprising 12 regular events and a Grand Final. Each event lasts for at least three days, with a qualifying event for amateurs should the event be oversubscribed...
events carry a top tariff of 2000 points, with the grand final carrying 3000 points for the winner. Each round win is worth slightly more points than a win in the round before; for example, a second-round qualifying loser in the World Championship gets 500 more points than a first-round qualifying loser, while the winner gets 2000 more points than the runner-up. This allows the system to incorporate qualifying-round results as well as results from the final stages.
Although the basic system is stable, it is subject to minor changes every year with tournaments being added and removed from the rankings list and adjustments made to the points system.