Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has been dominating the rankings since his victory in the Tour Championship in April 2022. However, he will see a deduction of £500,000 from his points total after the upcoming World Championship. Despite this, his recent win over Ryan Day has secured him at least £50,000 for reaching the quarter-finals, allowing him to surpass old rival Mark Selby by 10,500 points. A win against Stuart Bingham in the last eight could help O’Sullivan move into third place in the rankings, overtaking Luca Brecel.
The only way O’Sullivan’s chance of retaining the top spot would have been jeopardized is if Mark Allen, currently ranking first, had made it to the final. Judd Trump, ranked second, would have needed to claim the title for a second time if Allen reached the final. Allen, however, faces uncertainty in becoming world No. 1 for the first time in his career after exiting the tournament at the last-16 stage, with Trump needing to reach the final to surpass him in the rankings.
O’Sullivan and Trump are set to face each other in the semi-finals, with Trump playing against Welsh qualifier Jak Jones. Meanwhile, John Higgins has secured his place among the top 16 players after a remarkable final-frame clearance against Allen in a tense match. The snooker veteran, a four-time world champion, expressed his pride and relief after winning against Allen in a nail-biting match. Higgins is now set to compete against Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals.
The 2024 World Snooker Championship promises an exciting lineup of matches, with David Gilbert facing Stephen Maguire, Kyren Wilson playing John Higgins, Judd Trump competing against Jak Jones, and Stuart Bingham facing Ronnie O’Sullivan. The latest provisional world rankings show Mark Allen leading the pack, followed by Judd Trump, Luca Brecel, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Mark Selby rounding out the top five. The rankings reflect the prize money each player has earned throughout the season, with many players vying for a chance to move up in the standings.
The snooker world is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the World Championship, as top players battle it out for the coveted title and top rankings. With O’Sullivan and Trump in strong contention for the top spot, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. Fans can stream the top snooker action, including the World Snooker Championship, live on platforms such as discovery+, the Eurosport app, and eurosport.com, to catch all the thrilling matches and see who will emerge victorious in this prestigious event.
