Snooker Ranking. How to count and what to do about it?

The preliminary calendar for the 25/26 season has already been determined. As usual, we are in for a large number of interesting tournaments, with the first major one taking place at the end of July in China. Why is it considered major? That will be the topic of our discussion. We propose to delve into the principles of forming the snooker players' rankings and, in the end, explain why it is specifically important for you.

Read the latest snooker predictions in the special section of our website.

History

It all began in 1976. That was when the first ranking appeared, and it was calculated quite primitively. Players could earn points only for participating in the World Championship, and results were considered over the last three years. Here's how it looked:

• 5 points – World Championship victory
• 4 points – reaching the final
• 3 points – semifinal
• 2 points – quarterfinal
• 1 point – last 16 stage

But the world evolved, and snooker did not stand still: the ranking system was supplemented after the 82/83 season. Now, results from all competitions were taken into account. Of course, they changed – some left the calendar, while others were added. The prestige of the World Championship remained unchanged: points earned there were doubled.

As time went on, the season calendar became more stable, there were fewer competitions, and more points were awarded. The ranking in its current form was established at the beginning of the 2014/15 season, and since then, only barely noticeable changes have occurred. Again, only the list of tournaments changes, while the calculation principle remains the same. Let's discuss this in more detail.

Our Time

Currently, snooker does not use a points system; prize money has taken its place. The list of the strongest is formed based on results over the last two years. This means the current result is included in the ranking, while the one from two years ago is excluded. It can happen that a player performs well but loses positions.

A relevant example could be Mark Selby, who took 2nd place at the World Championship in 2023 (the prize was £200,000), yet the Englishman's ranking dropped because he won the same tournament in 2021 and received £500,000. The difference is easy to calculate. This method of calculation is no different from that in tennis, except there they defend points, and here – money.

Exceptions

Each season has a specific list of tournaments that are not included in the ranking. It can change, but more often remains the same. In the past 24/25 season, the following prize money was not counted:

• tournaments played by invitation, such as the Masters in Shanghai or Champion of Champions;
• money for a maximum break (147-point series, also known as a maximum);
• elimination in the first round of the Shoot-Out;
• elimination of a seeded player from the World Championship or the UK Championship.

It goes without saying that players received money for participation, it just wasn't reflected in the ranking.

Seeded Players and Qualification

So, we have figured out the general principles of forming the ranking. It wasn't difficult, as all individual sports form the list of the strongest in roughly the same way. Now let's focus on more specific aspects. In the finer details. Who is a seeded player? If you follow sports, you probably understand what the answer will be. Seeded players are the top 16 individuals in the world rankings. They do not need to go through qualification; these are the players we see directly in the main draw. The other players go through a certain number of qualifying stages, depending on their ranking position:

• First round – players seeded from 81 to 112 face players seeded from 113 to 144;
• Second round – 32 winners from the first round matches play against players seeded from 49 to 80;
• Third round – 32 winners from the second round matches meet players seeded from 17 to 48;
• Fourth round – 32 winners from the third round play against each other.

This is an example from the World Championship, which clearly shows what a snooker player from the second hundred needs to do to reach the top players. If they successfully pass the qualification, such a match is inevitable, as seeded players cannot play against each other at the start of the main draw.

What is all this for?

As the article comes to an end, you might be wondering: why did I spend my time on this? We answer: thank you for reading, our editorial team appreciates every reader. Now, seriously. 

Snooker is an aristocratic sport. There is no age limit here, and some professionals play right up to retirement. You might assume that you wanted to get involved in this magnificent game and decided to delve into the smallest details. 

Zhao Xintong – this name recently appeared in news resources. The Chinese player became the first world champion from Asia in history, without having a professional status. China often sets trends, and such stories drive any sport forward. Get involved. 

And finally, play responsibly! The Scores24 editorial team recommends treating betting as entertainment. Sometimes it's very tempting to open a new event in the line, but it remains unknown who is behind these names and whether the frame handicap will pass on Judd Trump. Well, the ranking should not be the reason for a particular choice. A player's ranking number only helps to make a superficial judgment about who they are and how they should be evaluated. It's better to focus on the statistics of recent matches. Snooker is not a sport where many criteria need to be considered, so the line can actually be beaten. Let's do it together! Scores24 regularly provided predictions in the previous season, and the upcoming one will be no exception. See you soon!