Ronnie O’Sullivan’s shock World Championship exit gives Mark Allen chance to seize world No. 1 spot from snooker GOAT

Ronnie O’Sullivan will lose his place at the top of the snooker rankings if UK champion Mark Allen reaches the final of the 47th World Championship in Sheffield.

A profligate O’Sullivan astonishingly failed to make a break over 30 as he lost the final seven frames in only 89 minutes before a stunned Crucible Theatre, scene of his title victories in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

“I’ve probably lost here 24 times and won seven times so the law of averages say at some point you have to get beat,” said O’Sullivan, who must wait another year for his chance to overtake fellow seven-time winner Stephen Hendry as the most prolific world champion of the modern era.

“This year was the one time, I’m sure I’ll have another good performance at the Crucible, but who knows? We’ll just wait and see.”

O’Sullivan returned to top spot with his 18-13 win over Judd Trump in last year’s final.

But his untimely collapse against Brecel could have further implications with Allen in the frame to displace him in the end of season rankings ahead of the three-day best-of-33 semi-final against Mark Selby or John Higgins on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Northern Irishman is only 25,500 points behind O’Sullivan with a final place worth at least £200,000 and this year’s world champion guaranteed to earn £500,000.

Brecel is up to a career-high fifth in the end of season rankings, but would rise to second spot behind O’Sullivan if he wins the title and Allen fails to reach the final.

Four-time champion Mark Selby will return to the world No. 3 spot if he can lift the trophy for a fifth time on Monday evening.

Provisional 2023/24 snooker world rankings

(* players in bold still in tournament)

• 1. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) – £886,000
• 2. Mark Allen (NI) – £860,500
• 3. Judd Trump (Eng) – £556,000
• 4. Neil Robertson (Aus) – £542,0000
• 5. Luca Brecel (Bel) – £476,500
• 6. Shaun Murphy (Eng) – £445,500
• 7. Kyren Wilson (Eng) – £427,000
• 8. Mark Selby (Eng) – £399,500
• 9. John Higgins (Sco) – £398,500
• 10. Mark Williams (Wal) – £391,000
• 11. Zhao Xintong (Chn) – £387,500
• 12. Ali Carter (Eng) – £310,000
• 13. Robert Milkins (Eng) – £285,500
• 14. Jack LIsowski (Eng) – £279,000
• 15. Gary Wilson (Eng) – £260,000
• 16. Ryan Day (Wal) – £245,500
• 19. Anthony McGill (Sco) – £212,000
• 55. Si Jiahui (Chn) – £83,000

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