Ronnie O’Sullivan receives major world rankings boost with record UK Championship snooker victory – ‘I used my head’
Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to compete at the lucrative World Grand Prix, Players Championship and Tour Championship this season after collecting a record eighth UK title in York.
The world No. 1 did not qualify for the Players or Tour Championship last season on the sport’s one-year list, but the £250,000 winner’s cheque earned from defeating Ding Junhui 10-7 on Sunday will finalise the snooker GOAT’s spot at the three blue-chip ranking events in a major boost to his campaign.
Only the top 32 compete at the World Grand Prix (15-21 January in Leicester) with the top 16 at the Players Championship (19-25 February in Telford) and top eight at the Tour Championship (1-7 April in Manchester) narrowing down the season’s form horses.
Masters champion Judd Trump heads the one-year list on 403,000 points after his title wins at the English Open, Wuhan Open and Northern Ireland Open, but O’Sullivan moves up to second spot in the standings on 306,500 ahead of International champion Zhang Anda (255,500).
O’Sullivan has twice won the World Grand Prix (2018, 2021), while he also did the Players and Tour Championship double in 2019.
With his record 40th career ranking success secured at the UK, he also moves further ahead of Trump at the top of the world rankings with his victory in York seeing him increase his total to 1,117,500 points with Trump in second spot on 908,500 – 209,000 points adrift of top spot.
‘He’s the best we’ve ever seen’ – White hails O’Sullivan after UK Championship glory
“Because at the end of the day I have this thing in my head that people want me to play perfect snooker.
“My friend said to me the other day that they don’t. He said they love your thoughts, and love all of the ups and downs of it.
“I just wanted to go out there today and try hard to be professional and honest.
“If I won great, and if I didn’t then at least do my best.”
O’Sullivan after UK Championship glory: ‘I played snooker like Ballesteros played golf’
Latest World Rankings (after UK Championship)
- 1. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) 1,117,500
- 2. Judd Trump (Eng) 908,500
- 3. Mark Allen (NI) 791,000
- 4. Luca Brecel (Bel) 741,500
- 5. Mark Selby (Eng) 626,500
- 6; Neil Robertson (Aus) 483,500
- 7. Shaun Murphy (Eng) 478,500
- 8. Mark Williams (Wal) 447,500
- 9. Kyren Wilson (Eng) 392,000
- 10. Ali Carter (Eng) 384,000
- 11. Ding Junhui (Chn) 375,000
- 12. John Higgins (Sco) 361,000
- 13. Zhang Anda (Chn) 325,000
- 14. Robert Milkins (Eng) 315,500
- 15. Barry Hawkins (Eng) 315,000
- 16. Jack Lisowski (Eng) 307,000
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