World Snooker Rankings 2025/26

How World Snooker Rankings Work

The World Snooker Tour uses a prize money-based ranking system. Unlike many other sports, there are no ranking points — instead, every pound a player earns at designated ranking events is added to their total. This total is accumulated over a rolling two-year period, meaning prize money from events two years ago is removed from a player's total as the equivalent event this season is completed.

When Are Rankings Updated?

Rankings are updated after each ranking event on the WST calendar. This means a player's position can change dramatically across a single tournament weekend, particularly if a lower-ranked player goes on a deep run. The season's final ranking — taken at the conclusion of the Tour Championship — determines seedings for the following season's World Championship.

What Is the Top 16?

The top 16 players in the world rankings receive automatic seedings for the World Championship at the Crucible, giving them a first-round draw against a qualifier rather than a fellow seed. Being inside the top 16 is one of the most coveted positions in professional snooker and represents a player's guaranteed place among the elite on the tour.

How Does Prize Money Affect Rankings?

Winning a ranking event is worth substantially more than reaching the latter stages. For example, winning the World Championship is currently worth £500,000, while a first-round exit earns just £30,000. This steep prize money gradient means a single tournament victory can propel a player many places up the rankings. Equally, strong prize money falling off a player's two-year total — such as a previous World Championship win — can see them drop significantly even if they are performing well in the current season.

Watch the Top-Ranked Players Live

Follow the world's best snooker players across the season on television. Check our TV Schedule for full broadcast details, including coverage on BBC Sport, ITV Sport, and Eurosport.