The official rankings for professional snooker players are known as the world snooker ranks. These rankings determine who automatically qualifies to play in World Snooker Tour competitions. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association maintains these rankings. They not only give players an idea about their ranking but also provide useful statistics about the sport.
Judd Trump
Judd Trump is in the top 10 of the world snooker rankings. He is known for his amazing breaks and his dominance of the sport. He has won 23 ranking titles including the world championship. At only 33 years of age, he is still young and could continue to be a top player in the sport for at least ten more years. However, his age and the grind of the tour may wear him down.
Mark Selby
Mark Selby, an Englishman, is considered one of the top players in the world. He is a former England under-15 champion and a recent World Snooker Championship Champion. He also has a strong background in pool. He was the 2006 WEPF eightball pool champion and a finalist at the 2015 Chinese Pool World Championship. Selby is originally a Leicesterian. Malcolm Thorne, Willie Thorne's brother, was Selby’s coach.
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan spent over 280 weeks at number one in world snooker. After reaching semi-finals in the Tour Championship's Tour Championship, his most recent move made him ahead Mark Selby. The Scot was ranked world number one for the first time in May 2002. He has since won 31 ranking titles. He is the winner of six World Championship titles along with five UK Championships.
Mark Williams
Mark Williams is currently the number 10 ranking snooker player in the world. The Welshman was first to break into the elite of the snooker world in 1995 when he won both the Benson & Hedges Masters as well as the Welsh Open. He made a respotted in the final to win the title. He won three ranking tournaments and became the fourth player ever to win three titles in one season.
Graeme Dott
Graeme Dott is the winner of two ranking titles. He also reached the finals at the China Open in 2010. But his form has been inconsistent. He has spoken out about his struggle with depression. The Australian ranks in the bottom half of world snooker rankings. However, he has a strong record at home.
Dotts's Career
Since turning professional in 1994, Graeme Dott has steadily climbed the world snooker rankings. In 2001, he reached the top 16 and remained there until 2009. He reached the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open in 1996 and the World Championship in 1997, finishing second in the 1999 Scottish Open and the 2001 British Open. He also finished second at the 2004 World Championship and the 2005 Malta Cup. In 1999, he made his first competitive break of 147 at the British Open.
Dott's ranking
Dott's ranking in the world snooker rankings has fluctuated over the years. Six times he reached the top 16. During the 2007/8 season, he was ranked number two. Dott's ranking has dropped since then.
Mark Williams' ranking
In the last few years Mark Williams' world ranking in snooker has steadily improved. He has won a variety of tournaments including the Players Championship Grand Finals 2000. In the final, he also beat Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has been ranked number one in the world on numerous occasions. However, his biggest ranking victory came in 2001, when he defeated Anthony Hamilton in the final of the China Open.