Snooker World Rankings Reshaped: Robertson Soars to Third, Chinese Contingent Holds Strong

As of August 19, 2025, the World Snooker Tour (WST) has updated its latest world rankings. Neil Robertson skyrocketed from 8th to 3rd place, powered by the £500,000 ranking points from his Saudi Masters victory.

Judd Trump, despite bowing out in the round of 32, remains firmly entrenched at world number one with £1,978,200 in points, while Kyren Wilson holds onto second place with £1,348,300. Ronnie O’Sullivan moved up to fourth place thanks to points from his runner-up finish.

01 Reshuffled Rankings Landscape

The latest rankings confirm that Judd Trump (£1,978,200) and Kyren Wilson (£1,348,300) have maintained their top two positions, albeit with narrowed leads.

Robertson’s ascent (£1,047,050) has ended the previous duopoly. This victory also brought his tally of ranking titles to 26, drawing him level with Mark Williams for sixth place on the all-time list.

Ronnie O’Sullivan sits fourth with £940,000. The “Class of ‘75” veterans Mark Williams (£885,600) and John Higgins (£781,200) round out the top six, though both have slipped two places from the previous rankings.

02 Consistent Chinese Performance

Chinese players continued their strong collective showing. Ding Junhui, with £636,000, is ranked seventh. Although he dropped one spot, he remains the highest-ranked Chinese player.

Zhao Xintong, with points increased to £540,000, cracked the world’s top ten (10th place) for the first time, becoming the second Chinese player after Ding Junhui to achieve this.

Zhang Anda (12th, £496,550), Xiao Guodong (14th, £461,000), and Si Jiahui (15th, £446,200) all maintained their positions within the coveted top 16.

Xiao Guodong, who missed the Saudi event to prepare for the World Games, was overtaken by Wakelin. Si Jiahui dropped one place due to fluctuating form this season.

03 Other Notable Changes

Four-time World Champion Mark Selby, due to insufficient points from a Saudi quarter-final finish, fell two places to ninth (£588,000), marking his first time outside the top 8 in two years.

Chris Wakelin used a semi-final run to jump from 16th to 13th (£481,400), breaking into the TOP15 for the first time.

Shaun Murphy holds the 16th and final spot with £432,900, a mere £3,600 ahead of 17th-place Ali Carter, making his position precarious.

Elliot Slessor’s run to the semi-finals in Saudi Arabia propelled his ranking up six places to 23rd (£321,750), the highest climb among players outside the TOP20.

04 Future Implications

These ranking changes will directly impact seeding for upcoming events like the September Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open.

Although the Chinese contingent remains solidly in the top 16, they face significant points pressure ahead. Ding Junhui needs to improve his consistency in crucial frames; Zhang Anda will soon deduct points from his 2023 International Championship win and risks falling out of the top 16 if his form dips.

The Saudi Masters, with its high prize pool (£2.5 million total) and long format (a best-of-19 final), has cemented its status as a “fourth major,” and the ranking turbulence it caused confirms the event’s growing influence.

Robertson’s strong return and O’Sullivan’s legendary performance (twin 147 maximums in the semi-finals) are accelerating a shift in the snooker landscape. A future “tripartite balance of power” (Trump, Wilson, Robertson) may replace the old duopoly.

The conclusion of the Saudi Masters has led to a significant reshuffle in the snooker world rankings. Robertson’s strong return has disrupted the existing hierarchy.

The Chinese contingent, with five players firmly holding top-16 positions—especially Zhao Xintong’s maiden entry into the world’s top ten—highlights the global development and vitality of snooker.

Players will continue their fierce competition for ranking points in the upcoming events.