Victory for Judd Trump at yesterday’s International Championship not only confirmed that he will replace Mark Selby at the head of the world rankings today, but also marked the second mid-season seedings revision, determining the draws for the German Masters, UK Championship, Masters and Shoot Out tournaments.
Click below for my usual round-up of all of the changes and links to the important lists to keep track of for the months ahead…
- Click here to view the final standings at the second mid-season seedings revision
- Click here to view the new latest projected seedings list, which will determine the seedings for the Haikou World Open, Welsh Open and China Open tournaments
- Click here to view the one-year list for the 2012/13 season
The Top 16
1-16
IN
- Ali Carter
- Barry Hawkins
OUT
- Martin Gould
- Ronnie O’Sullivan
Having dropped out of the top 16 at the end of last season, a strong run from Ali Carter since the UKPTC3 event in Gloucester, as highlighted by a quarter-final at the Shanghai Masters, as well as a semi-final run at the ET3 event, has helped him up two places to 15th in the latest seedings list.
Also returning to the top 16, for the first time since the 2006/7 season is reigning Australian Goldfields Open champion Barry Hawkins, who has built upon that success with strong runs at the ET1 and APTC2 tournaments.
For Barry however it must be pointed out that in this case, 16th place does not look to be enough to guarantee him a place at the UK Championship or Masters tournaments. This is because one of the two men dropping out of the top 16 at this cut-off is reigning world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who as defending world champion will automatically be seeded second for each of the full-ranking event tournaments that he enters this season, except those at which he is defending champion.
There is though of course added uncertainty caused by the current suspension of top ten player Stephen Lee, with the timescale for any potential decision as to his case unknown.
Joining Ronnie in dropping outside of the top 16 is Martin Gould, whose early defeats at the ET3 and International Championship tournaments recently have effectively sealed his fate.
17-32
IN
- Mark King
OUT
- Stephen Hendry
Turning to the top 32, following the loss of his place at the previous tournament, Mark King has immediately reclaimed a place in snooker’s second tier following a last 16 run at the Shanghai Masters back in September.
Mark replaces the retired Stephen Hendry, who continues his natural drop down the ranking list as his previously earned ranking points are deducted from his tally.
33-48
IN
- Liu Chuang
OUT
- Alan McManus
Similarly there is just one change to the top 48 as China’s Liu Chuang replaces veteran Scot Alan McManus in the bracket following a last 48 run at the International Championship.
With at least one extra seeding available with the non-entry of Stephen Hendry in competition this season however, 49th placed David Gilbert will also benefit from having to play one less qualifying match at the UK Championship.
49-64
No Change
Again, with all players ranked outside of the top 64 beginning the season on zero points, it is too early for any of them to make it up into the top 64.
Importantly however, with Stephen Hendry and Joe Jogia absent from competition this season, as well as potentially Stephen Lee, there is effectively a race on for 65th to 67th places, which have been taken by Rod Lawler, Cau Yupeng and India’s Aditya Mehta, the latter having done so following his remarkable last 16 run at the International Championship.