Judd Trump’s three-year wait ended as he returned to the top spot in snooker’s world rankings despite a 10-8 loss to world champion Kyren Wilson in the Xi’an Grand Prix final. This victory catapulted Trump back to the pinnacle of the rankings, a position he hadn’t held in three years since his 2019 Crucible triumph.
The world of snooker is abuzz with Trump’s resurgence and his eagerness to retain the No. 1 spot. However, the spotlight now turns to the upcoming Saudi Arabia Masters in Riyadh, where Trump will face stiff competition from the likes of Mark Allen and a seven-man chase for the coveted top spot.
The inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters promises to be a thrilling event, with significant financial incentives on par with the prestigious World Championship in Sheffield. The implications of this tournament on the world rankings are immense, and the outcome in Riyadh will undoubtedly shape the future landscape of snooker.
Trump finds himself tied with Mark Allen in points heading into the Saudi Arabia Masters, but it was Trump’s impressive performance at the Xi’an Open that earned him the No. 1 ranking ahead of Allen. Despite his 10-8 defeat to Wilson in the final, Trump’s runner-up finish secured him a handsome paycheck of £76,000, while Allen had to settle for £14,000 after a loss to Barry Hawkins in the last 16.
The prize money at stake in the Saudi Arabia Masters is staggering, with the winner set to take home a substantial amount comparable to Wilson’s £500,000 first prize in Sheffield. The tournament promises to be a game-changer in terms of financial rewards for the participants, with record sums allocated for the runner-up, semi-finalists, quarter-finalists, and even players finishing in the last 32.
In a surprising turn of events, world No. 3 Kyren Wilson emerged victorious in Xi’an, earning a hefty payout of £177,000 and closing the gap between himself and Trump and Allen at the top. Meanwhile, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, who fell to Wilson in the semi-finals, managed to climb to fourth place in the rankings, surpassing Mark Selby thanks to a £34,500 paycheck.
As the snooker season unfolds, fans can catch all the action live on discovery+, following the thrilling battles on the green baize to see who will emerge victorious in this fiercely competitive sport. The road to the top spot in the world rankings is paved with challenges, and the players vying for glory will stop at nothing to etch their names in snooker history.
