Ronnie O'Sullivan retains No. 1 spot as new European Masters champion Kyren Wilson moves up in world snooker rankings

ByEurosport

Updated 22/08/2022 at 11:02 GMT

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has retained his spot at the top of the world rankings despite not competing at the European Masters in Furth. Judd Trump needed a run to the final in the Furth to topple O'Sullivan, but lost 5-3 to Barry Hawkins in the last eight. Kyren Wilson has moved up to six in the standings after a 9-3 victory over Hawkins on Sunday saw him earn an £80,000 winner's cheque.

'Stunning pot' - Wilson closes in on European Masters title

Ronnie O'Sullivan has retained his world No. 1 ranking despite not entering the European Masters due to his injured arm.

Judd Trump could have toppled O'Sullivan from the summit with a run to the final in Furth, but a 5-3 defeat to Barry Hawkins in the last eight ended his hopes of usurping the snooker GOAT.

Kyren Wilson's 9-3 victory over a struggling Hawkins in the final saw him earn an £80,000 winner's cheque and move up two places in the standings from eighth spot to sixth, 36,000 points behind John Higgins in fifth.

European Masters

Trump makes century break to win fifth frame of European Masters final

00:02:29

27/08/2023 at 14:25

Wilson's fifth ranking title victory was his first since the 2020 Championship League.

“This is the first major ranking event of the season. To get it under my belt early makes me feel like I can settle and I can kick on," said Wilson, who astonishingly lifted the trophy with a highest break of only 56 in the final.

‘We're going to play every single event in Germany' - Wilson after winning European Masters

"Once you’ve banked one you hope it could pave the way for a few more, but it is just about enjoying this one."

Hawkins remains without a major title since the 2017 World Grand Prix, but is also on the rise despite his disappointing defeat to Wilson in his ninth career ranking final.

The 2013 world finalist earned £35,000 as runner-up and has moved inside the world's top 10 as the Kent cueist moves up three places to nine. He has been as high as world No. 4 in 2014.

"It was a bad day," he said. "You know it is bad when you are playing for reds that don’t even go."

There could be more changes in the rankings at the British Open in Milton Keynes.

O'Sullivan has suggested he could be forced to miss the season's third ranking event (26 September-2 October) as he targets a return to competition at the invitational Hong Kong Masters event (6-9 October) with Masters champion Neil Robertson opting out of the British.

Qualifying for the Northern Ireland Open (16 October-23 October) begins on Tuesday in Wigan with former UK champion Stephen Maguire facing Oliver Brown in his opening qualifier.

All matches involving the world's top 16 are held on until the finals venue at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.