Judd Trump has called on snooker officials to modify the ranking system, asserting that it is “probably not a fair system” compared to other sports.
As the current world number one, Trump is heading into the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters, which kicked off earlier this week. The 35-year-old reached the final of the only ranking event he has participated in this year, only to lose 10-8 to Kyren Wilson at the Xi’an Grand Prix in China.
With Wilson now only £25,500 behind Trump in the rankings, the competition at the top intensifies. Snooker rankings operate on a two-year basis, where points from events during that timeframe contribute to a player’s standing. This means players must constantly defend the prize money earned from tournaments held two years prior, with the exception of new events like the Saudi tournament.
With a substantial £500,000 prize at stake in Riyadh, it’s theoretically possible for players down to Shaun Murphy in seventh place to emerge as the world number one if they win the Masters.
Trump expressed his desire for a ranking system update to promote excitement and fairness throughout the season. “I’m not a huge fan of the ranking system due to how the champion of this tournament can end up dominating,” he told SPORTbible prior to his first match in Saudi Arabia.
He added, “I don’t feel the rankings reflect reality. I’ve been consistent and won various tournaments, but only recently reached the top. This week, whoever performs well can become number one, but after this event, things may settle down, making it difficult for someone to regain the points throughout the season.”
Trump emphasized the need for change to maintain excitement in snooker, arguing that the current system leads to a situation where the number one ranking is primarily influenced by results in a few major tournaments rather than consistent performance throughout the year.
Credit: Sport Bible
