Mark Selby’s victory at the China Open earlier today marked the final mid-season seedings revision of the season and the most important of all with the World Championship set to get underway on Wednesday.
Click below for a round-up of all of the key changes to the seeding list…
- Click here to view the final standings at the sixth mid-season seedings revision
Number 1
Having seen the number one ranking change hands on several occasions during the season, the last few months have actually been relatively stable with Mark Selby continuing to hold top spot.
That said, heading into Beijing this week, due to the fact that he had runner-up points to defend from 2013 whilst Ronnie O’Sullivan did not play in that event, Selby had to reach the semi-finals this week if he was to retain top spot heading into the World Championship.
As we now know, he would go all the way to take the title and so leads O’Sullivan by around £70,000, with the Rocket set to lose £250,000 from his Crucible victory back in 2013 at the end of the season.
The Top 16
IN
- Mark Williams
OUT
- Robert Milkins
Despite holding onto the 16th spot in the race for the Crucible for much of the season, Robert Milkins misses out on a top 16 seeding for the World Championship thanks to the strong form of Mark Williams during the second half of 2014/15.
Indeed after the German Masters it was Milkins who held a lead of just over £5,000 to Williams, but two months on it is the Welshman ahead by some £60,573, while Stephen Maguire has taken final qualifying spot ahead of Milkins and Michael White, who is actually ranked 16th but of course misses out due to Ali Carter’s protected seeding.
17-32
IN
- Ben Woollaston
- Matt Selt
OUT
- Mark King
- Matthew Stevens
Vaulting up into the top 32 is Ben Woollaston, primarily thanks to his career-best run to the final of the Welsh Open in February, while Matt Selt also moves into that bracket having reached the quarter finals of the recent Players Championship.
Narrowly edged out is Mark King, despite showing improved form of late, while Welshman Matthew Stevens also drops down to his lowest position in many a year in 35th, despite a last 16 run on home soil in Cardiff.
33-64
IN
- Luca Brecel
- Li Hang
OUT
- Jimmy White
- Cao Yupeng
Climbing back up into the top 64 is young Belgian Luca Brecel, who like Ben Woollaston above also shone at the Welsh Open in defeating Mark Selby en route to his first ranking semi-final.
Joining him is China’s Li Hang, who without enjoying a real breakthrough run, has been consistent throughout the season and steadily accumulated enough points to break into the top 64.
Dropping out are Jimmy White and Cao Yupeng, with White also set to lose his points from making it through to the final qualifying of the World Championship a couple of years ago.
Finally, a special mention to Gary Wilson, who with his incredible run to the final in Beijing climbs from 61st to 37th position, with the potential to rise further by the end of the season.