1986–87 snooker world rankings

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the governing body for professional snooker, first introduced a ranking system for professional players in 1976, with the aim of seeding players for the World Snooker Championship. The reigning champion would be automatically seeded first, the losing finalist from the previous year seeded second, and the other seedings based on the ranking list. Initially, the rankings were based on performances in the preceding three world championships.[2] The list for the 1986–87 snooker season was the first to only take account of results over two seasons.[3]

Steve Davis retained first place in the rankings, with a lead described by the snooker historian Clive Everton as a "massive margin of 18 points".[3] Also retaining his position, in second, was Cliff Thorburn, while Dennis Taylor overtook Tony Knowles for third place.[1] The 1986 world champion Joe Johnson rose from 16th to 8th, and six-time world champion Ray Reardon fell from 6th to 15th.[4][5]

Liam Kelly of the Evening Herald commented that although the WPBSA's ranking system was intended to be fair, it was "cumbersome and complicated".[6] He noted that WPBSA chairman Rex Williams was ranked 16th instead of John Parrott, who had the same number of ranking points as Williams but more merit points, and argued that this "called into question [the] entire system."[6] Players in the top 16 of the rankings were seeded into the last-32 round of the 1987 World Snooker Championship, and received invitations to the 1987 Masters; in the 1985–86 snooker season the top 16 players were guaranteed at least £11,773.50 in prize money, while players ranked 17th to 32nd were only guaranteed to earn £4,570.50.[3] Williams had been ranked 27th the previous season.[1] Neal Foulds, ranked in the top 16 for the first time for 1986–87, moved up to 13th from 23rd place.[7] The two players who lost their places in the top 16 were Eddie Charlton, who dropped from 12th to 25th, and David Taylor who went from 14th to 21st.[8]

The highest-ranked of the players who had been competing professionally for only one season were Barry West (30th), Tony Drago (37th) and Stephen Hendry (51st).[9] Among the players who changed their ranking significantly from the previous year were Peter Francisco (59th to 26th), Steve Duggan (70th to 35th), and Roger Bales (100th to 66th).[3]

Points tariff and basis of ranking

Points tariff contributing to the Snooker world rankings 1986–87[10][11]
Placing 1985 World Championship Other ranking tournaments 1984–85 1986 World Championship Other ranking tournaments 1985–86
Champion 105106
Runner-up 8485
Losing semi-finalist 6364
Losing Quarter-finalist 4243
Last 16 Loser 2122
Last 32 Loser 1 merit point0.5 merit point1 ranking point or 2 merit points[lower-alpha 1]1
Final qualifying round loser 2 merit points1 merit point
Penultimate qualifying round loser 1 merit point1 A point
Antepenultimate qualifying round loser 1 A pointFrames won counted
Preliminary round loser Frames won counted

Ranking was determined as follows:[3]

  • By number of ranking points;
  • If players had an equal number of ranking points, precedence was given to the player with the better performances in the 1985–86 season;
  • If players were still equal, merit points were considered. If they were still tied, precedence was given to the player with the better performances in the 1985–86 season;
  • If players were still equal, A points were considered. If they were still tied, precedence was given to the player with the better in the 1985–86 season;
  • If players were still equal, frames won were considered. If they were still tied, precedence was given the player with the better in the 1985–86 season.

Rankings

Snooker world rankings 1986–87[12][7]
Ranking Name 1984–85 season 1985–86 season Ranking points Merit A points Frames
IO GP UK Cl BO WC MT GP UK Cl BO WC
1  Steve Davis (ENG)53533836636859100
2  Cliff Thorburn (CAN)04341464252641100
3  Dennis Taylor (NIR)251021045420035400
4  Tony Knowles (ENG)42201614321632100
5  Jimmy White (ENG)20210452460430200
6  Alex Higgins (NIR)20413222234227100
7  Willie Thorne (ENG)21250020505426300
8  Joe Johnson (ENG)101300321311025300
9  Kirk Stevens (CAN)02314203302424300
10  Terry Griffiths (WAL)100204233034221.500
11  Tony Meo (ENG)11102212223017300
12  Silvino Francisco (RSA)310050032012175.500
13  Neal Foulds (ENG)030000412311152.500
14  Doug Mountjoy (WAL)021002111402141.500
15  Ray Reardon (WAL)11220600100013700
16  Rex Williams (ENG)00110001242112400
17  John Parrott (ENG)000004301022124.500
18  John Campbell (AUS)000000221222112.500
19  John Virgo (ENG)10020010114111400
20  Eugene Hughes (IRL)30012001020211600
21  David Taylor (ENG)111002212000104.500
22  Murdo MacLeod (SCO)00011020212096.500
23  Cliff Wilson (WAL)00110023001193.500
24  Bill Werbeniuk (CAN)0000021002319200
25  Eddie Charlton (AUS)01100201002293.500
26  Peter Francisco (RSA)0000002122072.510
27  Mike Hallett (ENG)0100000111127400
28  Dave Martin (ENG)0000101111117100
29  Dean Reynolds (ENG)02000020110174.500
30  Barry West (ENG)0031004404
31  Steve Longworth (ENG)0001000200104510
32  Jim Wych (CAN)00000303510
33  Danny Fowler (ENG)00000001100134.500
34  John Spencer (ENG)00000010100133.500
35  Steve Duggan (ENG)0000003000003320
36  Perrie Mans (RSA)0000001113300
37  Tony Drago (MLT)0210003110
38  Marcel Gauvreau (CAN)10000000020033.530
39  Dene O'Kane (NZL)0000200001003800
40  Steve Newbury (WAL)1000100000103610
41  Warren King (AUS)0002001000003520
42  Patsy Fagan (IRL)0000200001033.530
43  Mark Wildman (ENG)0000000100102600
44  George Scott (ENG)00000011000022.520
45  Bob Harris (ENG)00011000022.520
46  Ray Edmonds (ENG)0000000100012230
47  Fred Davis (ENG)0000000011002220
48  Paddy Browne (IRL)00000000011021.530
49  Tony Chappel (WAL)00000010100021.530
50  Graham Cripsey (ENG)0000000011002115
51  Stephen Hendry (SCO)0001012026
52  Graham Miles (ENG)0000100100002510
53  Bob Chaperon (CAN)00001010000023.520
53  Malcolm Bradley (ENG)00001010000023.520
55  Tony Jones (ENG)0000000001001700
56  Wayne Jones (WAL)0000000100001610
57  Tommy Murphy (NIR)00000010000014.520
58  Paul Medati (ENG)00000000001014.520
59  Jimmy van Rensberg (RSA)00001001330
60  Matt Gibson (SCO)0000001000001320
61  Bernie Mikkelsen (CAN)000000001001320
62  John Rea (SCO)00000000001012.530
63  Vic Harris (ENG)00000000010012.530
64  Ian Black (SCO)0000001000001230
65  Joe O'Boye (IRL)0100001228
66  Roger Bales (ENG)0000000000101219
67  Ian Williamson (ENG)01000000000012.540
68  Les Dodd (ENG)00000000000005.520
69  Robby Foldvari (AUS)00000000000004.530
70  Eddie Sinclair (SCO)00000000000004.520
71  Jack McLaughlin (NIR)00000000000004.520
72  Dave Gilbert (ENG)0000000000000417
73  Jim Donnelly (SCO)0000000000000330
74  Colin Roscoe (WAL)0000000000000330
75  Mario Morra (CAN)0000000000000330
76  Jack Fitzmaurice (ENG)0000000000000330
77  Mike Watterson (ENG)0000000000000320
78  Mike Darrington (ENG)0000000000000314
79  Geoff Foulds (ENG)0000000000000240
80  Sakchai Sim Ngam (THA)0000000000000232
81  Dessie Sheehan (IRL)0000000000000215
82  Jim Bear (CAN)0000000000000214
83  John Dunning (ENG)00000000000001.510
84  Bill Oliver (ENG)0000000000000150
85  Jim Meadowcroft (ENG)0000000000000150
86  Gino Rigitano (CAN)0000000000000150
87  Mick Fisher (ENG)0000000000000150
88  Billy Kelly (IRL)0000000000000150
89  Omprakesh Agrawal (IND)0000000000000144
90  Eddie McLaughlin (SCO)0000000000000140
91  Pat Houlihan (ENG)0000000000000139
92  John Hargreaves (ENG)00000000000001210
93  Dennis Hughes (ENG)00000000000001210
94  Martin Smith (ENG)0000000000000127
95  Greg Jenkins (AUS)0000000000000114
96  Gerry Watson (CAN)0000000000000108
97  Paul Thornley (CAN)0000000000000100
98  Frank Jonik (CAN)0000000000000060
99  Dave Chalmers (ENG)0000000000000050
100  Clive Everton (WAL)0000000000000060
101  Anthony Kearney (IRL)0000000000000049
102  Glen Wilkinson (AUS)00000000000000310
103  Jackie Rea (NIR)0000000000000030
104  Pascal Burke (IRL)00000000000000217
105  Joe Cagianello (CAN)0000000000000020
106  Paul Watchorn (IRL)00000000000000119
107  David Greaves (ENG)00000000000000115
108  Derek Mienie (RSA)00000000000000114
109  Bert Demarco (SCO)00000000000000113
110  Jim Rempe (USA)0000000000000012
111  Paddy Morgan (AUS)0000000000000010
112  Robbie Grace (RSA)0000000000000010
113  Maurice Parkin (ENG)00000000000000012
114  Bernard Bennett (ENG)00000000000000011
115  Mike Hines (RSA)0000000000000000
116  Ian Anderson (AUS)0000000000000000
117  James Giannaros (AUS)0000000000000000
118  Leon Heywood (AUS)0000000000000000
Preceded by
1985–86
1986–87 Succeeded by
1987–88

Notes

  1. Players who qualified received a ranking point. Players exempted until this round received two merit points[10]

References

  1. Hayton & Dee 2004, p. 120.
  2. Morrison 1987, p. 107.
  3. Everton 1986, p. 9.
  4. Morrison 1987, pp. 167–174.
  5. Whaley, David (10 May 1986). "Smokin' Joe riding high". Sports Argus. Birmingham. p. 17 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Kelly, Liam (13 May 1986). "All are not equal". Evening Herald. Dublin. p. 44.
  7. Everton 1986, pp. 9–11.
  8. Acteson, Steve (13 May 1986). "Joe jumps queue". Daily Post. Liverpool. p. 26 via Newspapers.com.
  9. Everton 1986, pp. 9–10.
  10. "World rankings and how they earned them". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. July 1985. pp. 4–5.
  11. Hale, Janice (September 1985). "How the rankings work". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. p. 14.
  12. "Official W.P.B.S.A. rankings 1985–86". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. June 1984. pp. 14–15.

Books

  • Everton, Clive, ed. (1986). Benson and Hedges Snooker Year (Third ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-86369-166-9.
  • Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. ISBN 978-0-9548549-0-4.
  • Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker (Revised ed.). Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-600-55604-6.
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