The 2024/25 snooker season is currently well underway, and a handful of marquee events have taken place on the world tour so far this term. Ali Carter began the campaign in style, winning the Championship League with a 3-1 victory against Welsh underdog Jackson Page in July. Since then, four ranking events have taken place as well as the non-ranked Shanghai Masters, and a further 13 will occur between now and the season-ending World Championship in Sheffield next May.
The Worlds serve as the perfect season-ender, and that will be the case in 2024/25 as well. Last season, it was Kyren Wilson who finally climbed to the mountaintop, knocking off unranked Welshman Jak Jones in the Crucible showpiece with an 18-14 victory.
Despite him heading to South Yorkshire as the reigning champion in just over six months, the bookies don’t fancy him to retain his crown. Those looking to place a sport bet at Bovada can back Wilson to claim a second straight world title at odds of +1200, somewhat longer than favorite Ronnie O’Sullivan (+300), and 2019 champion Judd Trump (+325).
With the 2024/25 season powering on, who are the best players in the world at present according to the world rankings? Let’s find out.
Judd Trump
Judd Trump is currently the top-ranked player on the planet after amassing an impressive £1,491,200 in prize money so far throughout the season. That figure is some £500,000 clear of the second-ranked player and after the 35-year-old’s blistering start to the new campaign, it’s clear to see why. He clinched the Shanghai Masters title with a resounding 11-5 victory against Rotherham’s Shaun Murphy, adding another non-ranking trophy to his collection as well as £210,000 in prize money.
He very nearly followed that up with another immediate success after reaching the final of the Xi’an Grand Prix. There, however, he was narrowly beaten by Wilson after the thrilling contest that ultimately finished 10-8. Rather than dwelling on the defeat, however, Trump immediately bounced back, reaching another final at the Saudi Arabia Masters, his third straight showpiece fixture. This time around, he would emerge victorious, defeating Mark Williams by just one frame to secure the title and his spot at the top of the world rankings.
Over his career, the Bristol-born cue-master has been a trailblazer, winning 29 ranking events, including the prestigious World Championship in 2019. His ability to produce high breaks and his all-around game have made him a fan favorite and a formidable opponent on the circuit, and he will be aiming to add to his world crown at the end of the season.
Kyren Wilson
Kyren Wilson has seen a meteoric rise in the snooker world, capped by his victory at the 2024 World Championships to end last season, his first-ever global triumph after years of threatening to gatecrash the elite. This season, he already has one ranking title to his name after winning the Xi’an Grand Prix against the aforementioned Trump, and he will be aiming to add further titles before attempting to defend his world championship next May.
Known for his mental fortitude and tactical acumen, The Warrior’s career has been marked by steady progress and significant achievements. He has reached 15 ranking finals over the years, winning seven of them. However, in recent times he has managed to remain calm under pressure, something that he was unable to do in his younger years, and his performances so far this season have only bolstered his reputation as a top contender.
Mark Allen
Mark Allen has consistently been a force to reckon with on the snooker circuit. The 2024/25 season has been no different, as he continues to display the skill and determination that have defined his career. The Northern Irishman’s aggressive playstyle and break-building abilities have seen him secure several ranking titles over the years, including a memorable victory at the 2018 Masters.
Despite his lofty number three ranking, however, the 38-year-old is still waiting for his first title in the 2024/25 season. HE has reached 19 major finals over the years, winning 11 of them including his last six on the spin stretching back to October 2022 when he defeated Chinese star Zhou Yuelong to win the Northern Ireland Open. World Championship glory continues to elude Allen however and he has made it past the second round just twice in the last 13 years.
Mark Selby
Mark Selby’s recent victory at the British Open proved to both his rivals and his adoring public that he has plenty left in the tank at the top level. The dominant 10-5 victory against John Higgins in Cheltenham was his first rankings title in over a year, catapulting him up to number four in the world rankings and providing him with a platform to build upon throughout the rest of the campaign.
The Jester from Leicester has had an illustrious career that includes four World Championship titles, tied for eighth most all-time alongside the aforementioned Higgins. He won the crown three times in four tournaments between 2014 and 2017, before adding another title in 2021 with a nail-biting victory against Shaun Murphy. He will be aiming to make it five titles this season, putting him ahead of Higgins in the all-time list and just one title behind Steve Davis and Ray Reardon.
