1989–90 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.[2] 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.[2] Initially, the rankings were based on performances in the preceding three world championships.[2] The 1983–84 snooker world rankings were the first to take tournaments other than world championship into account, and several additional tournaments were designated as ranking tournaments over the following years.[3][2] The list for the 1986–87 snooker season was the first to only take account of results over two seasons, and the rankings for 1989–90 were also based on results from the preceding two seasons.[4][5] Barry Hearn, the manager of a number of leading players including Steve Davis and Jimmy White,[6] made a proposal to the WPBSA to change the system so that only the best seven performances from the ten ranking tournaments were counted.[7] It was rejected at an extraordinary meeting of the WPBSA in May 1989.[7]

Steve Davis playing snooker
Steve Davis (pictured in 2012) topped the rankings for the seventh consecutive year.[1]
John Parrott looking at the camera
John Parrott (pictured in 2008) was ranked second.[1]

Davis retained top place in the rankings for the seventh consecutive year.[1] John Parrott moved up five places to second, followed by Stephen Hendry who improved by one place from fourth.[8] The top 16 in the rankings were exempted from the qualifying rounds for the World Snooker Championship and were included in certain invitational events.[9] Doug Mountjoy, Tony Meo and Dean Reynolds returned to the top 16, and Steve James joined the top 16 for the first time.[8] Cliff Wilson, Neal Foulds, Silvino Francisco and Peter Francisco dropped out of the top 16.[5] Of the players who had only competed for one season, Mark Johnston-Allen and Darren Morgan placed highest, at 51st and 52nd respectively.[5] At the end of his first full season as a professional, Alain Robidoux rose from 102nd to 35th place.[8]

In April 1987, Alex Higgins had been excluded from competing in the first two ranking tournaments of the 1987–88 season as part of a six-month ban imposed by the WPBSA, following a hearing conducted for the Association by Gavin Lightman, a barrister, after Higgins had been found guilty in court of headbutting the tournament director at the 1986 UK Championship.[10][11][12] Thorburn had two ranking points deducted for "bringing the game into disrepute" due to failing a drugs test at the 1988 British Open, and was barred from the first two ranking events of the 1988–89 season as part of his punishment.[13] Bill Werbeniuk was expelled from the WPBSA in March 1989 after not paying a fine that the Association had imposed for his use of a beta blocker medication, but was readmitted in September and allowed to play in the 1990 World Snooker Championship.[14][15]

Davis did not compete in the 1989 European Open, a ranking event, citing exhaustion.[16] Reynolds also missed the event, saying that he needed a rest.[17] Both were fined £200 by the WPBSA for missing the event.[17][18] Among the other players fined for missing events was Kirk Stevens, who was penalised £200 for his absence at the 1988 International Open.[18]

Points tariff and basis of ranking

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Stephen Hendry playing snooker
Stephen Hendry (pictured in 2010) was ranked third.[1]
Points tariff contributing to the Snooker world rankings 1989–90[19][5]
Placing 1988 and 1989 world championships Other ranking tournaments 1987–88 and 1988–89
Champion 106
Runner-up 85
Losing semi-finalist 64
Losing Quarter-finalist 43
Last 16 Loser 22
Last 32 Loser 1 ranking point or 2 merit points[a]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:[4]

  • 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 later 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 later season.
  • If players were still equal, A points were considered. If they were still tied, precedence was given to the player with the better performances in the later season.
  • If players were still equal, frames won were considered. If they were still tied, precedence was given the player with the better performances in the later season.

Rankings

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Key:

  • "(New)" denotes a player that was a new professional for 1988–89.[20]
  • "(NT)" denotes a non-tournament player, i.e. a player who was permitted to enter the world championship but no other tournaments in 1989–90.[21]
  • "N" denotes that as a non-tournament player, the player was not eligible to enter.[22]
  • "–" denotes that the player did not compete in the tournament.[23]
  • "X" denotes that the player was banned from competing in the tournament.[11]
Snooker world rankings 1989–90[24][25][20][23]
Ranking Name 1987–88 season 1988–89 season Ranking points Merit A points Frames
IO GP UK Cl BO WC IO GP CM UK Cl EO BO WC
1  Steve Davis (ENG)62660106654031064200
2  John Parrott (ENG)2435420133364848100
3  Stephen Hendry (SCO)4603622145322646100
4  Jimmy White (ENG)2152365361041443100
5  Terry Griffiths (WAL)1233180334250439200
6  Mike Hallett (ENG)4030521240044433400
7  Cliff Thorburn (CAN)513146XX33432033[b]200
8  Dennis Taylor (NIR)1513123432110229100
9  Willie Thorne (ENG)1341222012422228100
10  Doug Mountjoy (WAL)0001021226622125400
11  Joe Johnson (ENG)0141223112223024300
12  Tony Knowles (ENG)2324141202201024400
13  John Virgo (ENG)3112111023221222100
14  Tony Meo (ENG)1011003100106620700
15  Dean Reynolds (ENG)000100411215419600
16  Steve James (ENG)2000144121100117410
17  Martin Clark (ENG)2102000011333016408
18  Cliff Wilson (WAL)1211110221112016300
19  Steve Newbury (WAL)1304002110200115700
20  Neal Foulds (ENG)1001241201102015600
21  Barry West (ENG)0012113103002014700
22  Eddie Charlton (AUS)3200020110030214700
23  Silvino Francisco (RSA)2122101001200214600
24  Alex Higgins (NIR)XX22000501111013700
25  Peter Francisco (RSA)0412110001003013800
26  David Roe (ENG)1120200002011212420
27  Eugene Hughes (IRL)3010001200111111700
28  Dene O'Kane (NZL)0020301101101111330
29  Bob Chaperon (CAN)1300112100100111600
30  Tony Drago (MLT)0201041100101011800
31  Wayne Jones (WAL)1000010100500210720
32  Rex Williams (ENG)00003023010100101100
33  David Taylor (ENG)1011002020200091000
34  Steve Longworth (ENG)101101102001109700
35  Alain Robidoux (CAN)000000140002108510
36  Danny Fowler (ENG)002001001202008800
37  Jim Wych (CAN)111000200003008630
38  Gary Wilkinson (ENG)020020010101018529
39  John Spencer (ENG)10012021100008900
40  Joe O'Boye (IRL)300030000100018640
41  Tony Chappel (WAL)012000000021107910
42  John Campbell (AUS)002011100002007630
43  Steve Duggan (ENG)000000111100026550
44  Paddy Browne (IRL)000010000031016370
45  Murdo MacLeod (SCO)000020101001106910
46  Nigel Gilbert (ENG)200000030100006825
47  Mark Bennett (WAL)000100001201005650
48  Colin Roscoe (WAL)0001000011001043413
49  Ray Edmonds (ENG)011000020000004560
50  Kirk Stevens (CAN)0110100100004810
51  Graham Cripsey (ENG)020010000010004840
52  Mark Johnston-Allen (ENG) (New)000001203240
53  Darren Morgan (WAL) (New)001000113043
54  Ray Reardon (WAL)000010001010003920
55  Warren King (AUS)000001002000003660
56  Dave Martin (ENG)0003000000000031220
57  Tommy Murphy (NIR)001200000000003930
58  Jack McLaughlin (NIR)000000020000002760
59  Ian Graham (ENG) (New)0020000023210
60  Jim Chambers (ENG)010000000001002367
61  Roger Bales (ENG)0100000000001020120
62  Tony Jones (ENG)0000200000000021040
63  Dave Gilbert (ENG)200000000000002770
64  Mick Fisher (ENG)020000000000002295
65  Les Dodd (ENG)0000001000000011220
66  John Rea (SCO)0000001000000018312
67  Jon Wright (ENG)000000000010001770
68  Marcel Gauvreau (CAN)0000000010000013100
69  Craig Edwards (ENG) (New)000001001235
70  Robert Marshall (ENG)0000000000001011518
71  Tony Wilson (IOM) (New)0000010011312
72  Nick Terry (ENG) (New)000010001144
73  George Scott (ENG)0000000010000011614
74  Anthony Harris (ENG)0000000000100010818
75  Ken Owers (ENG)000100000000001760
76  Martin Smith (ENG)001000000000001647
77  Robby Foldvari (AUS)100000000000001668
78  Graham Miles (ENG)0010000000000015610
79  Brian Rowswell (ENG)000010000000001476
80  Paul Medati (ENG)0000100000000013715
81  Pat Houlihan (ENG)0100000000000013100
82  Paul Gibson (ENG)010000000000001234
83  Vic Harris (ENG)0010000000000010614
84  Jim Donnelly (SCO)0001000000000010430
85  Bill Oliver (ENG)0000000000000006611
86  Mario Morra (CAN)0000000000000006316
87  Malcolm Bradley (ENG)0000000000000005711
88  Jim Bear (CAN)0000000000000005327
89  Fred Davis (ENG)0000000000000005513
90  Mick Price (ENG) (New)000000000334
91  Glen Wilkinson (AUS)0000000000000003514
92  Ian Williamson (ENG)0000000000000003715
77  Bob Harris (ENG)0000000000000003611
94  Eddie Sinclair (SCO)0000000000000003534
95  John Dunning (ENG)0000000000000003428
96  Eric Lawlor (ENG)0000000000000003516
97  Mark Wildman (ENG)0000000000000003613
98  Steve Campbell (ENG) (New)0000000002316
99  Mark Rowing (ENG) (New)000000000225
100  Terry Whitthread (ENG)0000000000000002614
101  Anthony Kearney (IRL)0000000000000002618
102  Mike Darrington (ENG)0000000000000002427
103  Jimmy van Rensberg (RSA)0000000000000002425
104  Jason Smith (ENG)0000000000000001819
105  François Ellis (RSA)0000000000000001613
106  Jack Fitzmaurice (ENG)0000000000000001514
107  Steve Meakin (ENG)0000000000000001421
108  Dennis Hughes (ENG)0000000000000001417
109  Dessie Sheehan (IRL)0000000000000001339
110  Mike Watterson (ENG)0000000000000001225
111  Paul Thornley (CAN) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00117
112  Matt Gibson (SCO)0000000000000001914
113  Robbie Grace (RSA)0000000000000001719
114  Paul Watchorn (IRL)0000000000000001621
115  Jim Meadowcroft (ENG)0000000000000001616
116  Gino Rigitano (CAN)0000000000000001525
117  Jackie Rea (NIR)0000000000000001223
118  Geoff Foulds (ENG)0000000000000000917
119  Billy Kelly (IRL) (NT)0000000000000000614
120  Greg Jenkins (AUS) (NT)0000000000000000423
121  Ian Black (SCO) (NT)0000000000000000415
122  Bernie Mikkelsen (CAN) (NT)0000000000000000318
123  Patsy Fagan (IRL) (NT)0000000000000000321
124  Pascal Burke (IRL) (NT)0000000000000000222
125  Dave Chalmers (ENG) (NT)0000000000000000229
126  Ian Anderson (AUS) (NT)0000000000000000211
127  Frank Jonik (CAN) (NT)000000000000000028
128  Derek Mienie (RSA) (NT)000000NNNNNNN000119
129  Jim Rempe (USA) (NT)0000000000000000116
130  Joe Grech (MLT) (New) (NT)000000000010
131  Derek Heaton (ENG) (NT)000000NNNNNNN000115
132  Clive Everton (WAL) (NT)000000NNNNNNN000110
133  David Greaves (ENG) (NT)000000NNNNNNN000012
134  Bernard Bennett (ENG) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00009
135  Maurice Parkin (ENG) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00006
136  John Hargreaves (ENG) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00004
137  Bert Demarco (SCO) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00002
138  Eddie McLaughlin (SCO) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00001
139  Joe Cagianello (CAN) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00000
140  Mike Hines (RSA) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00000
141  Lou Condo (AUS) (NT)000000NNNNNNN0000
142  Manuel Francisco (RSA) (NT)NNNNNNN00000
143  James Giannaros (AUS) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00000
144  Steve Mizerak (USA) (NT)0NNNNNNN00000
145  Paddy Morgan (AUS) (NT)000000NNNNNNN00000
146  Wayne Sanderson (CAN) (NT)NNNNNNN0000
147  Gerry Watson (CAN) (NT)NNNNNNN0000
Preceded by
1988–1989
1989–1990 Succeeded by
1990–1991

Notes

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  1. Players who qualified received a ranking point. Players exempted until this round received two merit points.[5]
  2. Fined two points for failing a drugs test[24][13]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 Hayton & Dee 2004, pp. 1201–21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Morrison 1987, p. 107.
  3. "New W.P.B.S.A. rankings". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. June 1983. p. 28.
  4. 1 2 Everton 1986, p. 9.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith 1989, pp. 12–13.
  6. Acteson, Steve (11 November 1988). "Fine on Davis Angers Hearn". The Times. p. 46.
  7. 1 2 "Hearn Fails to Change World Rating System". The Times. 16 May 1989. p. 43.
  8. 1 2 3 "Parrott Perched at No 2". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. June 1989. p. 21.
  9. Acteson, Steve (19 April 1988). "Higgins Slips off Edge of the World". The Times. London. p. 47.
  10. Smith 1988, pp. 24–25.
  11. 1 2 Friskin, Sydney (7 April 1987). "Higgins Banned for Six Months and Fined £12,000". The Times. p. 44.
  12. Baksi, Catherine (6 August 2020). "Sir Gavin Lightman Obituary". The Guardian.
  13. 1 2 Acteson, Steve (13 May 1988). "Thorburn Sentence Ridiculed as Lenient". The Times. London. p. 44.
  14. Acteson, Steve (1 April 1989). "Werbeniuk Is out of WBPSA". The Times. p. 46.
  15. Acteson, Steve (11 November 1989). "Werbeniuk Has Special Treatment". The Times. p. 49.
  16. Acteson, Steve (24 December 1988). "Exhausted Davis Pulls out of Rankings Event". The Times. p. 40.
  17. 1 2 "Snooker Chiefs Rap No-Play Reynolds". Grimsby Daily Telegraph. 24 May 1989. p. 2.
  18. 1 2 "Davis One Down with two to Go". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. July 1989. p. 5.
  19. Hale, Janice (September 1985). "How the Rankings Work". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. p. 14.
  20. 1 2 Smith 1989, pp. 14–15.
  21. Smith 1989, pp. 14–16.
  22. Smith 1988, pp. 22–23.
  23. 1 2 Hayton & Dee 2004, pp. 154–157.
  24. 1 2 "WPBSA World Rankings". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. June 1988. pp. 24–25.
  25. "New World Ranking List". Snooker Scene. Birmingham: Everton's News Agency. June 1989. pp. 20–21.

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.
  • Smith, Terry, ed. (1988). Benson and Hedges Snooker Year (Fifth ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-7207-1830-0.
  • Smith, Terry, ed. (1989). Benson and Hedges Snooker Year (Sixth ed.). Aylesbury: Pelham Books. ISBN 978-0-7207-1944-4.