John Higgins rises in snooker world rankings despite Wizard of Wishaw struggling for form

Despite disappointment in his first two tournaments of the year, Scots snooker hero John Higgins has climbed in the rankings.

The Wizard of Wishaw, who is the most experienced player currently on the tour have competed in 1,921 matches as a pro, admitted that his first round Masters defeat to Neil Robertson – only playing because Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out at the last minute – was tough to swallow, and found the going equally tough at the German Masters in Berlin. As he he was dumped out at the last 32 stage by Welshman Jak Jones – runner-up to Kyren Wilson in last year’s World Championship.

However it hasn’t all been bad for the veteran, who remains firmly in the all-important top 16 positions in the world rankings – and actually climbed the table following the Berlin event. Higgins currently sits 13th in the world, gaining one spot as Ali Carter dropped by four positions – making him one of the biggest fallers, with Mark Allen also dropping by four as his points from the 2022 World Grand Prix were deducted from his tally.

Chinese youngster Wu Yize is one of the biggest climbers, with the Scottish Open finalist rising three places to 22nd overall – whilst Masters champion Shaun Murphy is up to sixth, joining Luca Brecel, Mark Williams and Mark Selby in taking advantage of Allen’s drop. Ronnie O’Sullivan remains third despite pulling out of his last two tournaments, with doubts remaining over whether we’ll see the Rocket before the World Championships in April.

After 13th placed Higgins you have to go all the way to 29th in the standings for the next Scot, Stephen Maguire. Anthony McGill – who earned big praise from Kyren Wilson in Berlin – is 40th, with Scott Donaldson 46th and veteran Graeme Dott dropping one position to 57th.

Four time world champion Higgins hasn’t won a ranking tournament since the Players’ Championship in 2021, but did make it to the final of the British Open in September – where he lost out to Mark Selby. The 49-year-old had being bluntly honest about his love for the sport, saying: “This is a sport that has given me so much over the years but it begins to take your soul bit by bit. This has been a good sport for me, but as you fall down the rankings it can begin to take that bit of goodness. It is a brutal sport sometimes.”

Snooker’s top 16 after German Masters

1. Judd Trump
2. Kyren Wilson
3. Ronnie O’Sullivan
4. Mark Selby (+1)
5. Mark Williams (+1)
6. Shaun Murphy (+1)
7. Luca Brecel (+1)
8. Mark Allen (-4)
9. Ding Junhui
10. Zhang Anda
11. Barry Hawkins (+1)
12. Si Jiahui (+1)
13. John Higgins (+1)
14. Gary Wilson (+2)
15. Ali Carter (-4)
16. Jak Jones (+2)