WDBS Rankings | 2024 German Open Update
The official WDBS rankings have been updated for the first time this season following the 2024 German Open in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
- View the updated rankings at the WDBS website
- View the updated rankings via WPBSA SnookerScores
- View further information about the ranking system
The WDBS ranking system includes individual ranking lists for each of the main classification groups, with players earning points from based upon their finishing position at designated ranking tournaments.
The rankings operate on a rolling two-year basis, with points earned during 2022/23 to be removed during the course of this season. At this revision points earned at the 2024 German Open were added with no points removed.
NO CHANGE AT THE TOP
The top ranked player in each of the eight classification groups has maintained their grasp on the world number one spot after the first ranking event of the new WDBS season in Rüsselsheim.
By claiming the title in Germany, both Dave Bolton (Group 5) and Mike Gillespie (Group 7) extended their leads at the top to 8,800 and 15,600 points respectively heading into next month’s The Cube UK Disability Championship in Northampton.
Meanwhile, a run to the semi-finals in Germany was enough for Kal Mattu to keep top spot in Group 3 as his nearest rival, Joe Hardstaff, also fell at the same stage.
Tony Southern (Group 1+2), Carl Gibson (Group 4), Alan Reynolds (Group 6A), Leroy Williams (Group 6B) and Gary Taylor (Group 8) have all remained on top of their respective groups despite not featuring at the 2024 German Open.
KEY MOVERS
David Church successfully defended his crown in Rüsselsheim and has leapfrogged William Thomson, who did not compete in Germany, into second place in the Group 4 rankings as a result.
Church’s victory has also reduced the gap to Carl Gibson in top spot to just 900 points, meaning the title in Northampton next month would see Church rise to world number one.
Nigel Brasier, who reached a second consecutive ranking event final in Germany before succumbing to Church, rises to fifth place in Group 4 while a successful title defence on home soil for Hannes Hermsdorf sees him rise to the same position in Group 3.
Eighty-year-old Welshman Ronnie Allen reached the final in Rüsselsheim and has overtaken Ireland’s Colvin O’Brien into third position in Group 7 as a result. Meanwhile, runs to the last four in the combined Group 6-8 event see Oliver Hanson and Lee Hague each move up two positions in the Group 6B ranking list to sixth and ninth respectively.
Elsewhere, a strong debut event as a Group 3 competitor has seen Peter Hull move straight into the top 10 in the world rankings – now sitting in ninth position after finishing as runner-up in Germany.
GERMAN DEBUTANTS MAKE THEIR MARK
Group 3 winner Hannes Hermsdorf was one of a record five German cueists who competed at the second edition of the German Open – with three of them making their maiden appearance in a WDBS tour event.
Christian Hirth and Michael Becher both made impressive starts to life on the tour by reaching the semi-finals on debut and Hirth notably inflicted only a second ever defeat in a ranking event on world number one Dave Bolton during the group stage.
Hirth and Becher join the Group 5 ranking list in 14th and 15th positions respectively while fellow debutant Dominik Dobrowolski enters at 21st in the Group 6A rankings after exiting in the first round of the combined Group 6-8 event.
The tour continues next month with The Cube UK Disability Championship at Barratts in Northampton. Enter now.
