WDBS Rankings – Hull Open 2022 Update
The official WDBS rankings have been updated for the final time this season following last weekend’s Hull Open.
- View the updated rankings at the WDBS website
- View the updated rankings via WPBSA SnookerScores
- View further information about the ranking system
Announced last April, the new 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 (excluding the 2020/21 season which did not take place), with points earned during 2018/19 to be removed during the course of this season. At this revision points earned at the 2019 Derby Open (Groups 7-8 only), were replaced by those earned at the Hull Open.
NOTE: The points totals of Mohammed Faisal Butt and Declan Bowker have been temporarily frozen, pending confirmation of whether they will remain in Group 6A or move to Group 6B permanently.
Key Movements
With only two groups seeing points removed from the 2019 Derby Open at this cut-off, many of the ranking lists have remained relatively static, with no changes to the number one position across any of the eight main groups.
Victory for Nigel Coton sees the Lincolnshire cueist extend his lead at the top of the Group 3 list, while William Thomson and and David Church both climb one position in Group 4 having reached the final in Hull. Carl Gibson is a new entry at number 11 following his impressive debut in the competition, which saw him narrowly lose out to Church in the semi-finals.
In Group 5, Dean Simmons climbs to a new best of second place following his run to a fourth ranking event final, with nine-time champion Mickey Chambers remaining in top spot following his latest victory.
Mohammed Faisal Butt has been the top ranked Group 6A player since the world ranking were introduced at the start of the season, but alongside Declan Bowker competed in Group 6B in Hull due to changes to the classification system from this event. The points of both players have been temporarily frozen, pending final confirmation as to which group both players will compete in going forwards.
Leroy Williams remains in charge of Group 6A, as does Dylan Rees in Group 7, with second-placed Mike Gillespie matching his result from Derby three years ago by reaching the final at the Tradewell Club. Both Ronnie Allen and Hull champion Paul Smith rise two places to third and fourth respectively.
Finally, Shabir Ahmed extends his lead at the top of the Group 8 standings after he improved upon his runner-up points total from Derby in 2019 by winning his 12th title this weekend in Hull.
There is a significant gain for beaten finalist Marcin Kubalski, who climbs eight places from 14th to 6th, while semi-finalist David Grant also rises three places into the top five for the first time.
