Judd Trump is set to surrender his world number one ranking following a shock first-round exit at the China Open, losing 6-3 to Thailand's Noppon Saengkham in Taiyuan on Sunday. The defeat leaves Trump with no ranking points from the event, and with £500,000 from his 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters victory set to drop off his two-year total after the Wuhan Open, his grip on the top spot is now precarious.
Saengkham's impressive display
Saengkham, who produced breaks of 120, 78, 64, and 51, will face either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Jackson Page in the last 16. Trump, who won the Shanghai Masters earlier this month, failed to replicate that form in Taiyuan.
Rankings shake-up looms
The world rankings are based on prize money accumulated over two years. Trump's £500,000 from the 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters will no longer count after the Wuhan Open, an event that is no longer on the calendar, meaning he cannot defend that prize money. The China Open, returning for the first time since 2019, offered Trump a chance to earn ranking points, but his first-round exit means he gets none.
Three players are within reach of the top spot and remain in the China Open field, which boasts a top prize of £250,000. Neil Robertson, world number two, is largely there thanks to his own Saudi Arabia Masters victory last year. Zhao Xintong, the 2025 world champion, is third, and current world champion Wu Yize is fourth. All three have realistic chances of overtaking Trump this month if they progress deep into the tournaments in Taiyuan and Wuhan. Zhao holds an advantage as he has no ranking points to defend this season, having been off the tour due to a ban two seasons ago. Robertson and Wu will have points coming off their totals this month, while Zhao's earnings will be pure profit.
Historic implications
There have only been 12 world number ones in snooker history, with Robertson among them. If Zhao or Wu climb to the top, that number would rise to 13. Robertson begins his China Open campaign on Monday against rising Chinese star Chang Bingyu. Zhao faces compatriot Zhang Anda in his opening round on Tuesday, while Wu has already reached the last 16 after a 6-5 win over Yao Pengcheng. Wu next faces Dave Gilbert, who hammered Ding Junhui 6-1 in the first round. World number six Shaun Murphy also impressed, beating Matt Selt 6-0 and setting a new record of 607 points without reply before Selt scored.
