Allen confirmed as new world No. 1 after O'Sullivan and Trump crash out at Crucible

Mark Allen will end the season as snooker’s new world No. 1 after Ronnie O’Sullivan joined Judd Trump in crashing out of the World Snooker Championship at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday.

Trump needed to reach the final to return to top spot in the rankings, while O’Sullivan would have extended his two-year stay at the summit by claiming a record eighth world title on Monday, but those hopes ended as the tournament favourites joined Allen in suffering early exits.

“One of my lifetime goals achieved,” said Allen on social media after the news. “Not quite the way I’d hoped to get there but I’ll take it. 6 wins, a runner-up and countless semis in the last two seasons and this is my reward. Need to continue the consistency to try and stay there.”

Allen becomes just the 12th player in history to hold the coveted position and the first player from Northern Ireland to achieve the feat after former world champions Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor failed to reach the summit during their respective careers.

Northern Irishman Allen starts next season at the top of the rankings for the first time in his 19-year professional career, but 2020 finalist Kyren Wilson could yet move up to world No. 3 if he wins the title and the £500,000 winner’s cheque for the first time this year.

• David Gilbert 13-8 Stephen Maguire
• Kyren Wilson 13-8 John Higgins
• Judd Trump 9-13 Jak Jones
• Stuart Bingham 13-10 Ronnie O’Sullivan

(players in bold still in tournament)

• 1. Mark Allen (NI) £965,000
• 2. Judd Trump (Eng) £911,000
• 3. Luca Brecel (Bel) £690,500
• 4. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) £659,000
• 5. Mark Selby (Eng) £648,500
• 6. Shaun Murphy (Eng) £498,000
• 7. Ding Junhui (Chn) £466,500
• 8. Mark Williams (Wal) £457,500
• 9. Kyren Wilson (Eng) £451,500
• 10. Ali Carter (Eng) £428,000
• 11. Gary Wilson (Eng) £421,500
• 12. Zhang Anda (Chn) £406,000
• 13. Tom Ford (Eng) £340,500
• 14. Barry Hawkins (Eng) £321,500
• 15. John Higgins (Sco) £303,500
• 16. Robert Milkins (Eng) £298,500
• – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
• 21. David Gilbert (Eng) £235,500
• 24. Stuart Bingham (Eng) £220,000
• 25. Jak Jones (Wal) £217,500