Ranking event

A Ranking event, is an event in sport which carries points, prize money or another system in which to order players in terms of how successful they have been. Most ranking systems are on a rolling two-year basis, and are ordered by points or prize money earned

The current World Snooker Rankings use a points system to order and rank the players from 1-64 on the current world tour. From July 2012, the world tour will increase from 64 players to 96 players, and the 2013/14 season will be the first season where the rankings are ordered by prize money won.

Mark Selby is the current world number one.

Current ranking events in snooker

 * International Championship (open to the top 32 players in the world only)
 * Australia Goldfields Open
 * Shanghai Masters (open to professional players only)
 * Thailand Open
 * Grand Prix
 * World Open
 * UK Championship (open to professional players only)
 * German Masters (open to professional players only)
 * Welsh Open
 * China Open
 * World Snooker Championship (open to professional players only)
 * British Open
 * Riga Open (ranking points go to European Order of Merit)
 * Helsinki Open (ranking points go to European Order of Merit)
 * Milan Open (ranking points go to European Order of Merit)
 * European Masters (seedings obtained from European Order of Merit)
 * Players Championship (open to the top 32 players in the world only)

Major events on television (UK)
All current major events (non-ranking and ranking) are covered in the United Kingdom on television. The BBC broadcasts four events per season: the Grand Prix, the UK Championship, the Masters* and the World Snooker Championship. Sky Sports broadcast four events per season: the British Open, the Champion of Champions*, the World Open and the Players Championship*. ITV broadcast five events: the Tour of Europe events (Riga, Helsinki, Milan), the European Masters and Championship League*. All major snooker events are shown on Eurosport, with the exception of the Championship League, which ITV bought sole rights for in 2011.

* Denotes major, but non-ranking event.