Snooker: O’Sullivan slips out of the top 16

THE latest World Snooker rankings have confirmed that world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has fallen out of the top 16 for the first time since breaking into it 19 years ago.

Despite winning a fourth world crown in May, the 36-year-old is now out of the elite group as a result of his self-imposed delayed start to the season, with his stalling over signing a player’s contract meaning he missed the Shanghai Masters, the Australian Open and the Wuxi Classic. His participation in ranking events remains, though, as he is automatically seeded second as a result of his Crucible win. He will play in the International Championship in China next month.

O’Sullivan now sits 17th, with Mark Selby first, Judd Trump second and John Higgins up from fifth to third after his Shanghai Masters final win over Trump on Sunday.

Bookmakers yesterday eased O’Sullivan from 5/1 to 6/1 to win the UK Championship in December. Judd Trump is the current favourite at 5/1 with Selby a 9/1 chance. Higgins is 8/1 to win and Neil Robertson 7/1.

“O’Sullivan’s self imposed delayed start to the snooker season has seen him drop out of the elite for the first time in 19 years but he will be a threat,” said a William Hill spokesman.

“When the odds are stacked against him, the Rocket fires more often than not.”