Neil Robertson has leapt eight places up the Johnstone's Paint World Rankings with victory at the World Grand Prix, and made sure of his place in the last three tournaments of the season, including the World Championship at the Crucible.
Robertson thrashed Stuart Bingham 10-0 in the final in Hong Kong on Sunday, earning £180,000 which lifted him from 19th to 11th on the official list. Bingham earned £80,000 and jumps from 23rd to 20th. World number one Judd Trump reached the semi-finals and stretches his lead over second-placed Kyren Wilson to £566,900.
The top 16 in the Johnstone's Paint One-Year Rankings now qualify for the Sportsbet.io Players Championship, which runs from March 17-23 in Telford. The draw for that event is confirmed - click here. Bingham's late charge boosted him from 30th to 14th and booked him a place in Telford, at the expense of Ali Carter who was nudged down to 17th. Robertson jumps from eighth to third, behind only Trump and Wilson.
At the end of the Sportsbet.io Players Championship, only the top 12 will qualify for the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship which runs from March 31 to April 6 at Manchester Central.
The top nine as it stands, down to Shaun Murphy, are all certain of a place in Manchester. Then it's Ding Junhui in tenth, Si Jiahui in 11th and Wu Yize in 12th. Wu leads Chris Wakelin by £11,200, so Wakelin would need to reach the semi-finals in Telford to have a chance of climbing into the top 12. Bingham, Mark Allen and Lei Peifan complete the chasing pack, and they must all reach the final to have a chance.
Sportsbet.io Players Championship Prize Money
Winner £150,000
Runner-up £70,000
Semi-finals £35,000
Quarter-finals 20,000
Last 16 £15,000
High Break £10,000
Total £500,000
Telford and Manchester are the only remaining counting events in the race to the Crucible, with the top 16 at the end of the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship to earn an automatic place in Sheffield. The likes of Gary Wilson, Ali Carter and Tom Ford - all seeds last year - are now sure to have to qualify for the Crucible as they are outside the top 16 and can't add to their tally.
Robertson is up to tenth so his spot at the Theatre of Dreams is safe. Murphy reached the semi-finals in Hong Kong, earning £35,000 which moves him to 15th. Last year's Crucible runner-up Jak Jones is 16th but can't add to his tally so he must hope results go his way over the next two events.
Bingham, Wakelin, Wu and Lei are the only four outside the top 16 on that list who could jump above Jones with deep runs in Telford or Manchester. Bingham trails Jones by £20,900, with Wakelin a further £500 behind. Murphy could only be knocked out of the Crucible seedings if any two of Bingham, Wakelin, Wu and Lei overtake him.
Trump made seven centuries in Hong Kong to bring his total for the season to 86. He needs 14 more over the next three tournaments to bring his tally into three figures. The first player to make 100 centuries this season will earn a £100,000 bonus.