The new rankings are now out and have an unfamiliar feel about them with Ronnie O'Sullivan outside the top 5 having withdrawn from the Shanghai masters for family reasons. Ali Carter having risen to number 2. The new rankings for the top 16 are as follows:-

1. John Higgins
2. Allister Carter
3. Neil Robertson
4. Ding Junhui
5. Shaun Murphy
6. Ronnie O'Sullivan
7. Stephen Maguire
8. Mark Williams
9. Mark Selby
10. Graeme Dott
11. Stephen Hendry
12. Mark Allen
13. Jamie Cope
14. Marco Fu
15. Mark King
16. Ryan Day

The new rankings system which are revised within the season at 3 points means a cut throat environment in which a player can rise or drop rapidly as the scrabble for ranking points takes on another dimension. The Old Guard is replaced by the new.

The calculators will be out on a regular basis for those hovering from 10 to 20. An interesting season awaits.