Who survived, and got relegated from pro tour after 2026 World Snooker Championship?

Professional snooker's world ranking system works on a prize money-based format, essentially meaning whatever players earn from tournaments gets added to their cumulative totals.

With the World Snooker Championship being the richest competition on the calendar, it means a lot can change when it comes to the rankings, and that was the case this year.

Who made the end-of-season top 64?

The 2026 World Snooker Championship is still ongoing at the Crucible, but as all the remaining contestants are near the top of the standings, tour survival and relegation is now a done deal with no other results to affect the outcome.

There are three ways a player can stay on the professional circuit for next season: if they are in the world’s top 64 rankings, if they still have the second year of a two-year tour card to use, or if they are in the top four on the one-year ranking list - discounting those affected by the two previous points.

The biggest name to be relegated this season is two-time ranking event winner and former world number 12 Robert Milkins.

An ever-present on snooker’s top tier since 1998 (previously had a stint between 95 to 97) now 50-year-old Milkins won the 2022 Gibraltar Open and 2023 Welsh Open ranking event titles.

Only two years ago Milkins was a top 16 seed at the Crucible, but after a big dip in results, and prize money coming off his rankings tally, he finds himself finishing this term 71st in the world rankings, and sixth on the one-year list - both below the qualification cut-offs.

Another stalwart of the professional scene whose future is now in doubt is 53-year-old Mark Davis, who has been part of the big time since 1991.

A two-time world 6-reds champion and former English Open runner-up, Davis ended 66th in the world rankings.

Ben Mertens (62nd), Jamie Jones (63rd) and Jordan Brown (64th) all managed to finish on the correct side of the top 64 divide after their world championship qualifying campaigns - Mertens and Jones both got to the final hurdle at the English Institute of Sport.

All players inside the top 64 of the world rankings at the end of the season receive a one-year tour card extension, and they are allowed to keep their prize money ‘points’.

What about the one-year list?

Top of the one-year list (discounting those inside the world’s top 64 or with a two-year tour card still to use) was current world seniors champion Alfie Burden, who got there by virtue of winning his maiden ranking event title at the Snooker Shoot Out last December.

Filling the other three spots are young European cueists Antoni Kowalski (Poland), Julien Leclercq (Belgium) and Artemijs Zizins (Latvia).

Kowalski had to win three matches at the World Championship qualifiers and make it to the main draw at the Crucible in order to save his tour card, and that’s exactly what he did.

Had Kowalski defeated Mark Williams in round one at the Crucible, though, he would have broken into the top 64 and been allowed to keep his prize money points.

Former Shoot Out runner-up Leclercq - who qualified for the main draw stages of the UK Championship earlier this term - retains his professional status that he has had since 2022.

Teenager Zizins keeps his place having first qualified for the top tier at Q School in 2024.

Burden, Kowalski, Leclercq and Zizins each earn a two-year tour card, but will start on zero prize money points at the start of the new season.

The other players who will be relegated from the World Snooker Tour at the end of the 2025/26 season are: Wang Yuchen, Duane Jones, Gong Chenzhi, Sunny Akani, Amir Sarkhosh, Liam Davies, Bulcsu Revesz, Robbie McGuigan, Mitchell Mann, Farakh Ajaib, Cheung Ka Wai, Huang Jiahao, Haris Tahir, Haydon Pinhey, Chris Totten, Bai Yulu, Ken Doherty, Hatem Yassen, Jonas Luz, Mink Nutcharut, Kreishh Gurbaxani, Lim Kok Leong and Cao Yupeng.

Former world champion Graeme Dott is also relegated, but has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour for over a year pending his upcoming trial.

What next for the relegated players?

It is not the end of the line for the players above as they can still line up in the professional ranks for next season.

In May, the Asia-Oceania and UK Q Schools will take place with four tickets on offer in Bangkok and eight in Leicester.

The future of 1997 World Champion Doherty is unclear; he may be offered another ‘Invitational Tour Card’ which he has been using in recent times, but we don’t whether the 56-year-old Irishman wants to continue on the pro circuit.

As for Bai Yulu and Mink Nutcharut, they can both bounce back via the World Women’s Snooker Tour pathway; the 2026 World Women’s Snooker Championship takes place in China in May.

If the recently relegated players can’t get back in time for next season, they can return to the amateur circuit and play on the Q Tour which provides several pro tickets each season.