World Rankings: how it works!

There are six World Ranking Singles events in the season. Entry to these competitions is open to all bowlers:

Each event follows the same format. Players compete in groups of 6. Once the group stages have been completed players will qualify for one of three knockout competitions depending on their final position in their group:

During the group stages ranking points are awarded as follows:

Table One

World ranking points allocation for players in groups of six*

Final Group Points Total games played
Five Four Three Two One
15 15 15 15 15 15
13 13 12.50 11.67 10 5
12 12 11.25 10 7.50 0
11 11 10 8.33 5 N/A
10 10 8.75 6.67 2.50 N/A
9 9 7.50 5 0 N/A
8 8 6.25 3.33 N/A N/A
7 7 5 1.67 N/A N/A
6 6 3.75 0 N/A N/A
5 5 2.50 N/A N/A N/A
4 4 1.25 N/A N/A N/A
3 3 0 N/A N/A N/A
2 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A
0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A

Table Two

World ranking points allocation for players in groups of five*

Final Group Points Total games played
Four Three Two One
12 15 15 15 15
10 12.5 11.67 10 5
9 11.25 10 7.50 0
8 10 8.33 5 N/A
7 8.75 6.67 2.50 N/A
6 7.50 5 0 N/A
5 6.25 3.33 N/A N/A
4 5 1.67 N/A N/A
3 3.75 0 N/A N/A
2 2.50 N/A N/A N/A
1 1.25 N/A N/A N/A
0 0 N/A N/A N/A

*In all scenarios, the average points score from games actually played is multiplied by the number of group games that should have been played, had the player been in a group of 6 players and completed all 5 of their group games.

Cup

Position: 193-392 players 97-192 players
1st 165 150
2nd 145 130
Last 4 130 115
Last 8 115 100
Last 16 100 90
Last 32 90 80
Last 64 80 70
Last 128 70 N/A

Plate

Position: 193-392 players 97-192 players
1st 60 55
2nd 55 50
Last 4 50 45
Last 8 45 40
Last 16 40 35
Last 32 35 30
Last 64 30 25
Last 128 25 N/A

Shield

Position: 193-392 players 97-192 players
1st 21 18
2nd 18 15
Last 4 15 12
Last 8 12 9
Last 16 9 6
Last 32 6 3
Last 64 3 0
Last 128 0 N/A

So what is the difference between the World Rankings and the Order of Merit?

The World Rankings are based on the ranking points earned by players over a rolling 12 event period. The World Rankings represent performances across a minimum of 1 event and a maximum of 12 events.

The Order of Merit consists of the 6 world ranking singles events in any season.

World Cup qualification is determined by the final standings in the Order of Merit. As such, the top four players for each country represented in the Order of Merit earn the right to participate in the World Cup. More details can be found on the dedicated World Cup section of our website: https://shortmatplayerstour.com/world-cup/qualification/

How have the World Rankings evolved?

The current system was first used for the 12 ranking events that made up the Order of Merit in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Following the completion of the first world ranking event in the 2016-17 season, the UK Open 2016, any ranking points earned at that event were added as before, however the points from the first ranking event in 2014- 15 (the UK Open 2014) were removed. This pattern continued so that after the second ranking event of 2016-17 season, any points from the second ranking event of the 2014-15 were removed. The ranking points that a player will lose after the completion of the next ranking event are shown on the World Rankings page.

Prior to the start of the 2017-18 season, all points earned from the following events (UK Open 2015, Irish Open 2015, European Masters 2015, Swedish Masters 2016, English Masters 2016 and World Masters 2016), which were more than one year old, were halved. The points awarded at the following more recent events, within the last year, retained their full value: UK Open 2016, Irish Open 2016, Norwegian Open 2016, Swedish Masters 2017, English Masters 2017 and World Masters 2017.

After the completion of the UK Open 2017 (the first ranking event in the 2017-18 season), the ranking points from the UK Open 2015 (12 events earlier) will be removed, before the new ranking points from the UK Open 2017 are added. The latest revision means that at the same time the ranking points from the UK Open 2016 (6 events earlier) will be halved. This process will be repeated after every ranking event thereafter.

Official Sponsors
Bowls Trader
Nordic Caravan
Crowne Plaza Belfast
Bowls is Bowls
Techniheat Plant Services