With just three counting events to go in the race to qualify for the 2025 World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, Tom Ford has leapt into contention with victory in the 9Club Shoot Out to climb 80 places up the Johnstone's Paint One-Year List.
Ford made a slow start to the season and won just two matches heading into last week's event in Leicester, but the £50,000 top prize has boosted him from 110th on the one-year list to 30th.
Only the top 32 will earn a place in Hong Kong in March for the first event in the 2025 Players Series, then the top 16 will head to the Players Championship in Telford and the top 12 will progress to the Tour Championship in Manchester. The three remaining counting events in the race to Hong Kong are this week's BetVictor Scottish Open, the German Masters (January 27 to February 2) and the BetVictor Welsh Open (February 10-16).
Liam Graham enjoyed a fine run to the final, having never previously been beyond the last 32 of a ranking event. He earned £20,000 as runner-up and he climbs from 108th to 60th. Wu Yize reached the semi-finals and he's up two places to 12th. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh is 'on the bubble' in 32nd place with £60,100.
In the official Johnstone's Paint World Rankings, Ford moves up from 22nd to 20th while Graham is up 15 spots to 85th. Wu climbs one place to 27th while the other losing semi-finalist, Mark Selby, remains third behind Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson.
Ford could also now earn a place in next year's Champion of Champions tournament.
