O'Sullivan, beaten by Stephen Hendry in the Embassy World Snooker Championship semi-finals at Sheffield, has done enough to take over top spot despite not enjoying his best season.

Peter Ebdon's World Snooker Championship win has boosted him from number seven to number three.

Ebdon's first world title lifted him four places up the rankings and the 31-year-old is now targeting the number one spot.

"I'm not even thinking about next season at the moment - I want to take a few weeks' holiday before then - but I will be in with a shout of the number spot. It's a possibility now.

"There are still one or two things I need to work on with my coach Chris Henry.

"And winning the World Championship will give me the appetite and desire to work even harder on my game next season.

"I think I've grown stronger throughout the season.

"I've worked very hard on my safety and my shot selection. And, apart from the odd blip here and there, my temperament has been good."

Scotland's John Higgins drops to fourth and Ken Doherty is down to fifth, while Hendry, who lost 18-17 to Ebdon in the final, slipped one position to sixth.