Ronnie O'Sullivan has regained top spot in the world rankings for a record third time following his World Championship victory at the Crucible.

The 'Rocket' became only the third player to lift the world trophy three times at the Crucible as he beat fellow Essex cueman Ali Carter 18-8 in Sheffield.

O'Sullivan, 32, previously topped the world rankings in 2002/03 and from 2004 to 2006.

"It's a real buzz to win it," said O'Sullivan, whose other Crucible titles were in 2001 and 2004.

"There is no bigger tournament, this is our pinnacle, it's our greatest stage. I've got three now and I would like to win more."

Stephen Maguire, the only player other than O'Sullivan to win two ranking titles this season, is up to a career high position of two. Shaun Murphy stays third while Welsh Open winner Mark Selby completes the top four.

Despite defeat, Cater moves into the top eight for the first time in his career as he jumps seven places to seventh, with Ryan Day also moving moving into that bracket, up eight spots to number eight.

Crucible semi-finalist Joe Perry has regained a place in the top 16, as have Mark King and Grand Prix champion Marco Fu. Talented Northern Ireland cueman Mark Allen is into the elite for the first time, leaping 13 places from number 29.

The four to drop out of the top 16 are Ken Doherty (18), Mark Williams (22), Stephen Lee (26) and Steve Davis (29).

Further down the list, the biggest mover is China's Liang Wenbo, who enjoyed a giant-killing run to the quarter-finals at Sheffield and rises from number 66 to number 40.

Eurosport