World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan Pursues Historic Eighth Title

The reigning champion, Zhao Xintong, is set to defend his title at the World Snooker Championship, while Ronnie O'Sullivan aims to make history with a record eighth championship win. They will face stiff competition from top players, including Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Shaun Murphy, starting April 18. The tournament, which has been running since 1927, boasts a rich history, from the dominance of Joe Davis in the early years to the modern era, where O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry have left their mark. Since the introduction of 32 players in the first round in 1982, no tournament has seen all 16 top seeds advance to the second round. Zhao will attempt to break the 'Crucible Curse,' which has seen 21 maiden winners fail to defend their title since 1980. O'Sullivan, who will be making his 34th consecutive appearance at the iconic venue, was the last first-time champion to reach the semifinals, losing to Hendry in 2002. The first day will feature matches between top seeds, including Mark Allen, Xiao Guodong, Mark Williams, and Barry Hawkins. World No. 1 Judd Trump will begin his bid for a second world title on April 21, while O'Sullivan starts on the same day. If O'Sullivan and John Higgins advance, they will face each other in the last 16. The top 16 seeds will be randomly drawn against the 16 qualifying players on April 16. Additional prizes will be awarded for the highest break and maximum breaks made during the tournament. Since 1977, there have been 24 different champions, with Zhao Xintong being the most recent winner in 2025, becoming the first champion from Asia. O'Sullivan and Hendry currently hold the record for the most titles, with seven each.