World Snooker Championship Schedule: Ronnie O'Sullivan Eyes Record Eighth Title

The World Snooker Championship is set to commence, with defending champion Zhao Xintong returning to the Crucible and Ronnie O'Sullivan aiming for a historic eighth title. They will face stiff competition from Judd Trump, four-time champion Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Shaun Murphy, starting from April 18. The tournament, which has been running since 1927, boasts a rich history, from the dominance of Joe Davis to the modern era with O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry. 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 overcome the 'Crucible Curse' and become the first debut winner to successfully defend the title, a feat that has eluded 21 players since 1980. O'Sullivan, who will make a record 34th consecutive appearance at the iconic venue, was the last first-time champion to reach the semi-finals in 2002. The top 16 seeds will be randomly drawn against the 16 qualifying round winners on April 16. Additional bonuses of £40,000 and £10,000 will be awarded for maximum breaks made at the main stage and in the qualifying rounds, respectively. A bonus of £147,000 is also on offer for any player who achieves two maximums across the Triple Crown events and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. Since 1977, there have been 24 different champions, with Zhao Xintong being the most recent winner in 2025, becoming the first champion from Asia. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan currently hold the record with seven titles each.