World Snooker Championship Schedule: O'Sullivan Eyes Historic Eighth Title

The defending champion, Zhao Xintong, is set to return to the Crucible, while Ronnie O'Sullivan will attempt to break records by claiming his eighth world title at the World Snooker Championship. Other top contenders, including Judd Trump and four-time champion Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Shaun Murphy, will also participate, starting from April 18. The tournament, which began in 1927, has a rich history, from the dominance of Joe Davis in the early years 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 aims 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 his record 34th consecutive appearance at the iconic venue, was the last first-time champion to reach the semi-finals, losing to Hendry in 2002. The first day will feature matches involving 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 drawn against the 16 qualifying round winners on April 16. Additional prizes, including a £40,000 bonus for the highest break and £10,000 for maximum breaks in the qualifying rounds, will be offered. A £147,000 bonus is also available for any player who achieves two maximum breaks across the season's 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 for the most titles, with seven each.