World Snooker Championship Schedule: Ronnie O'Sullivan Aims for 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 securing his eighth world title at the World Snooker Championship. Other top contenders include Judd Trump, four-time champion Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Shaun Murphy, with the tournament commencing on April 18. The World Snooker Championship, which has been in existence since 1927, boasts a rich history, having been dominated by legends such as Joe Davis, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Since the introduction of 32 players in the first round in 1982, there has never been a time when all 16 top seeds have reached the second round. Zhao will attempt to overcome the infamous 'Crucible Curse' and become the first maiden winner to successfully defend the trophy. O'Sullivan, who will be making a record 34th consecutive appearance at the iconic venue, was the last first-time champion to make it to the semi-finals, losing to Hendry in 2002. The tournament's 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 both advance, they will face each other in the last 16. The top 16 seeds will be randomly drawn against the 16 players who qualify on April 16. In addition to the highest break prize, bonuses of £40,000 and £10,000 will be awarded for maximum breaks made at the main stage and in the qualifying rounds, respectively. An additional bonus of £147,000 is available to 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 the most recent being China's Zhao Xintong, who won the trophy in 2025, becoming the first champion from Asia. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan share the record for the most titles, with seven each.