World Snooker Championship Schedule: O'Sullivan Aims for Historic Eighth Title

The reigning champion, Zhao Xintong, is set to return to the Crucible, while Ronnie O'Sullivan will attempt to claim a record-breaking eighth world title at the World Snooker Championship. They will face stiff competition from Judd Trump and four-time champion Mark Selby, as well as 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 in the early years to the modern era, where O'Sullivan and seven-time champion Stephen Hendry have made their mark. Since the introduction of 32 players in the first round in 1982, there has never been an instance where all 16 top seeds have advanced to the second round. Zhao will try to overcome the 'Crucible Curse' and become the first maiden winner to successfully defend the title, a feat that has eluded 21 players 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 semi-finals, where he lost to Hendry in 2002. The first day will feature matches between Mark Allen, Xiao Guodong, Mark Williams, and Barry Hawkins, while world number one Judd Trump will begin his bid for a second world title on April 21. O'Sullivan will start his campaign on the same day, concluding his match the following afternoon. 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. A bonus of £147,000 is also 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 Zhao Xintong being the most recent, winning the title in 2025 as the first champion from Asia. Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan currently hold the record for the most titles, with seven crowns each.