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

The reigning champion, Zhao Xintong, is set to defend his title at the World Snooker Championship, while Ronnie O'Sullivan will attempt to break records by claiming his eighth world title. They will face stiff competition from notable players such as Judd Trump, four-time champion Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Shaun Murphy, starting from April 18. With a rich history dating back to 1927, the tournament has seen legendary players like Joe Davis, Steve Davis, and Stephen Hendry dominate the sport. O'Sullivan and Hendry are currently tied for the most titles, with seven each. The 'Crucible Curse' has prevented any first-time winner from successfully defending their title since 1980, with 21 players attempting and failing. 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 in 2002. The top seeds, including Mark Allen, Xiao Guodong, Mark Williams, and Barry Hawkins, will be in action on the first day, while world No. 1 Judd Trump will begin his campaign on April 21. O'Sullivan's first match will also take place on April 21, and if he and John Higgins progress, 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 during the main stage and qualifying rounds, respectively. An additional £147,000 bonus is available 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. The record for the most titles is shared by Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, with seven crowns each.