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

The World Snooker Championship is set to kick off, with defending champion Zhao Xintong returning to the Crucible and Ronnie O'Sullivan vying for a record 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 Joe Davis' dominance in the early years to the modern era with legends like 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 break the 'Crucible Curse' by becoming the first maiden winner to successfully defend the title, a feat that has eluded 21 players since 1980. O'Sullivan, making his record 34th consecutive appearance, will begin his campaign on April 21, with World No 1 Judd Trump starting his bid for a second title on the same day. The top 16 seeds will be randomly drawn against the 16 qualifying round winners on April 16. Additional prizes include a £40,000 bonus for a maximum break in the main stage and £10,000 for the qualifying rounds, as well as a £147,000 bonus for any player achieving two maximums across the Triple Crown events and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. The championship has seen 24 different winners since 1977, with Zhao Xintong being the most recent champion in 2025, and O'Sullivan and Hendry sharing the record for the most titles won.