World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan Eyes Eighth Title

The reigning champion, Zhao Xintong, is set to defend his title at the World Snooker Championship, while Ronnie O'Sullivan aims to make history with a record-breaking eighth world 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, is rich in history, from the dominance of Joe Davis 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 reach the second round. Zhao will attempt to break the 'Crucible Curse' and become the first maiden winner to successfully defend the trophy, 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 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 begins his bid for a second world title on April 21. O'Sullivan starts his campaign on the same day, and if he and John Higgins progress, they will face each other in the last 16. The top 16 seeds will be drawn against the 16 players who come through the qualifying rounds on April 16. Additional bonuses of £40,000 and £10,000 will be offered for maximum breaks made at the main stage and in the qualifying rounds, respectively. A bonus of £147,000 is also available for any player who makes two maximums across this season's Triple Crown events and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. Since 1977, there have been 24 different champions, with Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan sharing the record of seven titles each.