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

The World Snooker Championship is set to begin, with defending champion Zhao Xintong returning to the Crucible and Ronnie O'Sullivan vying for a record-breaking eighth world title. They will face stiff competition from top players like 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, is steeped in history and has seen legendary players like Joe Davis, Steve Davis, and Stephen Hendry dominate the sport. O'Sullivan, who will be making his 34th consecutive appearance at the iconic venue, will begin his bid on April 21, with the top 16 seeds being drawn at random against the 16 players who come through the qualifying rounds on April 16. All first-round matches are best of 19 frames. The tournament also offers bonuses for maximum breaks, including a £147,000 bonus for any player who makes two maximums across this season's Triple Crown events and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. With 24 different champions since 1977, the most recent being China's Zhao Xintong in 2025, the competition is expected to be fierce. O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry currently share the record of seven crowns apiece, and O'Sullivan will be looking to break this record and claim his eighth title.