O'Sullivan Set to Face Chinese Newcomer He at the World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to compete against Chinese debutant He Guoqiang as he attempts to secure a record eighth World Snooker Championship title at The Crucible. He Guoqiang, ranked 47th in China, defeated Jack Lisowski in the qualifying rounds and will begin his maiden campaign against seven-time champion O'Sullivan on Tuesday afternoon. The 25-year-old has a strong record against O'Sullivan, having beaten him in two of their previous three meetings, and is one of 11 Chinese players participating in the tournament. Other notable matchups include defending champion Zhao Xintong facing Liam Highfield, four-time champion John Higgins facing Ali Carter, and three-time champion Mark Williams competing against Antoni Kowalski, the first Polish player to qualify for the Crucible. The tournament commences on Sunday and concludes on May 3, with the final taking place on the following day. Since the introduction of 32 players in the first round in 1982, there has never been an instance where all 16 top seeds advanced to the second round. Zhao will attempt 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, making his record 34th consecutive appearance at the iconic venue, was the last first-time champion to reach the semi-finals, losing to Hendry in 2002. The full first-round draw will feature 24 different champions, including China's Zhao Xintong, who became the first champion from Asia in 2025, and Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, who share the record of seven crowns apiece.