Ronnie O’Sullivan to Bid for Record Eighth World Championship Title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre – Updated 1 Hour Ago

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the snooker legend, is set to make history as he aims for an unprecedented eighth World Championship title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. The championship, which runs from 20 April to 6 May, promises to be an exciting and intense competition with former champions Judd Trump, Mark Williams, and Mark Selby also in the mix.

The defending champion, Luca Brecel, kicked off his title defense against David Gilbert, while Trump faced Iranian qualifier Hossein Vafaei in the opening session. O’Sullivan, on the other hand, will start his campaign against Wales’ Jackson Page on Wednesday, 24 April.

If the matches go according to their seedings, O’Sullivan could potentially face tough opponents like Barry Hawkins, Ding Junhui, and Judd Trump in the later rounds. Brecel and Mark Allen are seeded to meet in the semi-finals, setting the stage for some thrilling clashes.

The tournament format includes matches played over multiple sessions, with the final being the best of 35 frames played on 5 and 6 May. The winner will walk away with a hefty prize of £500,000, while the runner-up will receive £200,000.

Fans can catch all the action live on the BBC, with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app. Highlights will also be available on BBC Two in the evenings, ensuring that snooker enthusiasts don’t miss a moment of the World Championship drama.