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Watch the best shots from the 2024 World Snooker Championship
Steve SutcliffeBBC Sport journalist
- Published
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Halo World Championship
Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 19 April to 5 May
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app; live text coverage of selected matches; updates on Radio 5 Live.
Can Kyren Wilson break the 'Crucible curse'? Will Judd Trump land an elusive second world crown?
What about Mark Selby or John Higgins as they both go for a fifth World Championship title?
And, of course, how will Ronnie O'Sullivan fare as he pursues a record eighth title in the modern era, having not played competitively since January.
As the World Championship gets under way at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday, BBC Sport looks at the contenders looking to come out on top in snooker's blue-riband event.
Wilson aims to break 'Crucible curse'
No first-time winner has managed to retain the title the following year since the championship moved to the Crucible Theatre in 1977.
Wilson will begin his attempt to break the mould on Saturday morning when he faces Scottish Open winner Lei Peifan.
Far from being burdened by his success 12 months ago, the 33-year-old Wilson has relished carrying the mantle of being the reigning world champion, winning four ranking events this season and reaching the final of the Masters and Championship League.
A growing rivalry with Trump, who he has faced three times in finals this term, also appears to be beckoning a new era for the sport at a time when the famed trio of O'Sullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams have reached, or are about to head into, their 50s.
World number one Trump has won three tournaments in this campaign, including two of the sport's four majors in the Saudi Arabia Masters and the UK Championship.
It has boosted his earnings to levels never seen before by a player in a single season and the £500,000 top prize would take him close to the £2m mark.
And while the 35-year-old has played it down previously, he would dearly love to get his hands on the World Championship trophy for the second time in his career to cement himself as one of the game's greats.
Should he produce the scintillating, fast-paced snooker he is renowned for, Trump is capable of sweeping virtually any opponent aside.
With Wilson on the opposite side of the draw, the duo cannot meet until the final.
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Can the 'Class of 92' deliver again?
Image source, Getty ImagesRonnie O'Sullivan moved level with Stephen Hendry on seven world titles in 2022
Remarkably, O'Sullivan was installed as one of the bookmakers' favourites to succeed at the Crucible, well before even confirming if he would participate.
'The Rocket' has not competed on the World Snooker Tour (WST) since he withdrew from his Championship League group and was so frustrated with his game he snapped his cue after losing four of his five matches.
While O'Sullivan has also not played in anything over a best-of-seven match since his first-round defeat by Barry Hawkins at the UK Championship in November, it would be foolish to discount him even if Wilson and Mark Selby are in the same side of the draw.
The Englishman has been an ever-present at the tournament since turning professional in 1992.
Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, O'Sullivan famously defended his world crown in 2013 after playing just one competitive match that term prior to the showpiece event.
Recent footage of him compiling a maximum 147 break in less than seven minutes in practice suggests the 49-year-old is more than capable of delivering a historic triumph to set him apart from Scottish great Stephen Hendry, who also has seven titles.
Back in the winner's circle and up to third in the world rankings, Scotland's Higgins is another player from the sport's famed 'Class of 92' who cannot be overlooked.
The four-time champion has appeared rejuvenated since claiming his first ranking title for four years at the World Open in March.
Higgins arrives following another triumph at the Tour Championship where he delivered a vintage display to overcome Selby in a high-quality final.
A proven performer in the long format of the game, Higgins, who turns 50 in May, has the temperament and talent to claim his first world title since winning a fourth in 2011.
In contrast, Williams' success at the Champion of Champions in November seems in the distant past.
The 'Welsh potting machine' has struggled with eyesight issues in recent months and delivered a withering assessment of his chances after losing 10-3 to Ding Junhui in Manchester and in the aftermath of last month's Players Championship.
"Whoever qualifies is going to be praying they draw me in the first round," said the 50-year-old.
"For the last six months it has deteriorated quite badly. It was just long ones that were blurry, but now everything is blurry."
Confident Selby ready to strike?
With Selby, 41, drawn to play qualifier, friend and practice partner Ben Woollaston in the first round he is a strong favourite to advance.
Victories at the British Open and Welsh Open have importantly restored the confidence of one of the game's greats.
Selby comes into the tournament in the sort of form that indicates he could add to his four world titles, with thumping wins over Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui at the Tour Championship earlier this month.
Having already lifted one Triple Crown trophy this term at the Masters, the 2005 winner Shaun Murphy will fancy his chances too.
Meanwhile, Australia's Robertson, who won the world crown in 2010, will hope to go deep after failing to qualify 12 months ago, and Northern Ireland's Mark Allen comes in under the radar in his quest for a first Crucible title.
The Chinese challenge?
Image source, Getty ImagesA record 10 Chinese players are appearing at the Crucible
Four consecutive first-round exits at the Crucible certainly do not bode well for world number 10 Ding Junhui's chances.
Yet China's hopes of a having a first world champion far from rest on the 38-year-old's shoulders.
He is just one of a record 10 Chinese players at the tournament with Zhang Anda, Xiao Guodong and Si Jiahui seeded, and Zhao Xintong, Zhou Yuelong, Fan Zhengyi, Pang Junxu, Lei Peifan and Wu Yize coming through qualifying.
Jak Jones, the beaten finalist from 2024, will hardly relish a first-round encounter with Zhao, the 2021 UK champion, with Wilson a potential second-round opponent.
Zhao, who is currently an amateur after serving a ban for breaching betting regulations, is heavily fancied to go well and due to return to the main professional tour next term.
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