Wilson, O’Sullivan, Trump, Selby – who will win World Snooker Championship?

Halo World Championship

Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre Dates: April 19 to May 5

Can Kyren Wilson sever the “crucible curse”? Will Judd Trump win the elusive second world title?

What about John Higgins and Mark Selby as they attempt to win their fifth World Championship?

Ronnie O’Sullivan, who hasn’t played competitively since January, will obviously struggle to achieve his record eighth title in the modern era.

Since 1977’s relocation to the Crucible Theatre, no first-time winner has been able to keep the title.

Lei Peifan, the winner of the Scottish Open, will be Wilson’s first opponent on Saturday morning.

The 33-year-old Wilson has relished carrying the title of the reigning world champion, winning four ranking competitions this year and making the Masters and Championship League final.

A new era for the sport is being beckoned by a growing rivalry with Trump, who he has faced three times in this term’s finals. At the same time as the well-known trio of O’Sullivan, Higgins, and Mark Williams are in their 50s or are about to enter.

Trump, the world’s number one, has won three tournaments this campaign, including the Saudi Arabia Masters and the UK Championship, two of the sport’s four majors.

His earnings have increased to levels never before seen by a player in a single season, and the £500, 000 top prize would bring him close to the £2 million mark.

The 35-year-old has previously played it down, but he would adore receiving the World Championship trophy for the second time in his career to formally establish himself as one of the game’s greats.

Trump has the ability to essentially sweep his closest competitors away if he produces the scintillating, fast-paced snooker he is renowned for.

O’Sullivan was surprisingly chosen as one of the bookmakers’ favorites to win the Crucible before even making his decision to participate.

The Rocket, who withdrew from his Championship League group because he was so irritated with his game, decided to withdraw from all five of his matches before going on the World Snooker Tour.

Even if Wilson and Mark Selby are on the same side of the draw, O’Sullivan would be foolish to discount him even though he hasn’t played in anything more than a best-of-seven since his first-round defeat by Barry Hawkins at the UK Championship in November.

Since becoming a professional in 1992, the Englishman has been a constant fixture at the tournament.

O’Sullivan, who is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, famously won the trophy in 2013 after only one competitive match prior to the showpiece event.

The 49-year-old is more than capable of delivering a historic triumph, according to recent footage that shows him putting together a maximum 147 break in less than seven minutes of practice. He is also the author of seven titles.

Scotland’s Higgins is yet another player from the sport’s renowned “Class of 92” who deserves to be missed. He is up in the leader’s circle and is currently third in the world rankings.

Since winning his first ranking position at the World Open in March, the four-time champion has appeared revitalized.

Higgins returns after claiming a second championship victory over Selby in a top-notch final.

Higgins, who turns 50 in May, has the temperament and talent to win his first world title since claiming a fourth one in 2011 and has a proven record in the long format of the game.

Williams’ victory at the November Champion of Champions appears to have faded away, in contrast.

The “Welsh potting machine” has had eye issues in recent months and gave a mediocre assessment of his chances after falling 10-3 to Ding Junhui in Manchester and following last month’s Players Championship.

The 50-year-old said, “Whoever qualifies is going to be praying they draw me in the first round.”

Ben Woollaston, a friend and practice partner of Selby’s, and Ben Woollaston, a friend, are the two-time champions in the first round, making him a strong favorite to advance.

One of the game’s greatest players was significantly resurrected by victories at the British Open and Welsh Open.

Selby enters the tournament in a way that suggests he could win another four world titles, including victories over Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson earlier this month.

Shaun Murphy, the Masters winner from 2005, will relish his chance, having already won one Triple Crown this year.

Ding Junhui’s chances of winning the Crucible’s four straight first-round defeat are undoubtedly uncertain.

China’s hopes of a first world champion are unreal, but the 38-year-old is far from resting on his shoulders.

Zhang Anda, Xiao Guodong, Si Jiahui, Zhao Xintong, Zhou Yuelong, Fan Zhengyi, Pang Junxu, Lei Peifan, and Wu Yize are just three of the top 10 Chinese players in the tournament who have advanced to the top 10.

A first-round matchup with Zhao, the 2021 UK champion, and Wilson, the beaten finalist from 2024, will hardly appeal to Jak Jones, who has a chance to face off in the second round.