The Crucible curse refers to the fact that no first-time champion has been able to retain the World Snooker Championship title since the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977.
A total of 19 winners have failed when attempting to defend their crown, and just two have reached the final.
Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) came the closest to breaking the ‘curse’ but fell at the final hurdle.
All-time greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Stephen Hendry have won multiple World Championships but failed to retain the title the year after their maiden victory.
O’Sullivan won his first in 2001 and went on to win again in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.
Selby won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 after his maiden title in 2014. He also won in 2021.
The Crucible Theatre’s contract to host the event expires in 2027, with discussions around the future venue for the tournament ‘ongoing and constructive’.
The Crucible curse refers to the fact that no first-time champion has been able to retain the World Snooker Championship title since the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977.
A total of 19 winners have failed when attempting to defend their crown, and just two have reached the final.
Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) came the closest to breaking the ‘curse’ but fell at the final hurdle.
All-time greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Stephen Hendry have won multiple World Championships but failed to retain the title the year after their maiden victory.
O’Sullivan won his first in 2001 and went on to win again in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.
Selby won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017 after his maiden title in 2014. He also won in 2021.
The Crucible Theatre’s contract to host the event expires in 2027, with discussions around the future venue for the tournament ‘ongoing and constructive’.
JoJo Siwa has been one of the standout stars of Celebrity Big Brother, but the singer and media personality has had a whirlwind career for the past 11 years, despite only being 21
People are only just realising where they have seen Celebrity Big Brother star JoJo Siwa before (file)(Image: Christopher Polk, Variety via Getty Images)
TV fans cannot stop talking about JoJo Siwa as the singer and media personality is standing out on this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.
Fans have been engrossed in the on-screen friendship between Siwa and Love Island star Chris Hughes, who have formed a close bond – from Chris referring to her as “his person” in the Diary room, to their night time cuddles and hand-holding.
Siwa, who is dating Australian content creator Kath Ebbs, has been candid about her gender identity on the show, earning much support from her housemates.
However, before her significant screen time on Big Brother, the 21-year-old American had already led an impressive life, as Curiously Media shared in a viral TikTok clip. Some viewers are only now recognising her from previous appearances, while others, previously unfamiliar with her, are discovering her many impressive achievements at such a young age.
READ MORE: Trisha Goddard makes cryptic comment about Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa’s relationship
JoJo was a child star who rose to fame on Dance Moms before getting her own show on Nickelodeon(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
Many fans have taken to social media during CBB, with some admitting they didn’t know who JoJo was. “I must be old because I have no idea who JoJo Siwa is,” one viewer commented. “Same, no idea. Normally I know three or four of them and that’s it,” another added.
“Me neither, never heard of her,” commented another. “I only know her because my kids loved Dance Moms,” a parent pointed out. “I only know this because my daughter watched it [Dance Moms] over and over,” another agreed.
That’s right, JoJo, whose full name is Joelle Joanie, shot to fame after featuring on Lifetime’s hit show Dance Moms – a series that showcased a group of gifted children battling it out in intense dance competitions, ranked against each other on a weekly pyramid, and the drama between their mums and the dance teacher.
At its height, the programme was pulling in 2.51 million viewers. JoJo joined the cast after competing at age 10 on TV show ‘Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition’. Abby, impressed by JoJo, invited her to join Dance Moms. Throughout her stint on the show, JoJo made a mark with her vibrant bows, rainbow accents and larger-than-life personality.
The singer has performed all around the world(Image: Billboard via Getty Images)
During this period, the singer and dancer from Nebraska in the US, dropped her first tracks ‘Boomerang’ and ‘I Can Make U Dance’. The music video for ‘Boomerang’ has been viewed over one billion times and since then JoJo has released 11 more songs.
Last year, she went viral for her upbeat track Karma. The music video has racked up over 52 million views on YouTube. In 2018 she was named Breakout Artist of the Year by Vivid Seats and embarked on a major tour in 52 cities globally.
And it’s not just music, JoJo has done a fair bit of acting too. A video shared by Curiously Media has revealed where you might have seen her before – or heard her voice. Siwa, a Nickelodeon starlet, has showcased her acting chops in various TV shows and films. She took the lead in Blurt! and Lip Sync Battle Shorties, as well as her own 2021 feature film, The J Team.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Siwa also made her mark in the gaming world, featuring as a playable character in the 2020 video game Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix and its 2022 sequel, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway.
In 2020, Siwa wowed audiences on season three of The Masked Singer, performing as ‘T-Rex’ at the tender age of 16. She was the youngest contestant to have graced the show. That same year, she earned a spot on Time’s annual list of the top 100 most influential people.
JoJo, who lent her voice to characters in The Angry Birds Movie 2, has also launched her own bow collection at Claire’s Accessories. In 2018, she teamed up with American department store J.C. Penney to release her own line of accessories, bedroom decor, and even her very own doll.
JoJo Siwa has been one of the standout stars of Celebrity Big Brother, but the singer and media personality has had a whirlwind career for the past 11 years, despite only being 21
People are only just realising where they have seen Celebrity Big Brother star JoJo Siwa before (file)(Image: Christopher Polk, Variety via Getty Images)
TV fans cannot stop talking about JoJo Siwa as the singer and media personality is standing out on this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.
Fans have been engrossed in the on-screen friendship between Siwa and Love Island star Chris Hughes, who have formed a close bond – from Chris referring to her as “his person” in the Diary room, to their night time cuddles and hand-holding.
Siwa, who is dating Australian content creator Kath Ebbs, has been candid about her gender identity on the show, earning much support from her housemates.
However, before her significant screen time on Big Brother, the 21-year-old American had already led an impressive life, as Curiously Media shared in a viral TikTok clip. Some viewers are only now recognising her from previous appearances, while others, previously unfamiliar with her, are discovering her many impressive achievements at such a young age.
READ MORE: Trisha Goddard makes cryptic comment about Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa’s relationship
JoJo was a child star who rose to fame on Dance Moms before getting her own show on Nickelodeon(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
Many fans have taken to social media during CBB, with some admitting they didn’t know who JoJo was. “I must be old because I have no idea who JoJo Siwa is,” one viewer commented. “Same, no idea. Normally I know three or four of them and that’s it,” another added.
“Me neither, never heard of her,” commented another. “I only know her because my kids loved Dance Moms,” a parent pointed out. “I only know this because my daughter watched it [Dance Moms] over and over,” another agreed.
That’s right, JoJo, whose full name is Joelle Joanie, shot to fame after featuring on Lifetime’s hit show Dance Moms – a series that showcased a group of gifted children battling it out in intense dance competitions, ranked against each other on a weekly pyramid, and the drama between their mums and the dance teacher.
At its height, the programme was pulling in 2.51 million viewers. JoJo joined the cast after competing at age 10 on TV show ‘Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition’. Abby, impressed by JoJo, invited her to join Dance Moms. Throughout her stint on the show, JoJo made a mark with her vibrant bows, rainbow accents and larger-than-life personality.
The singer has performed all around the world(Image: Billboard via Getty Images)
During this period, the singer and dancer from Nebraska in the US, dropped her first tracks ‘Boomerang’ and ‘I Can Make U Dance’. The music video for ‘Boomerang’ has been viewed over one billion times and since then JoJo has released 11 more songs.
Last year, she went viral for her upbeat track Karma. The music video has racked up over 52 million views on YouTube. In 2018 she was named Breakout Artist of the Year by Vivid Seats and embarked on a major tour in 52 cities globally.
And it’s not just music, JoJo has done a fair bit of acting too. A video shared by Curiously Media has revealed where you might have seen her before – or heard her voice. Siwa, a Nickelodeon starlet, has showcased her acting chops in various TV shows and films. She took the lead in Blurt! and Lip Sync Battle Shorties, as well as her own 2021 feature film, The J Team.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Siwa also made her mark in the gaming world, featuring as a playable character in the 2020 video game Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix and its 2022 sequel, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway.
In 2020, Siwa wowed audiences on season three of The Masked Singer, performing as ‘T-Rex’ at the tender age of 16. She was the youngest contestant to have graced the show. That same year, she earned a spot on Time’s annual list of the top 100 most influential people.
JoJo, who lent her voice to characters in The Angry Birds Movie 2, has also launched her own bow collection at Claire’s Accessories. In 2018, she teamed up with American department store J.C. Penney to release her own line of accessories, bedroom decor, and even her very own doll.
JoJo Siwa has been one of the standout stars of Celebrity Big Brother, but the singer and media personality has had a whirlwind career for the past 11 years, despite only being 21
People are only just realising where they have seen Celebrity Big Brother star JoJo Siwa before (file)(Image: Christopher Polk, Variety via Getty Images)
TV fans cannot stop talking about JoJo Siwa as the singer and media personality is standing out on this year’s Celebrity Big Brother.
Fans have been engrossed in the on-screen friendship between Siwa and Love Island star Chris Hughes, who have formed a close bond – from Chris referring to her as “his person” in the Diary room, to their night time cuddles and hand-holding.
Siwa, who is dating Australian content creator Kath Ebbs, has been candid about her gender identity on the show, earning much support from her housemates.
However, before her significant screen time on Big Brother, the 21-year-old American had already led an impressive life, as Curiously Media shared in a viral TikTok clip. Some viewers are only now recognising her from previous appearances, while others, previously unfamiliar with her, are discovering her many impressive achievements at such a young age.
READ MORE: Trisha Goddard makes cryptic comment about Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa’s relationship
JoJo was a child star who rose to fame on Dance Moms before getting her own show on Nickelodeon(Image: Getty Images)
Article continues below
Many fans have taken to social media during CBB, with some admitting they didn’t know who JoJo was. “I must be old because I have no idea who JoJo Siwa is,” one viewer commented. “Same, no idea. Normally I know three or four of them and that’s it,” another added.
“Me neither, never heard of her,” commented another. “I only know her because my kids loved Dance Moms,” a parent pointed out. “I only know this because my daughter watched it [Dance Moms] over and over,” another agreed.
That’s right, JoJo, whose full name is Joelle Joanie, shot to fame after featuring on Lifetime’s hit show Dance Moms – a series that showcased a group of gifted children battling it out in intense dance competitions, ranked against each other on a weekly pyramid, and the drama between their mums and the dance teacher.
At its height, the programme was pulling in 2.51 million viewers. JoJo joined the cast after competing at age 10 on TV show ‘Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition’. Abby, impressed by JoJo, invited her to join Dance Moms. Throughout her stint on the show, JoJo made a mark with her vibrant bows, rainbow accents and larger-than-life personality.
The singer has performed all around the world(Image: Billboard via Getty Images)
During this period, the singer and dancer from Nebraska in the US, dropped her first tracks ‘Boomerang’ and ‘I Can Make U Dance’. The music video for ‘Boomerang’ has been viewed over one billion times and since then JoJo has released 11 more songs.
Last year, she went viral for her upbeat track Karma. The music video has racked up over 52 million views on YouTube. In 2018 she was named Breakout Artist of the Year by Vivid Seats and embarked on a major tour in 52 cities globally.
And it’s not just music, JoJo has done a fair bit of acting too. A video shared by Curiously Media has revealed where you might have seen her before – or heard her voice. Siwa, a Nickelodeon starlet, has showcased her acting chops in various TV shows and films. She took the lead in Blurt! and Lip Sync Battle Shorties, as well as her own 2021 feature film, The J Team.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Siwa also made her mark in the gaming world, featuring as a playable character in the 2020 video game Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix and its 2022 sequel, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway.
In 2020, Siwa wowed audiences on season three of The Masked Singer, performing as ‘T-Rex’ at the tender age of 16. She was the youngest contestant to have graced the show. That same year, she earned a spot on Time’s annual list of the top 100 most influential people.
JoJo, who lent her voice to characters in The Angry Birds Movie 2, has also launched her own bow collection at Claire’s Accessories. In 2018, she teamed up with American department store J.C. Penney to release her own line of accessories, bedroom decor, and even her very own doll.
Russia’s Supreme Court has suspended its ban on the Taliban, which it had designated for more than 20 years as “a terrorist organisation”. The latest move is aimed at normalising ties with the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.
Thursday’s ruling – prompted by a request from the prosecutor general – is effective immediately, Judge Oleg Nefedov announced, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.
The move in favour of the group that seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 follows years of gradual rapprochement with Moscow, despite a turbulent history dating back to the Afghan Civil War of the 1990s.
More recently, shared security interests – including the fight against ISIL (ISIS)’s regional affiliate, ISKP – have drawn Russia and the Taliban closer.
Last year, President Vladimir Putin described the Taliban as an “ally” in counterterrorism efforts, while his envoy to Kabul announced plans to delist the group.
Moscow, which has hosted Taliban officials for several forums in recent years, is also looking to use Afghanistan as a transit hub for gas exports to Southeast Asia.
“Moscow will continue its course on developing political, trade and economic ties with Kabul,” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in October last year.
Other Asian countries have also improved ties with the Taliban in recent years, though no state has moved to fully recognise it.
In 2023, Kazakhstan took the group, which has banned girls’ education and restricted women’s movement, off its list of “terrorist organisations”. Kyrgyzstan followed suit last year.
