It has been fairly common in recent years to discuss the winds of change blowing through the World Snooker Championship, but this year, with talk of the Crucible’s future being quieter than usual, it is on the baize where a significant shift might be poised to take place.
The usual suspects, for the most part, are still assembling in Sheffield for snooker’s most prestigious event. Some of them in quite imperious form too, but whereas a case can often be made for no more than three or four players to take home the £500,000 (US$663,280) top prize and world champion crown, this year there is a much more open field.
It is still headed in reputation by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who is still the sport’s big attraction as he maintains his ever-present record at the Crucible since turning professional in 1992.
Photo: AFP
However, O’Sullivan has not been seen on a table since January, withdrawing from multiple events and only admitting on the eve of the tournament that he intends to play.
His quest for an eighth world title begins on Tuesday against longtime rival Ali Carter, but there are plenty of stories before that enticing clash.
Yesterday, Kyren Wilson began his defense of the title against the Chinese sensation, Lei Peifan, with the sport’s “Crucible curse” also hanging over his head.
Photo: AFP
Since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977, no first-time winner has retained the title, and four of the last six first-time winners have fallen at the first hurdle, including Luca Brecel last year.
However, Wilson has thrived under the pressure of being world champion this season, winning four ranking titles and sitting second on the sport’s one-year ranking list.
The man he sits behind? Arguably the favorite this year, Judd Trump. The Bristolian has been the game’s standout player for most of the past year and starts his quest for a second world title on Tuesday against another promising Chinese player, Zhou Yuelong.
Trump and Wilson are aged 35 and 33, respectively, and as the sport’s two premier players, could be the duo to usher in a new era.
That is not to discount O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and particularly John Higgins. Last year, the latter’s spot in the world’s top 16 was under threat before a stunning run to the quarter-finals.
This year, Higgins arrives in Sheffield in form, having won two ranking titles — and as the world No. 3.
However, perhaps the real story this year is the prospect of a first Chinese world champion.
Those hopes have traditionally been carried by Ding Junhui. The 10th seed starts his bid for a maiden title against debutant Zak Surety tomorrow, but he is one of a record 10 players from China in Sheffield this year.
Among them is the 22-year-old Si Jiahui, a semi-finalist two years ago and now a seed.
Another player to watch is the 21-year-old Wu Yize, who faces Williams in his opening match.
However, the most intriguing of this year’s Chinese contingent is Zhao Xintong. Suspended in 2023 as part of a match-fixing investigation that almost engulfed snooker in China, Zhao returned as an amateur late last year, but has already become the first player to make a maximum on the amateur tour, and has come through qualifying.
His presence would be a huge talking point, but there is no doubt about his ability. Jimmy White last week said that Si, Wu and Zhao could be this generation’s O’Sullivan, Williams and Higgins.
Whether that breakthrough happens over the next 17 days or in the years ahead remains to be seen.
Snooker has craved new stars and new storylines for so long, and it appears the game might finally be on the verge of a new era.
It is now up to the old guard to show they are not quite finished just yet.
This year’s World Snooker Championship is to run from yesterday to May 5.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Edmonton Oilers on Thursday defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 to book their place in the Stanley Cup Finals, setting up a repeat of last year’s NHL showpiece against reigning champions the Florida Panthers. The Oilers, bidding to become the first Canadian team to win the NHL’s championship series since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, head to Florida for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series set for Wednesday. Florida, who are to play in the NHL showpiece for the third straight season, won last year’s title 4-3 to extend Canada’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought. Connor McDavid led Edmonton back to the championship series on