When does snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan return to action? New world champion Kyren Wilson set for Helsinki tournament

Updated 09/05/2024 at 08:52 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to chase a record sixth Shanghai Masters title with the elite invitational event the first major snooker tournament of the new season in July. The snooker GOAT has won four straight titles in Shanghai, including an 11-9 win over Luca Brecel in last year's final. Meanwhile, new world champion Kyren Wilson is set to return to action in Helsinki later this month.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan is set for a short break away from the green baize before he returns to action at the prestigious Shanghai Masters in July.

The seven-time world champion lost 13-10 to an inspired Stuart Bingham in the last eight of the World Championship, but is unlikely to have an extended break due to a busy 2024/25 season which begins with the ranking version of the Championship League at the Morningside Arena in Leicester next month (June 10 - July 3).

O'Sullivan won the elite invitational Shanghai event for a record fifth time with an 11-9 win over Luca Brecel last September with this year's competition provisionally scheduled for July 15-21 in the Chinese city.

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"I'm contracted to play in certain events, to do certain exhibition events in China so I'll fulfil all of those commitments because obviously they get prioritised," O'Sullivan told Eurosport in Sheffield.

"And then if I've got time to fit in some other bits I will, but I like my life, I like to spend some time at home. I've got quite a good year, I look at my calendar and I'm excited."

Kyren Wilson is likely to be one of the leading attractions at the event after lifting his first Crucible crown with an 18-14 victory over Jak Jones on Monday.

He is due to play his first competitive match as world champion when he faces Ryan Day at the Helsinki International Snooker Cup on Saturday May 25 with Brecel, Bingham, Judd Trump, Robert Milkins, Jimmy White and Jack Lisowski also competing in the Finnish capital.

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Meanwhile, O'Sullivan is due to play a series of exhibition matches in Finland in early June as he gears up for his latest campaign.

Qualifiers for the Xi'an Grand Prix, English Open and Saudi Masters will all take place in Leicester after the Shanghai Masters in July and early August, before the tour returns to China for the inaugural Xi'an Grand Prix pencilled in between August 19-25.