Ronnie O'Sullivan: Who stands between snooker GOAT and record eighth World Championship title?

ByEurosport

Updated 13/04/2023 at 08:27 GMT

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan could be forced to overcome Ding Junhui, Mark Williams and Judd Trump as he chases a record eighth Crucible title later this month. O'Sullivan is the top seed for the 47th World Championship, with old foe Mark Selby seeded second in the other half of the draw that also includes fellow four-time world champion John Higgins and 2010 winner Neil Robertson.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan could be forced to do it the hard way as he bids to become the most prolific Crucible champion of all time later this month.

In keeping with tradition, the world No. 1 will begin his campaign against a qualifier on the morning of Saturday 15 April in Sheffield, before he plays to a finish in the evening session with the first man to 10 frames reaching the last 16.

O'Sullivan will move one clear of Stephen Hendry's seven titles lifted between 1990-1999 if he successfully retains the trophy this year having emerged victorious in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

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Being seeded in the top half of the draw appears to offer little respite if results go according to their respective rankings.

O'Sullivan could meet Ding Junhui in the last 16 if both men negotiate the first round, with a possible quarter-final meeting against old foe Mark Williams awaiting The Rocket in the quarter-finals.

Ding whitewashed O'Sullivan 6-0 in the UK Championship last eight in November. O'Sullivan defeated Ding 13-10 in the World Championship last 16 three years ago after the 2016 finalist completed a 13-10 win in the 2017 quarter-finals.

The semi-finals could offer up a repeat of last year's final against Judd Trump – who he defeated 18-13 in the Crucible showpiece last May – or Shaun Murphy, the sport's undisputed form horse after victories at the Players Championship and Tour Championship, and a run to the Welsh Open final in recent weeks.

Second seed Mark Selby will fancy his prospects of reaching the final in the race for the £500,000 first prize, but Neil Robertson and John Higgins will hope to advance their respective cases from a bottom half of the draw that also contains UK champion Mark Allen, who lost 13-4 to O'Sullivan in the second round last year.

The draw for the last 32 will be made on Thursday 13 April at 8:45am BST after qualifying is completed a day earlier.

2006 world champion Graeme Dott, British Open holder Ryan Day and 2020 semi-finalist Anthony McGill are among the men battling to reach the Crucible via the nearby English Institute of Sport.