Sign up to the Independent’s betting newsletter for the latest tips and offersSign up to the Independent’s betting newsletter<\/p>\n
The 2024 World Snooker Championship has arrived with 17 days of top-class sporting action lined up at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield before the latest champion is crowned on Monday 6 May.<\/p>\n
Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan enters the tournament on the brink of history, trying to claim a record eighth world title at the Crucible and break the current tie of seven with Stephen Hendry for most World Championships in the modern era. The 48-year-old has had a sensational season, already winning the UK Championship and Masters, meaning victory in Sheffield would not only give him eight titles from each of snooker\u2019s biggest three events but also see him become just the fourth man \u2013 after Hendry, Steve Davis and Mark Williams \u2013 to win the three triple crown events in a single season. He is currently the favourite on snooker betting sites to do just that.<\/p>\n
Luca Brecel won the World Snooker Championship title in Sheffield last year (PA Wire)But there are plenty of talented challengers looking to knock \u2019the Rocket\u2019 off his perch. Luca Brecel brilliantly blitzed his way to the title 12 months ago but the Belgian has already been struck down by the \u2018Crucible curse\u2019 that has never seen a first-time winner repeat the trick the following year at the legendary theatre. <\/p>\n
Aside from O\u2019Sullivan, Judd Trump has been the player of the season with five ranking titles to his name this year and will be desperate to add a second World Championship to his CV, while Mark Allen has entered the very top tier of players over the past 18 months. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the World Championship including schedule and results, while you can find predictions and tips for the tournament here and best bets for the first round here:<\/p>\n
When is the World Snooker Chammpionship?<\/p>\n
The World Snooker Championship begins at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday 20 April and finishes on Monday 6 May. The top 16 players in the world qualified automatically for the event and have been joined by the 16 men who came through qualifying. <\/p>\n
How can I watch it?<\/p>\n
The entire championship will be live on the BBC, with BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website showing every match across the 17 days. The tournament is also broadcast on Eurosport in the UK. Subscribers can also stream the match online via the Discovery+ app.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.<\/p>\n
How much is the prize fund?<\/p>\n
The World Championship is the richest prize in snooker with players sharing a total prize fund of \u00a32,395,000. The winner will receive \u00a3500,000, with the runner-up pocketing \u00a3200,000 and the losing semi-finalists netting \u00a3100,000 each. An additional \u00a315,000 is available to the player who compiles the highest break (including the qualifying stage), while two maximums made across any of the three triple crown events this season will be rewarded with a \u00a3147,000 bonus \u2013 with Ding Junhui and Mark Allen just one maxi away from that prize having made 147s at the Masters back in January.<\/p>\n
What is the tournament format?<\/p>\n
First round – best of 19 frames played over two sessionsSecond round and quarter-finals – best of 25 frames played over three sessionsSemi-finals – best of 33 frames over four sessions.Final – best of 35 frames over four sessionsFull World Snooker Championship first round schedule<\/p>\n
Saturday 20 April<\/p>\n
10am<\/p>\n
Luca Brecel 6-3 Dave Gilbert<\/p>\n
Zhang Anda 2-5 Jak Jones<\/p>\n
2.30pm<\/p>\n
Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire<\/p>\n
Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei<\/p>\n
7pm<\/p>\n
Luca Brecel 9-10 Dave Gilbert – final session<\/p>\n
Tom Ford 6-3 Ricky Walden<\/p>\n
Sunday 21 April<\/p>\n
10am<\/p>\n
Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O\u2019Connor<\/p>\n
Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones – final session<\/p>\n
2.30pm<\/p>\n
Shaun Murphy 6-3 Lyu Haotian<\/p>\n
Judd Trump 10-5 Hossein Vafaei – final session<\/p>\n
7pm<\/p>\n
Ali Carter 7-10 Stephen Maguire – final session<\/p>\n
Tom Ford 10-6 Ricky Walden – final session<\/p>\n
Monday 22 April<\/p>\n
10am<\/p>\n
Shaun Murphy 10-5 Lyu Haotian – final session<\/p>\n
Gary Wilson 3-6 Stuart Bingham<\/p>\n
2.30pm<\/p>\n
Mark Selby 6-10 Joe O\u2019Connor – final session<\/p>\n
Mark Williams 5-4 Si Jiahui<\/p>\n
7pm<\/p>\n
Robert Milkins 4-5 Pang Junxu<\/p>\n
Gary Wilson 5-10 Stuart Bingham – final session<\/p>\n
Tuesday 23 April<\/p>\n
10am<\/p>\n
Kyren Wilson vs Dominic Dale<\/p>\n
Ding Junhui vs Jack Lisowski<\/p>\n
2.30pm<\/p>\n
Mark Allen vs Robbie Williams<\/p>\n
Mark Williams vs Si Jiahui – final session<\/p>\n
7pm<\/p>\n
Robert Milkins vs Pang Junxu – final session<\/p>\n
Barry Hawkins vs Ryan Day<\/p>\n
Wednesday 24 April<\/p>\n
10am<\/p>\n
Kyren Wilson vs Dominic Dale – final session<\/p>\n
Ding Junhui vs Jack Lisowski – final session<\/p>\n
2.30pm<\/p>\n
Mark Allen vs Robbie Williams – final session<\/p>\n
Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan vs Jackson Page<\/p>\n
7pm<\/p>\n
John Higgins vs Jamie Jones<\/p>\n
Barry Hawkins vs Ryan Day – final session<\/p>\n
Thursday 25 April<\/p>\n
1pm<\/p>\n
Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan vs Jackson Page – final session<\/p>\n
7pm<\/p>\n
John Higgins vs Jamie Jones – final session<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sign up to the Independent’s betting newsletter for the latest tips and offersSign up to the Independent’s betting newsletter The 2024 World Snooker Championship has arrived with 17 days of top-class sporting action lined up at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield before the latest champion is crowned on Monday 6 May. Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan enters […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n