Snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan predicted the World Championship will be ‘carnage’ and likened the upcoming drama to the first corner of a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The six-time world champion heads into the Crucible Theatre as the world’s number one after reclaiming top spot from Mark Selby. It is O’Sullivan’s fifth stint as the world’s best ranked player.
O’Sullivan - who last won the world title in 2020 - replaced Selby as World No. 1 this month despite losing 10-9 to Neil Robertson in an epic semi-final at the Tour Championship in Llandudno. However, the 46-year-old could lose his grip on the status - he needs to collect a record-equalling seventh world title if he is to retain the position at the end of the season.