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.
O’Sullivan is set to drop back to fourth in the rankings behind Selby, Robertson and Judd Trump after his sixth world title win - a 18-8 win against Kyern Wilson in August 2020 - will be dropped from being taken into account in the rankings. He is facing a tough challenge as the new world number one is set to compete in Sheffield for a record 30th straight season.
O’Sullivan believes the first round could be dangerous for the top players, with each of the top 16 at risk of early exits. Seven of the top 16 lost out in 2016, with six losing in 2018 - including Stuart Bingham and Selby.
“I think the first round is going to be like Formula One going into the first corner,” O’Sullivan told reporters. “It’s going to be carnage. There will be a lot of seeds going, guaranteed.
“Every first round match I have played in Sheffield has been hard. It is probably the hardest match you play all year. It gets easier after the first match, so the longer I stay in the more dangerous I will probably be.
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“I don’t really have any expectations. I’m going to be coming here for 18 days no matter what, and I’m going to enjoy myself. If I’m still in the tournament, great. If I’m not, it will still be great – I’m not too worried.”
O’Sullivan - who is set to face 2019 semi-finalist David Gilbert on Saturday afternoon - must win and hope neither Selby or Trump reach the final to retain his top spot in the rankings. Four-time winner and defending champion Selby will reclaim the number one status if he wins the championship, but a final place would also be enough if Roberston or Trump do not get further than the semis.
Selby is set to meet Trump in the last four, and if he loses before the semi-finals, O’Sullivan, Robertson or Trump will each have an opportunity to seize the world number one ranking. Robertson – winner of the Masters, English Open, Players Championship and Tour Championship this season – can reclaim the No. 1 spot for the first time since January 2015 if the Australian claims his second title.
Trump is hoping to become only the fifth player in history alongside Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Selby to finish the season as the world’s best player for a third straight year.
