Ronnie’s reality check
Ronnie O’Sullivan fears he has lost his bottle — and warned he may quit the World Snooker Championship if he has “a meltdown”.
The Rocket said: “I’m not playing until Tuesday. So if I have a meltdown, who knows? I might still bloody withdraw. I hope I don’t.
“I’m surprised I’m here but I’m here. I don’t have any expectations.
“I’d just like to not feel all at sea out there. If I can just play and at least feel semi-competitive, I’d be happy with that.
“Could I win the whole thing? I doubt it. I’d be very happy to just give Ali a game.
“I’m nearly 50 now and there’s a lot of young guys who are hungry and competing all the time. It’s a bit different to say 2012, 2013.”
The Crucible curse
The Crucible curse is the quip given to the fact that no first-time world champion has ever retained their crown the following year.
Since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977 it has cursed 19 players in a row with every debut champion crumbling under the pressure of snooker‘s grandest stage.
Some have come close though – Joe Johnson and Ken Doherty both made it to the final the year after their maiden victories – but most don’t get anywhere near that far.
As recently as 2023, Luca Brecel was doomed by the curse, losing in the first round of the 2024 tournament after winning the title the year before.
Brecel is not on his own though – seven champions have gone on to lose their first match the following year.
Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby have all managed to win consecutive titles at the Crucible, but they had won the championship previously.
Wilson returns to South Yorkshire as the reigning champion and is determined to lift the curse and posted a hilarious video to social media in an effort to exorcise the demons.
In the video, Wilson jokingly completed some of the superstitions people believe to bring us bad luck, including smashing a mirror and holding his World Championship trophy next to a black cat.
Wil he win it again?
Kyren Wilson claimed his first world title after some thrilling action at the Crucible, beating Jak Jones in the 2024 final.
The Kettering superstar beat Jak Jones 18-14 despite a spirited comeback from the qualifier.
And he’ll be hoping to break the Crucible curse this year.
