Ronnie O’Sullivan’s second seeding at the World Championship may prove to be more trouble than it’s worth as he seeks to make snooker history at the Crucible next month. The world No. 1 is set to go into the event in Sheffield in the bottom half of the draw unless results at the Tour Championship in Manchester dictate otherwise. Luca Brecel will be the top seed at the Crucible as the defending champion, but it is not yet clear which half of the draw would provide better prospects for O’Sullivan’s run to the winning line.
Judd Trump is the top seed at the Tour Championship, with O’Sullivan as the second seed. Both players are guaranteed £30,000 for starting their title bids in the quarter-finals in Manchester Central. Trump could reclaim the world No. 1 spot by winning the tournament, or even by reaching the final and O’Sullivan losing in the semi-finals or before.
Mark Allen could potentially change the final Crucible seedings if he wins the Tour Championship and O’Sullivan and Trump do not reach the final in Manchester. Allen, currently the Champion of Champions winner, could become the world No. 1 and claim the second seeding at the Crucible, leaving O’Sullivan as the third seed and Trump as the fourth seed.
As things stand, O’Sullivan and Trump are on track to meet in the semi-finals at the Crucible. O’Sullivan is seeded to face Barry Hawkins in the second round and potentially Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals. However, a first-round match against Neil Robertson, or drawing Robertson nearby in the draw, could pose a significant challenge for O’Sullivan.
The final order of the seedings for the World Championship will be determined by the Tour Championship, amidst several permutations. O’Sullivan has won the world title seven times, and needs one more victory to surpass Stephen Hendry as the most prolific world champion of the modern era. The competition is set to be intense, with only a few seedings confirmed so far.
The Tour Championship will feature top snooker action, with matches broadcasted live on discovery+, the Eurosport app, and eurosport.com. Fans can expect an exciting and competitive event leading up to the prestigious World Championship at the Crucible, where O’Sullivan will aim to make history in the sport of snooker.
