Ronnie O’Sullivan eyes record eighth World Championship Snooker title – ‘I’d love to try to win the Crucible’

O’Sullivan will compete at the World Open this week and the 12-man Tour Championship next month (April 1-7) before he makes his annual trip to the Crucible Theatre as he bids to become the most prolific champion of the modern professional televised era.

The Rocket has claimed the sport’s biggest title in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022, and admitted he “would love” to move ahead of ‘King of the Crucible’ Stephen Hendry, who won his magnificent seven between 1990 and 1999.

The 48th World Championship in Sheffield this year runs between April 20 until May 6.

“I’d love to try to win the Crucible,” O’Sullivan told reporters after producing breaks of 62, 129, 106 and 87 to fend off talented Welshman White, who levelled at 3-3 from 3-1 down before the world No. 1 claimed the final two frames.

“It is a hard tournament and 17 days is a long time. A lot can happen there. I’d love to win that another time to make it eight.

“There are so many good players around, so you have to get a little bit of luck and play some good snooker at the right times.

“I will be going there and trying my best.”

O’Sullivan next faces Lyu Haotian in the last 32 on Wednesday at 11:30am GMT as he continues his chase for the £170,000 first prize having already claimed the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship, Masters, World Grand Prix and Riyadh World Masters in one of the best seasons of his 32-year career.

“The set-up with the table out there is really good,” said the 41-time ranking event winner.

“The crowd are really close, so it creates a good atmosphere. Yushan has changed a lot in five years. I didn’t recognise the place.

“Last time we came here it was just this venue, now you have other buildings and beautiful new roads. It has changed so much.”