2024 World Snooker Championship: Draw, schedule, format, prize money and where to watch

Luca Brecel celebrates with the World Snooker Championship trophy after beating Mark Selby

The best 32 players on the planet head to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for the annual ball-potting extravaganza that is the World Snooker Championship.

Belgium’s Luca Brecel will be looking to defend the title he won 12 months ago, though he faces stiff competition from some of the best in the business.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, who is one world title away from becoming the best player of the modern era, is the runaway favourite according to the bookmakers.

The likes of Judd Trump, Mark Selby and Mark Allen are also worthy contenders as the race for the biggest prize in snooker is about to begin.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 edition of the World Snooker Championship, including the draw, schedule and prize money.

First round draw

Luca Brecel vs David Gilbert
Robert Milkins vs Pang Junxu
Ali Carter vs Stephen Maguire
Shaun Murphy vs Lyu Haotian
Mark Selby vs Joe O’Connor
Kyren Wilson vs Dominic Dale
John Higgins vs Jamie Jones
Mark Allen vs Robbie Williams
Judd Trump vs Hossein Vafaei
Tom Ford vs Ricky Walden
Zhang Anda vs Jak Jones
Mark Williams vs Si Jiahui
Ding Junhui vs Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson vs Stuart Bingham
Barry Hawkins vs Ryan Day
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Jackson Page

Schedule and format

First round action at the Crucible will run from the April 20 to 25, with matches being played in a best of 19 frames format.

Second round matches will take place between April 25 and 29, with a best of 25 frames format.

In the third round, the format will remain the same as matches are played from April 30 to May 1.

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The semi-finals will be played over best of 33 frames and will run from May 2 to 4.

The final will get underway on Sunday, May 5, and will be played over best of 35 frames.

Prize money

Winner - £500,000
Runner-up - £200,000
Semi-final - £100,000
Quarter-final - £50,000
Last 16 - £30,000
Last 32 - £15,000
Highest break - £15,000
Total prize pool - £2,395,000