2024 World Snooker Championship tips: Ronnie O’Sullivan favourite to regain gold in Crucible epic

Being called a snooker world champion must be a truly unique feeling. Think about it. If you’re the 100m champion, you know you’re the fastest. If you’re a powerlifting champion, you know you’re the strongest. But what about snooker?

Seriously, what are you? All you can really say is that nobody on the planet can put balls into pockets with a wooden stick as good as you.

As silly as that may sound, there are few events as captivating as the snooker world championship. The drama is palpable, the tension is gut wrenching and the skill level is always off the chart.

Over recent times, nobody has been better at putting balls into pockets with a wooden stick than Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Rocket is a seven-time world champion and has won two of the last four editions of the tournament.

O’Sullivan needs just one more title to overtake Stephen Hendry and become the most successful player in the modern era.

The 48-year-old is favourite with the bookmakers to seal the deal in Sheffield and return to the top of the sport.

O’Sullivan reached the Tour Championship final at the start of the month but lost to Mark Williams. A month earlier, he beat Luca Brecel to claim the World Masters of Snooker title.

Last January, the Rocket was unstoppable as he powered to both the Masters and World Grand Prix tournament wins.

If the seven-time world champion arrives at his best, there are few people that will be capable of stopping him. One of the few who can, is Judd Trump.

The 2019 champion arrives in Yorkshire having won the recent World Open in China. Earlier in the year, the 34-year-old powered to victory in the German Masters.

Mark Selby, who is looking for his fifth title, is also a danger in the draw. The same goes for Mark Allen who claimed the Players Championship title just a couple of months ago.

As well as all the young guns, it’s also worth considering some of the more senior gentlemen in the pack.

Mark Williams won the world title as recently as 2018 and arrives in Sheffield having won the Tour Championship a fortnight ago.

John Higgins, meanwhile, has been in three world championship finals over the last seven years.

A lot of names have been mentioned so far, bar one. The defending champion Luca Brecel is as far down as 22/1 with some bookmakers. 

Apart from a couple of non-ranking finals, this has not been a particularly memorable season for the Belgian star. Then again, as the defending champion, he shouldn’t be easily underestimated.

We’ve reached the point in the preview where it’s time to stick our necks on the line. While it may sound boring, we are putting our weight behind Ronnie O’Sullivan to get the job done.

The Rocket has enjoyed a sterling start to 2024 and when he is at his best, there’s simply no stopping him.

With regards to a dark horse, Mark Williams tickles our fancy.

The Welshman, who is looking for his fourth world title, is priced at 14/1 with some bookmakers. Not bad for someone who has won two ranking events this season, lost one final and also reached two quarter-finals.

 

Suggested bets

NAP – Ronnie O’Sullivan to win
Dark horse – Mark Williams to win