Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White to star on TV in special snooker episode of The Breakdown

Two of snooker's most influential players of all-time, O'Sullivan and White sit down in the hour-long special with presenters Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist to discuss their decorated careers, and the state of their sport.

Ahead of the 2025 World Snooker Championship that TNT Sports and discovery+ will cover extensively throughout at the Crucible starting on April 19th, O'Sullivan and White also take to the baize for iconic shot demonstrations, and analyse the famous 1985 black ball final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor that will shorty celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Amongst the range of topics that the snooker legends sit down to discuss includes their career inspirations, and dealing with the pressures of being an elite professional.

Ronnie O’Sullivan named snooker’s greatest of all time in online vote

Both players are also asked about the fabled 'Class of 92', and O'Sullivan widely being regarded as snooker's greatest player of all time.

In a recent social media poll conducted by TNT Sports, a resounding 71.5% of people selected seven-time World Champion O'Sullivan as the best player ever to pick up a cue.

Stephen Hendry - with whom 'The Rocket' currently shares the record for the most Crucible titles with - came second with a 15.5% share of the vote.

In response to coming top by such a large margin, 49-year-old O'Sullivan said: “I’m not that sort of person who gets wrapped up in that. I just like to play the game.

“Like Jimmy, I have a lot of fans’ support. So maybe if I hadn’t won as many titles as I have, I maybe could have still got the vote because they just want to support Ronnie.

“If you asked only snooker purists who the greatest is, then the poll may have been a lot closer. People tend to vote with their heart.”

Asked about his opinion on snooker’s GOAT debate, White said: “People love winners and every once in a while you get people who do it with such style like (Seve) Ballesteros these special types of sportsman, and Ronnie take fans on a roller coaster with him.

“Because he also has the flair and the style and being a winning machine, people live it with him, they live every shot with him.”

What it is like playing at and preparing for the Crucible

With the televised stages of snooker's blue riband event just several days away - when the world's top 16 enter the fray - it is still unclear whether O'Sullivan will actually participate at the Crucible, despite having entered.

The record 41-time ranking event winner has not featured on the World Snooker Tour since the start of January when he deliberately snapped his cue in frustration during the behind-closed-doors Championship League Invitational in Leicester.

Since then, O'Sullivan has withdrawn from several events on the circuit, and if he were to play in Sheffield, it would be the first time performing in front of television cameras in four months.

Explaining what it's like playing within the pressure-cooker environment of the Crucible and preparing for snooker’s ultimate test O'Sullivan said: “It’s a love, hate relationship. You can have a great time, but if you’re on the receiving end of your own struggle or your opponent’s playing well, it’s not where you want to be. It’s one of those sort of places.

“You’ve been training your whole life, it’s like boxers training to get hit in the head, it’s no different to when you were a kid. So I don’t think you necessarily need to train especially for it. You’re just going up in levels and standards.

“I always think the World Championship gets going about the quarter-finals. I’ve always felt that the first two rounds are the turning point.”

White - who was runner-up six times, although has won three World Seniors Snooker Championships at the hallowed arena - added: “For new players coming along, they go to the Crucible for the first time, they’ve got the two table set-up, the split screen, and you have to get used to the applause from the other table.

“When it gets to the one table situation it’s absolutely amazing, there’s no other venue like it. When you’re not on it, and you’re struggling, the audience are so close you can hear people arguing about the flavour of wine gums, you can hear everything.

“But if you’re focused and you’re on it, there’s no other place like it. There’s only 900 people, but the atmosphere is incredible. So the first time there for new players it can be daunting.”

The Snooker Breakdown will air on Wednesday 9th April at 11pm on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. Watch the World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from April 19.