Ronnie O'Sullivan to make World Seniors Snooker Championship debut at the Crucible

It has been announced by the World Seniors Snooker Tour that seven-time world professional champion O’Sullivan, who is 50, will make his seniors debut at their flagship event which runs at the iconic Crucible venue in Sheffield between May 6-10.

This tournament takes place just days after the professional version finishes, meaning O’Sullivan could claim two global titles within a week.

However, arguably the sport’s greatest-ever player wouldn’t be the only stellar name in the seniors draw, with the competition set to host its biggest edition yet with a very glitzy line-up.

The five-day extravaganza - which will begin with two tables this year, and be live televised throughout by Channel 5 - also stars former champion Mark Williams who will be back in the event after a ten-year absence. The Welshman has pledged to donate any prize money he wins to a local hospice.

Other world professional champions Stuart Bingham and Ken Doherty will also return to the Crucible; Bingham will be making his debut in the event, while Doherty has been to the final in 2020 and 2024.

Former Masters and UK Champion Matthew Stevens, six-time ranking event winner Ali Carter, and 12-time world women’s champion Reanne Evans are also scheduled to be in the Championship for the first time.

The reigning World Seniors Snooker Champion is Alfie Burden, who defeated former winner Aaron Canavan in last year’s final. ‘The AB of London’ - who won the Snooker Shoot Out last December - will be back to defend the prestigious crown.

The most successful player in seniors snooker history is the ever-popular Jimmy White, who has won the world seniors title a record four times (2010, 2019, 2020, 2023) and been to a further two finals. The ten-time ranking event winner is also in the draw to try and make it a high-five of accolades.

Tony Drago, Robert Milkins, Peter Lines, Anthony Hamilton, Dominic Dale, and current Seniors British Open Champion Joe Perry have also been announced for the 24-player main draw which will also feature amateur players who will/have qualified via various international routes.

O’Sullivan’s playing schedule plans becoming clearer

World Seniors Snooker Tour Chairman Jason Francis is delighted that O’Sullivan will make his seniors bow on the biggest stage, saying: “The most commercially valuable player the sport has ever seen will make his Seniors debut at the Crucible in May in an attempt to add another world title to his CV — wow!

“We’ve already sold more tickets than we did for the entire event last year, and Ronnie’s participation is set to drive even greater demand”.

Currently living in Dubai, O’Sullivan’s playing schedule over the next few months is becoming clearer.

On the professional circuit, he recently played in back-to-back weeks on the World Snooker Tour at the German Masters in Berlin and the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, but opted out of last week’s Players Championship in Telford, despite having made the 16-player cut through the one-year ranking list.

It is expected that his next top flight engagement will be at the World Open held in Yushan, China in March, followed by the World Professional Snooker Championship in April/May where he will be going for a record eighth title at the Crucible.

But O’Sullivan also has a couple of other commitments away from the professional circuit. He will play alongside fellow ‘Class of 92’ graduates Williams and John Higgins, and fellow seven-time Crucible king Stephen Hendry at The John Virgo Trophy event staged in Goffs, Ireland across the weekend of April 11th and 12th.

Also in his diary for what looks like a busy spring on the baize for him is the inaugural Global Pluto Snooker 900 Championship that runs from May 12th-17th at the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Reading.