Ronnie O'Sullivan arrives at the Crucible ahead of record-breaking World Snooker Championship bid

Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan was seen in the corridors of the grand South Yorkshire venue on Sunday afternoon as he put work in on the practice table in preparation for his opening round match against Chinese debutant He Guoqiang that begins on Tuesday afternoon.

It represented a rare appearance for 'The Rocket' on UK soil this season. O'Sullivan - who has been residing in Dubai, but more recently in Ireland - has played only one competitive match at 'home' this season since last year's world championship.

And that visit was a flying one when he lost to Zhou Yuelong in round one of the 2025 UK Championship at the start of December in York.

All of O'Sullivan's other top flight engagements over the past several months have come either in the Middle East or China.

Last August, the Englishman made two maximum 147 breaks during the same semi-final match against Chris Wakelin en route to reaching the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah. He was denied the title, though, by Neil Robertson in a deciding frame.

The record 41-time ranking event winner is without a trophy on the World Snooker Tour in over two years. His last ranking crown arrived at the World Grand Prix in January 2024.

However, O'Sullivan has travelled to Sheffield in very decent form following a couple of positive weeks on the green baize.

At last month's World Open ranking event in Yushan, China, the 50-year-old compiled a world record 153 break in the quarter-finals against Ryan Day.

O'Sullivan went on to make the final where he was only stopped by an inspired Thepchaiya Un-Nooh who hit a 147 at the business end of that contest.

Last week, at the iconic Goffs venue in Kildare, Ireland, O'Sullivan won The John Virgo Trophy after whitewashing fellow 'Class of 92' graduate John Higgins 6-0 in the final.

That was an independently-run competition away from the professional circuit, but nevertheless a timely confidence booster with the Crucible peeking around the corner.

After that triumph, O’Sullivan reportedly stayed on the Emerald Isle, not attending either Thursday night’s ‘Crucible Champions’ Dinner’ or Friday’s world championship media day in Sheffield. But his playing participation at the 2026 World Snooker Championship now appears to be assured.

O’Sullivan set to extend his record Crucible appearances streak

During his rookie season, O’Sullivan won ten consecutive qualifying round matches - as a 16-year-old - to reach the main stages of the 1993 World Championship held at the Crucible several months later.

Despite spells of inactivity throughout his long, illustrious career, the record 23-time Triple Crown event winner has always played in the sport’s flagship extravaganza.

This year will be his 34th Crucible excursion - all of those coming consecutively since his aforementioned debut in 1993. That puts him top of the all-time appearances list ahead of Higgins who is on 32.

O’Sullivan’s 2026 World Snooker Championship challenge starts against world number 47 He, who won two qualifying round matches at the English Institute of Sport earlier this month to book a debut Crucible ticket.

He, who is 25-years-old, was the World Snooker Tour’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ award winner two years ago.

Part of a record-breaking 11-strong Chinese player contingent in this year’s main draw, He represents a banana skin for O’Sullivan having defeated him twice before. However, O’Sullivan won their most recent encounter in the last 64 of the 2024 International Championship.

The last of O’Sullivan’s seven world titles came in 2022 when he defeated Judd Trump 18-13 in the final.

Since then, he has lost in back-to-back quarter-finals, and in last year’s semi-finals to eventual champion Zhao Xintong.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.