When is Ronnie O'Sullivan playing at the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible?

Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a record-extending 34th Crucible appearance when he competes at the 2026 World Snooker Championship.

Widely acknowledged as snooker’s greatest-player of all-time, O’Sullivan made his Crucible debut in 1993 - during his rookie season as a professional - and has featured on the grand stage every year since.

The 50-year-old Englishman is attempting to win a record eighth world snooker title in the modern era, outright eclipsing fellow seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry with whom he currently holds the record with.

The latest of O’Sullivan’s seven world crowns came in 2022 when he defeated Judd Trump in the final. Last year, he reached the semi-finals, but was soundly dismissed by eventual champion Zhao Xintong who had a session to spare.

It has been a frustrating couple of years for O’Sullivan on the professional circuit having not lifted a trophy of any description since March 2024, with his last ranking accolade coming a couple of months before that.

However, there are reasons for his huge fanbase to he hopeful over the coming weeks due to ‘The Rocket’ showing real signs of form during his last outing on the World Snooker Tour at the World Open in Yushan, China.

O’Sullivan won five consecutive matches in the Far East - fashioning a world record break of 153 en route - to reach the final where he was only denied the title by an inspired Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Away from the professional scene, the record 41-time ranking event winner recently won The John Virgo Trophy in Ireland.

Who is O’Sullivan playing in the first round and when?

Currently number 12 in the world rankings, this is the 31st successive year that O’Sullivan will be a seeded player at the Crucible. That meant he didn’t have to attend the recent qualifying rounds held elsewhere in Sheffield in order to earn a spot in the main draw.

In round one, O’Sullivan has been drawn to face China’s He Guoqiang who is one of four Crucible debutants this year.

He - who is 25-years-old - is playing in his third season on the professional snooker circuit. Two years ago he won the World Snooker Tour’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ award.

The current world number 48 had lost in the final qualifying round in each of the last two years, but jumped the last hurdle this time after defeating reigning Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski, 10-5.

O’Sullivan and He have met three times on the top flight before - all those encounters came in 2024.

He won their opening two matches at the Championship League Ranking Event (3-0 win) and the English Open (4-2), although O’Sullivan came out on top in their most recent tie at the International Championship (6-2).

The round one match between O’Sullivan and He at the 2026 World Snooker Championship will begin on Tuesday 21st April at 14:30BST. This opening session is set to feature nine frames.

The duo will then return the following afternoon (Wednesday 22nd April from 14:30BST) when they are scheduled to complete the match.

Should O’Sullivan come through this opening assignment, he would face either John Higgins or Ali Carter in the last 16 later in the week.

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