Ronnie O’Sullivan bids for a record eighth title of the modern era while in-form Mark Allen attempts to break a desperate Crucible run as the World Snooker Championship returns to Sheffield on Saturday.
Here, the PA news agency picks out five players to watch, all of whom have the potential to lift the prestigious title on May Bank Holiday.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan could eclipse the record he holds with Stephen Hendry (PA Media)
Mark Allen
Mark Allen has had a stellar season but boasts a dreadful Crucible record (Adam Davy/PA)
Shaun Murphy
Shaun Murphy has reached three finals since winning the world title in 2005 (Gareth Copley/PA)
Mark Selby
Mark Selby represents a significant threat at the Crucible (Zac Goodwin/PA)
Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui is showing signs of a return to form (Isaac Parkin/PA)
