The biggest event on Sheffield's sporting calendar returns this week as the greatest snooker stars from all over the world once again battle it out for World Championship glory.
Defending champion Zhao Xintong comes into the competition in excellent form after emphatic wins over Judd Trump and John Higgins in the Tour Championship. He’ll be full of confidence heading into this one, but will be wary of falling victim to what’s commonly referred to as the Crucible Curse, with no first time winner ever successfully defending their crown in Sheffield.
We’ve already seen plenty of shocks on Judgement Day such as 2023 winner Luca Brecel failing to qualify for the tournament. However, most of the other big names are still around, including many of the usual suspects for the title such as seven-winner Ronnie O’Sullivan, four-time winner Mark Selby and 2024 champion Kyren Wilson.
With all that in mind, we take a look at the 16 pre-tournament favourites and their chances of success, according to the bookmakers at Sky Bet. (Odds correct as of Thursday 16 April)
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5. Kyren Wilson - 11/1
Kyren Wilson fell victim to the Crucible curse last year, but will be looking to prove that he can win the World Championship again after his heroics in 2024. | Getty Images
6. Wu Yize - 14/1
China's immense investment in snooker at grassroots level has helped them to produce some fine talents in recent years, Wu Yize is another example of that. | Getty Images
7. Shaun Murphy - 18/1
He hasn't been named world champion since 2005, but Shaun Murphy has proven throughout his career he's capable of producing the spectacular. He last reached the final in 2021, losing to Mark Selby. | Getty Images
8. Neil Robertson - 20/1
Australian snooker star Neil Robertson is aiming to win the World Championship for the first time since 2010. | Getty Images