The world champ Luca Brecel is battling a mystery illness leading up to his defence today.
Brecel said: "I've lost my voice a couple of times and I've had headaches, a bit like Covid.
"It's been coming and going ever since the tournament in Saudi, but it's too big not to play in this one."
Brecel was seen coughing as the players joined up for a group picture this week.
And Brecel even found time to dine with fellow Belgian sporting sensational, Arsenal star Leandro Trossard.
While he also met rap superstar The Game, who he has a tattoo of on his arm.
Luca Brecel has enjoyed the high life over the past 12 months since winning the World Snooker Championship.
The Belgian Bullet was crowned King of Sheffield in May 2023 in remarkable fashion, despite no practice and having never won a match at the venue on previous visits.
Off the table, he has lived the high life, exploring the globe with his girlfriend Laura.
It all gets underway from The Crucible from 10am this morning with reigning champ Luca Brecel kicking us off against David Gilbert.
Then this afternoon Ali Carter gets his title tilt underway against Stephen Maguire.
We can't wait!
10am
Match 1: Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Match 11: Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
2:30pm
Match 3: Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Match 9: Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
7pm
Match 1: Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Match 10: Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
Ronnie O'Sullivan showed off his maverick nature in the iconic Crucible pre-World Championships picture.
The Rocket stood out from the pack with his choice of outfit which varied massively to the rest of the top 16 seeded snooker players.
While the likes of Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy were suited and booted, O'Sullivan went in a different direction.
10am
Match 5: Mark Selby v Joe O’Connor
Match 11: Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
2:30pm
Match 4: Shaun Murphy v Lyu Haotian
Match 9: Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
7pm
Match 3: Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Match 10: Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
10am
Match 1: Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Match 11: Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
2:30pm
Match 3: Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Match 9: Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
7pm
Match 1: Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Match 10: Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
Ronnie O'Sullivan claims his game has begun clicking - after months of criticising himself for grafting rather than crafting wins.
The Rocket, 48, told Sky Sports: "The last few days, I’ve started to play alright and so I’ve started to fancy the job.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if I win it but, equally, I wouldn’t be surprised if I lost first round.
"Snooker sometimes doesn’t make sense."
Eddie Hearn wants snooker to “embrace” investment from around the globe – amid pressure to switch the World Championships from the Crucible
Hearn’s Matchroom company own a majority stake in the World Snooker Tour.
And his frustration has grown over the “very small” Crucible venue – which can hold only 980 fans.
The Sheffield venue’s contract expires in 2027 – it’s 50th anniversary.
And Hearn told the BBC: “The tickets sell out instantly – you could sell it out four or five times, so it is difficult.
“We look at things that can continue to provide opportunities for our players, increase prize pools, grow and keep on evolving while also remembering the history of the sport, but that does not mean standing still.”
“Snooker does not need to just have to land in the UK or China.
“There are events consistently around the world and if there is going to be investment in different regions we need to embrace that.”
Seven-time world champ Ronnie O’Sullivan believes he could play until his mid-50s – after the 48-year-old admitted he though he was “finished at 35”.
The Rocket remains the man to beat, despite arguably swapping a bit of flair for solidity in his game.
“He told Sky Sports: “I still think I’ve got another one or two world titles in me.
“As long as I feel young around the snooker table, age is just a number.
“I thought I was finished at 35, but I’m still going at 48.
“I’ve still won a lot and I’m still [world] No 1, which is a bit of a miracle in itself.
“I’ve been going at it a long time and I still feel like I’ve got another five, six, seven good years in me.
“Who knows – as long as I’m still having fun and enjoying it.”
Crucible legend John Higgins claims he's got "stuck" and a "bit lazy" as a player.
But the four-time world champ is promising to try "something new"
He said: I’ve probably got stuck in a routine and got a bit lazy over the years and continually doing the same thing.
"Sometimes you just need something new to try and that’s what I’m doing.”
Luca Brecel reckons keeping calm is the key to a second successive world title.
The deserved but surprise 2023 Crucible king told SportsBoom.com: “It’s the same balls on the table as last year and I’m under no illusions that I can do it again
"But now I know how to win, I just to need to stay calm and hopefully I will play well.”
John Higgins admits he's running out of faith in his ability to land a fifth world title.
But aged 48, the world No13 is using a sports psychologist to put him in the best place possible mentally.
The Scot, in his 30th straight Crucible appearance, said: “The belief I can win it again is getting less and less, if I’m being totally honest.
"It’s getting harder and harder as the years go on. But you never give up do you.
"“I’ve spent 30 years going to the Crucible and it is where you really need that mental side.
"It’s a difficult tournament, it really is. It’s a very enjoyable tournament obviously because it’s your final tournament of the year, and you want to put everything into it."
Snooker's world champion Luca Brecel has revealed one big similarity with darts whizkid Luke Littler.
The Belgian, 29, believes he and the English 17-year-old are both happy to say how they'd spend major winnings!
Brecel told SportsBoom.com: "He’s very open with his approach.
"If he wins 200 grand, he’s not afraid to tell you he’s going to spend it on FIFA points, and I’m very much like that."
Ronnie O'Sullivan showed off his maverick nature in the iconic Crucible pre-World Championships picture.
The Rocket stood out from the pack with his choice of outfit which varied massively to the rest of the top 16 seeded snooker players.
While the likes of Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy were suited and booted, O'Sullivan went in a different direction.
He opted for a long-sleeved sweater in a more casual look as a picture was taken of the elite group.
O'Sullivan also paired the sweater with some trainers and a lumberjack coat.
Fans reacted to O'Sullivan's bold look on social media.
One posted: "Outfit is a stretch." A second commented: "The 'not a***d at all' look."
A third wrote: "Standing out of crowd deservedly."
A fourth said: "He is the best so he gets to do whatever he wants."
Mark Allen believes moving the World Championship from the Crucible might be a smart long-term move.
Bu the Northern Irishman also admits he is a "traditionalist" who loves the tournament's 47-year history at the tiny Sheffield venue.
Allen launches his title bid against Robbie Williams.
He told BBC Sport: "I love the history of the Crucible and everything that has happened there.
"I am a traditionalist in the sense that I love the long format and the proper test the World Championship brings, but things move on and change.
"If we go somewhere else and it means more money and it is better for the long-term future of the sport, why not move?
"If we are able to go to arenas that can hold triple what the Crucible can, why wouldn't we? I don't see a lot keeping us at the Crucible bar the history."
Defending champ Luca Brecel admits there are question marks over his preparation for this year's tournament - but insists he's in the "perfect place" mentally to triumph.
The Belgian top seed opens his Crucible bid against England's Dave Gilbert.
Brecel told SportsBoom.com: "I haven’t had the best preparation, I have been ill the past few weeks, and obviously haven’t qualified for a few events.
"But my mindset is really good. I’m in the perfect place to come here and win the tournament."
Seven-time world champ Ronnie O'Sullivan believes he could play until his mid-50s - after the 48-year-old admitted he though he was "finished at 35".
The Rocket remains the man to beat, despite arguably swapping a bit of flair for solidity in his game.
"He told Sky Sports: "I still think I’ve got another one or two world titles in me.
"As long as I feel young around the snooker table, age is just a number.
"I thought I was finished at 35, but I’m still going at 48.
"I’ve still won a lot and I’m still [world] No 1, which is a bit of a miracle in itself.
"I’ve been going at it a long time and I still feel like I’ve got another five, six, seven good years in me.
"Who knows - as long as I’m still having fun and enjoying it."
Ronnie O'Sullivan claims his game has begun clicking - after months of criticising himself for grafting rather than crafting wins.
The Rocket, 48, told Sky Sports: "The last few days, I’ve started to play alright and so I’ve started to fancy the job.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if I win it but, equally, I wouldn’t be surprised if I lost first round.
"Snooker sometimes doesn’t make sense."
Eddie Hearn wants snooker to "embrace" investment from around the globe - amid pressure to switch the World Championships from the Crucible
Hearn's Matchroom company own a majority stake in the World Snooker Tour.
And his frustration has grown over the "very small" Crucible venue - which can hold only 980 fans.
The Sheffield venue's contract expires in 2027 - it's 50th anniversary.
And Hearn told the BBC: "The tickets sell out instantly - you could sell it out four or five times, so it is difficult.
"We look at things that can continue to provide opportunities for our players, increase prize pools, grow and keep on evolving while also remembering the history of the sport, but that does not mean standing still."
"Snooker does not need to just have to land in the UK or China.
"There are events consistently around the world and if there is going to be investment in different regions we need to embrace that."
With the World Championships now less than 24 hours away BetMGM have shared their odds for who is in pole position to be crowned world champ at the Crucible.
Here's who looks favourite to win...
Dominic Dale has claimed his new girlfriend and her dad are one of the biggest reasons he has managed to qualify for this year's World Championship.
Dale, 52, has been drawn against 12th seed Kyren Wilson for his opener at the Crucible in one of many blockbuster ties that were pulled out of the hat.
Speaking after sealing his spot earlier this week, he said: "My new girlfriend Anne has made a big difference to my life because her dad Jean, who lives in France, loves watching snooker on Eurosport.
"Before she met me, Anne wouldn't have known what a snooker ball was but now she knows all about it.
"Between them they have convinced me to practise harder and I have done that this season, and had more focus in matches."
Sunday
10am
Match 5: Mark Selby v Joe O'Connor
Match 11: Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
2:30pm
Match 4: Shaun Murphy v Lyu Haotian
Match 9: Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
7pm
Match 3: Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Match 10: Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
It's a busy weekend for Snooker fans who can sit glued to their televisions to watch the world's best potters take a swing at etching their name in history.
We already know reining champ Luca Brecel is kicking things off with his match against David Gilbert, but who else will take to the table this weekend?
Here's a look at the action you can expect on Saturday and Sunday...
Saturday
10am
Match 1: Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Match 11: Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
2:30pm
Match 3: Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Match 9: Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
7pm
Match 1: Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Match 10: Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
The highly anticipated World Snooker Championship will get underway at the Crucible tomorrow.
All eyes will be on reining world champ Luca Brecel who takes to the table first in an attempt to retain his title.
The number one seed will take on qualifier David Gilbert at 10am.
Fans can watch the action on BBC or follow along with this blog to be up to date with all the major talking points.
