Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is on course for the Triple Crown this season in snooker, after winning the Masters at the Alexandra Palace in London. The Rocket was also successful in the UK Championship back in December, so he just needs a victory at the Crucible in May to complete the set of major trophies.
🚨 Ronnie O’Sullivan WINS Masters snooker final in thrilling encounter
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) January 14, 2024
O’Sullivan defeated Ali Carter 10-7 in the final of the Masters. He trailed his rival 3-6 in the second session of that contest, but he produced a stunning comeback to get his hands on the trophy for an eighth time.
The Rocket the One to Beat at The Crucible
Despite being 48 years old now, O’Sullivan remains at the top of his sport. He’s currently priced as the +350 favorite in the outright markets by Paddy Power sports betting for the 2024 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. As it stands, the odds calculator shows a £10 bet on the world number one will generate around a £45 return.
Ultimately, O’Sullivan’s rivals will need to up their game if they’re to prevent him from winning the Triple Crown for the first time in his career.
This veteran knows, better than any player in the sport, what’s required to lift the trophy at the Crucible at the end of the 17-day marathon. He won the tournament for a seventh time in 2022 when he defeated Judd Trump in the final, with more details in the BBC match report.
The UK Championship and Masters champion plans to take two months off before the World Snooker Championship. He’s played a lot of snooker this season, so he’s choosing to bypass the German Masters, Welsh Open, Players Championship, and World Open.
O’Sullivan has already qualified for the Tour Championship. The top eight players on the one-year money list will contest the tournament in Manchester in early April. This is the final event on the World Snooker Tour calendar before the World Snooker Championship.
Trump And Selby the Likely Challengers to Seven-Time Winner
25 RANKING TITLES 🏆@juddtrump beats Ali Carter 10-7 to win the inaugural Wuhan Open!#WuhanOpen pic.twitter.com/nIW4otFM52
— WST (@WeAreWST) October 15, 2023
Former Crucible winners Trump and Mark Selby are considered two of the biggest challengers to O’Sullivan’s Triple Crown bid. Trump has won three tournaments this season, with success coming in the English Open, Wuhan Open, and Northern Ireland Open.
The Ace in the Pack is second behind O’Sullivan in the world rankings and may need to win the world title to leapfrog the Rocket into first place in the standings. He’s a three-time Crucible finalist, with his sole success in the tournament coming in 2019.
Only seven players in history have won the World Snooker Championship more times than Selby. The four-time winner is often at his best during the tournament, with the longer matches suiting his game.
The former world number one was beaten by Luca Brecel in the final last season. This year will be his 20th appearance in the tournament. The best he has fared so far this season is the runner-up at the British Open back in October. He was beaten in the final by Mark Williams in Cheltenham.
The 2024 World Snooker Championship takes place between the 20th April and the 6th of May. It’s the 48th edition at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
