The World Championship starts tomorrow. You may have heard. Our new episode of Talking Snooker previews the tournament, including a look at every first round match to come.

open.spotify.com/episode/0l9xlk…

#TalkingSnooker

Phil Haigh Talking Snooker Enjoyed the pod! It’s funny when nick said that Brecel had a “free hit” I thought of Joe Johnson in 87. He had poor season, nearly lost 1st round but made final and put up a good fight in against Davis. Like brecel he got a pretty favourable, feels similar. Nick Metcalfe

Perfect way to prepare for the beginning of the #CazooWorldChampionship by listening to Talking Snooker's preview of the tournament, brilliant listen and have to say, agree with the guys that John Higgins is particularly vunerable this year but wouldn't write him off yet👍

Eddie Hearn: 'The problem is the Crucible is very small. The tickets sell out instantly. You could sell it out four or five times, so it is difficult. If there is an opportunity to drastically change the prize structure of the World Championship, for me you have to look at that.'

This lot were wandering around Sheffield. A couple of them looked quite confused to be honest. Anyway, now someone has asked them to sit together and pose for a photograph. What a strange afternoon.

Here we go!

I love the way we all act as if the old table game gives us licence to behave how we please for the next two weeks.

'I've told my friends and family I won't be available until May 7th. And I'm not doing any household chores for the entirety of Gary Wilson v Stuart Bingham.'

Snooker fans everywhere are once again, quite correctly, wishing each other a Happy Crucible Eve.

Sheffield's legendary 17-day championship of the world begins tomorrow.

The Crucible debate is raging this year, so I rustled up a string of opinions on the future of the World Championship.

Luca Brecel, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Steve Davis, John Virgo, Kyren Wilson, Shaun Murphy, Ronnie O'Sullivan and more have their say.

metro.co.uk/2024/04/19/fut…

Talking Snooker I'm settled in. Impressed by the Labour landslide/Dominic Dale crossover!

Before they were drawn together, Dave Gilbert made this passionate speech on why Luca Brecel should be a snooker superstar

'What Luca did last year was by far the greatest snooker thing I have ever seen.

'He should be the main focus of everything.'

👇

metro.co.uk/2024/04/18/dav…

'I'm not particularly happy with the timing. I think WST have been emboldened, partly because they've had a nice comfy run on this.'

My views on a deepening of the alliance between snooker and Saudi Arabia on Talking Snooker:

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tal…

#TalkingSnooker

It's only the bloody World Championship!!

Big couple of Judgement Days, a beauty of a draw, we have a chat about all things Crucible.

open.spotify.com/episode/0l9xlk…

One of our biggest episodes of the season at Talking Snooker, as Phil Haigh and I look ahead to 17 magical days and nights at the Crucible.

Our World Championship preview is live everywhere now, including here from Spotify:

open.spotify.com/episode/0l9xlk…

#Snooker

Phil and Nick look ahead to the World Championship in one of our biggest episodes of the season.

We'd love to have your company. Feel free to react to this and keep your thoughts coming throughout the tournament- [email protected]

open.spotify.com/episode/0l9xlk…

#TalkingSnooker

Magical World Championship is among sport's finest treasures.

I've written this column from the heart about the Crucible marathon for Sport on Sporting Life. I hope this old ticker of mine delivered the goods.

sportinglife.com/snooker/news/m…

#Snooker

Trump vs Vafaei, Bullet vs Farmer, Ding vs Jackpot, Captain vs Maguire, Williams vs Si some lovely highlights of a tasty World Championship draw.

metro.co.uk/2024/04/18/wor…

Well, after all that drama let me remind everyone that the World Championship draw is coming up soon. It's on Radio 5 Live from 8.30am tomorrow morning. It will be available to listen worldwide on the BBC Sounds app and you can also watch it on the BBC Sport website.

#Snooker

Hossein Vafaei, Si Jiahui, David Gilbert, Jackson Page, Pang Junxu, Jamie Jones, Ryan Day and Joe O'Connor have all qualified for the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

Scores and news from snooker.org and WST.

#Snooker

Joe O'Connor gets his 10-8 win over Matt Selt finished after a LONG last frame that ticked past 107 minutes.

The 16 qualifiers are set, the draw comes tomorrow!

metro.co.uk/2024/04/17/wor…