Stephen Maguire sealed automatic qualification for the World Championship at the Crucible later this month by advancing to the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing.

Shaun Murphy powered through to the Betfred World Championship final and will vie for a second title after seeing off Barry Hawkins.

Ronnie O'Sullivan shrugged off a shock Crucible defeat as his exit from the Betfred World Championship threw the title race open.

Ronnie O'Sullivan came through his first test of the Betfred World Championship today but struggled to put his best foot forward.

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s rookie World Championship opponent fears Crucible humiliation before he even plays his first shot against the five-time winner.

Mark Selby knows he has to not only defeat 31 other players vying to cause an upset at the BetFred World Snooker Championship but he must also conquer the ’Curse of the Crucible’.

Mark Selby has been backed to win multiple Crucible titles after stunning Ronnie O’Sullivan to land his maiden triumph at the Dafabet World Championship.

Mark Selby has been backed to win multiple Crucible titles after stunning Ronnie O’Sullivan to land his maiden triumph at the Dafabet World Championship.

Ronnie O'Sullivan fell behind in the Dafabet World Championship final as the man he calls "the torturer" had him on the rack.

John Higgins labelled himself nothing more than “a journeyman” after a second successive first-round exit at the Dafabet World Championship.

John Higgins joined Ding Junhui on the Crucible casualty list as the four-time world champion was bundled out in Sheffield by his fellow Scot Alan McManus.

Ronnie O’Sullivan lifted the Betfair World Championship trophy for a fifth and perhaps last time tonight as he capped his comeback with Crucible glory.

Dennis Taylor claims there would be no tears shed among fellow players if Ronnie O'Sullivan carried out his latest threat to quit snooker.

Ronnie O’Sullivan looked invincible as he produced one of snooker’s great sessions in building a 7-1 lead over Stuart Bingham at the Betfair World Championship.

Shaun Murphy swept ahead in his Betfair World Championship quarter-final against Judd Trump as the Crucible saw the best of the Magician.

Ronnie O’Sullivan turned on the style just when he looked to be wobbling to stay ahead of Ali Carter in their Betfair World Championship second-round showdown.

John Higgins is today facing an uphill struggle to stay in the Betfair World Championship as the prospect of a major first-round upset loomed.

Stiffer tests lie ahead but Ronnie O’Sullivan returned to snooker today with a victory and a performance that suggests he will take some stopping in the Betfair World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will begin the defence of his Betfair World Championship title against Scotland’s Marcus Campbell.

Jimmy White is one win away from the Crucible after surviving his second qualifying match for the Betfair World Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan claims he has never known a Crucible campaign so gruelling but a fourth world title should be his reward tomorrow for lasting the pace.

Stephen Hendry believes it was the right time to retire from snooker after bowing out of the Betfred.com World Championship and bringing his record-breaking career to an end.

Ronnie O’Sullivan believes quiffed Crucible new boy Jamie Jones can carry off the Betfred.com World Championship title.

Stephen Hendry insisted he was not too old to be the Crucible’s best man again on a day when love was in the air at the Betfred.com World Championship.

A touch overambitious last week, wasn’t I, setting twin targets for Mark Allen — a world title and a place in our hearts. On both counts, I was quickly tucked up behind the yellow.

Stephen Hendry hit the front in his long-awaited first Crucible meeting with John Higgins as Scotland's big day in Sheffield arrived.

Judd Trump almost threw in the towel on his Crucible campaign before it even started.

Ronnie O’Sullivan turned the most keenly-anticipated first-round match at the Betfred.com World Championship into a procession as he surged 7-2 ahead of Peter Ebdon.

Mark Williams risks a rap from snooker chiefs after condemning the Crucible and saying the Betfred.com World Championship should be moved from Sheffield to China.

Ken Doherty is "over the moon" to be back in Sheffield for the Betfred.com World Championship after twice sampling the pain of missing out.

British potter Anthony Hamilton turned his angry attentions to a cameraman after his giant-killing run at the Shanghai Masters came to an end.

John Higgins came from behind to take a 3-2 lead over Judd Trump as the Crucible veteran and the young maestro began the Betfred.com World Championship final.

John Higgins kept his focus after being heckled by a Crucible spectator to set up a final showdown with Judd Trump at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Judd Trump might come a close second in the popularity stakes to Ding Junhui in China but in Sheffield it is a no-contest.

JOHN HIGGINS finished off Stephen Lee last night to pass his first test at the Betfred.com World Championship.

John Higgins finished off Stephen Lee tonight to pass his first test at the Betfred.com World Championship.

Mark Selby sealed a 10-1 first-round win over Crucible rookie Jimmy Robertson this afternoon at the Betfred.com World Championship.

John Higgins began what could be an emotional journey to a fourth Crucible title with a hint of early anxiety followed by a masterclass this evening.

Stephen Hendry has revealed he could quit snooker this summer even if he wins the Betfred.com World Championship for an eighth time.

Former Crucible runner-up Matthew Stevens booked a return to the World Snooker Championship with a nail-biting 10-9 victory over Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien in a match decided on the final black.

Stephen Hendry missed a big chance to develop a lead against Mark Selby and had to settle for a share of the first eight frames in their second-round clash at the Betfred.com World Championship.

MARK ALLEN last night backed Crucible legend Steve Davis to join him in the quarter-finals of the Betfred.com World Championship as the veteran’s gripping clash with John Higgins headed for a tense finish.

Steve Davis was bracing himself for a clash with reigning Crucible king John Higgins after becoming the oldest winner of a match at the Betfred.com World Championship for 21 years.

Former champion Shaun Murphy was in trouble against Crucible newcomer Andrew Higginson this morning.