Ronnie O’Sullivan’s opponent has secret weapon to beat him but must do something that’s happened just once in 20 years
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has found out who he will face in the opening round of the World Snooker Championship.
The Rocket is bidding to win a record eighth title at the Crucible after his record-equalling seventh triumph in 2022.
His first hurdle on course to that is Jackson Page.
Page, 22, is from Ebbw Vale, Wales, and only turned pro in 2019.
He has five amateur titles to his name, including the World Under-18 Snooker Championship title and the European title at both the Under-18 and Under-21 level.
Action is ranked No43 in the world and made his Crucible debut in 2022.
Page has actually played O’Sullivan twice before, losing both.
Their last meeting saw Page lose 4-1 to O’Sullivan in the last 64 of the English Open in 2023.
Inside Ronnie's colourful career
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan has three children – two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket’s on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous ‘Snotgate’ row.
Check out all our Ronnie O’Sullivan articles here.
However, Page has a secret weapon up his sleeve with a man who is more than familiar with O’Sullivan’s game.
Page is mentored by one of snooker’s Class of 92, Mark Williams.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER
The 49-year-old is a three-time world champion, with his crowns arriving in 2000, 2003 and 2018.
He is unique among his peers in that he was the first left-handed player to win the World Championship and is also the only player to win all three versions of it; the World Snooker Championship, the Six-red World Championship and the World Seniors Championship.
Williams is also in the draw and will be up against Si Jiahui.
There is also recent history between Williams and O’Sullivan, with the Welsh Potting Machine triumphing 10-5 in their match in the final of the 2024 Tour Championship earlier this month.
Regardless, historical precedent is against Page for the clash on April 24.
World No1 O’Sullivan has only been beaten once in 20 years in the opening round at the Crucible, when debutant James Cahill defeated the Rocket in the first round.
World Snooker Championship draw 2024
Here is the full draw for the Snooker World Championship:
Luca Brecel v David Gilbert
Robert Milkins v Pang Junxu
Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Shaun Murphy v Lyu Haotian
Mark Selby v Joe O’Connor
Kyren Wilson v Dominic Dale
John Higgins v Jamie Jones
Mark Allen v Robbie Williams
Judd Trump v Hossein Vafaei
Tom Ford v Ricky Walden
Zhang Anda v Jak Jones
Mark Williams v Si Jiahui
Ding Junhui v Jack Lisowki
Gary Wilson v Stuart Bingham
Barry Hawkins v Ryan Day
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Jackson Page
The first match from the Crucible will be on Sunday when defending champion Luca Brecel takes on David Gilbert.
May 6 is the date of the final, with a cool £500,000 up for grabs for the winner.
Although players eliminated in the first round will still claim £20,000.
You will be able to follow all the action from the World Snooker Championship with SunSport’s live blog here.
