Dennis Taylor names his two favourites to win World Snooker Championship

Former world champion Dennis Taylor sees two standout contenders at the Crucible this year and he is not expecting a new winner in Sheffield.

The biggest event on the snooker calendar gets underway on Saturday morning, with Zhao Xintong beginning the defence of the title he won 12 months ago.

The Cyclone stormed to his first world title, beating Mark Williams in the final and has enjoyed a brilliant season since conquering the Crucible.

His first campaign as world champ actually started pretty slowly, but burst into life in February and he has added three ranking titles to his collection since then.

Winning the World Grand Prix, Players Championship and Tour Championship in a matter of weeks has seen Zhao become a short-priced favourite to defend his title.

Taylor is on board with the bookmakers and fancies Zhao’s chances to break the Crucible curse by becoming the only first-time world champion to defend his title in Sheffield.

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The 1985 world champion can also see history being made this year in a different way, believing Ronnie O’Sullivan can go clear of Stephen Hendry by winning a record eighth Crucible title.

‘I’ll start with my two picks.

I think that Zhao Xintong is going to beat the Crucible Curse.

I think he’s going to be the first player to defend his title.

So that’s my tip to win it,’ Taylor said in an interview with BOYLE Sports, who offer snooker odds.

‘And the second tip would be Ronnie to beat Stephen Henry’s record.

‘He’s held every other record except for the number of world titles.

But to do it this year, he’s going to have to play at the top of his game because he could run into John Higgins in the second round.

And he can run into Zhao who beat him last year with a session to spare.

‘I didn’t think Ronnie would be able to claim another title until he got the two maximum breaks in Saudi and then he went and made 153.

‘He is still playing incredible snooker, and I am sure he’ll have put a lot of work in.

He didn’t play in the last tournament [Tour Championship].

‘So, he will give it a good run.

He’s running out of years really.

The standard is getting higher and higher.

But Zhao is my first choice, and Ronnie would be my second choice.’
O’Sullivan is without a ranking title since January 2024 and must be past his peak at 50 years old, but Taylor is still in awe of the Rocket.

‘He’s still the best that’s ever been, by a mile, head and shoulders above anybody else,’ said the 77-year-old.

‘I never thought anybody would be better than Steve Davis who dominated the game in the 80s.

He was the first one to practice for multiple hours and to dominate for 10 years.

But sure enough, Stephen Hendry came along and his long potting was better than Steve’s and he dominated the next 10 years.

‘It’s so difficult to dominate for that length of time.

What Ronnie has done in the game is incredible.

I’ve played against him and I just love commentating on him.

He’s been brilliant for the game.’
O’Sullivan, like every other Crucible champion, has fallen to the curse, but Taylor reckons Zhao has the mentality to make history.

‘He has got the temperament to blot all that out and he just loves playing snooker,’ Taylor said.

‘He’s a breath of fresh air.

I know he’s been around a few years, but he’s fantastic to watch and it’s going to make it such a terrific World Championship.

‘Zhao’s style is something else.

The way he strikes the ball, the power he creates without any effort whatsoever.

He’s got a wonderful cue action.’
After Thursday morning’s draw we know that O’Sullivan begins his campaign against Chinese debutant He Guoqiang on Tuesday, while Zhao starts his defence on Saturday morning against Liam Highfield.