KYREN WILSON will be attempting to do what NO OTHER snooker player has managed since 1977.
The 33-year-old heads to the Steel City later this month and has his eyes set on defending his title.
He is in excellent form too, having picked up almost £1million in prize money already this season.
The world No 2 has won four ranking titles since his Crucible triumph in 2024, and doesn't just have the £500,000 prize money motivating him this year.
also has the potential to make history and be the first player to break the infamous Crucible curse.
Even legends like Ronnie O'Sullivan and could not escape its grip, and its got nothing to do with black cats, broken mirrors or walking under ladders.
What is the Crucible Curse in snooker?
The Crucible curse is the quip given to the fact that no first-time world champion has ever retained their crown the following year.
Since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977 it has cursed 19 players in a row with every debut champion crumbling under the pressure of ‘s grandest stage.
Some have come close though – Joe Johnson and Ken Doherty both made it to the final the year after their maiden victories – but most don't get anywhere near that far.
As recently as 2023, was doomed by the curse, losing in the first round of the 2024 tournament after winning the title the year before.
Brecel is not on his own though – seven champions have gone on to lose their first match the following year.
Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and have all managed to win consecutive titles at the Crucible, but they had won the championship previously.
Wilson returns to South Yorkshire as the reigning champion and is determined to lift the curse and posted .
In the video, Wilson jokingly completed some of the superstitions people believe to bring us bad luck, including smashing a mirror and holding his World Championship trophy next to a black cat.
How to watch the 2025 World Championship?
- Coverage from the Crucible gets underway on Saturday, April 19 and will be shown on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and on iPlayer.
- The .
- The final will take place on Monday, May 5.
- Fans will not miss a moment of the action, with every match available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app.
- Extended coverage will also be shown on BBC Two every night with fans able to tune in to Snooker Extra to see highlights from the days action.
- Alternatively, SunSport will live blog every single match over the whole tournament.
