Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Barry Hearn wants talks with Sheffield City Council over the Crucible's future

Hearn issues warning over Crucible future

Barry Hearn has warned Sheffield City Council its days of staging the World Snooker Championship are numbered unless the Crucible is ripped down and replaced with a bigger capacity venue.

Snooker • 24 Apr 24

Ronnie O'Sullivan is just two frames away from victory over Jackson Page

O'Sullivan pummels Page in first session in Sheffield

Ronnie O'Sullivan roared out of the blocks in his quest to become the first eight-time world champion in the modern era as he built an 8-1 lead over Jackson Page in the first session of their first round match at the Crucible.

Snooker • 24 Apr 24

Mark Williams fell at the first hurdle for the fifth time in 26 Crucible campaigns

Updated Williams unsure of Crucible return after defeat

Three-time champion Mark Williams admitted he does not know whether he has played his last World Snooker Championship match after he suffered a dramatic 10-9 defeat to Si Jiahui in the first round.

Snooker • 24 Apr 24

Hossein Vafaei had harsh words for the Crucible

Vafaei slams 'smelly' Crucible after making his exit

Hossein Vafaei strongly criticised the conditions at the Crucible after crashing out of the World Snooker Championship in a 10-5 defeat by former champion Judd Trump.

Snooker • 21 Apr 24

Luca Brecel defeated Mark Selby 18–15 in last year's final

Brecel under the weather ahead of World title defence

Defending champion Luca Brecel has been battling a mystery illness in the build-up to his return to the World Snooker Championship on Saturday.

Snooker • 19 Apr 24

Ronnie O'Sullivan is attempting to become the fourth player to complete the Triple Crown in the same season

O'Sullivan to play Page in first round at the Crucible

History-chasing Ronnie O'Sullivan will start the World Snooker Championship against Jackson Page as reigning champion Luca Brecel faces David Gilbert.

Snooker • 18 Apr 24

Hawkins back at the Crucible with a point to prove

Barry Hawkins will return to the Crucible this year convinced he has proved a point to those who questioned whether he still had the hunger to pursue a second appearance in a World Snooker Championship final.

Snooker • 17 Apr 24

Jack Lisowski had a comfortable win over Matthew Stevens

Lisowski and Bingham book World Championship spots

Jack Lisowski booked his place back at the Crucible with a 10-3 win over two-time former finalist Matthew Stevens in the final qualifying round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Snooker • 16 Apr 24

Aaron Hill lost in the third round qualifiers for the second year in a row

Hill's Crucible dream ended by Selt

Aaron Hill's bid to reach the World Snooker Championships has been ended by Matthew Selt on a 10-3 scoreline in Sheffield.

Snooker • 15 Apr 24

Ronnie O'Sullivan is the tournament favourite as he bids for an eighth crown

O'Sullivan calls for Worlds to be moved from Crucible

Ronnie O'Sullivan has called for the World Snooker Championship to be moved from the Crucible, naming Saudi Arabia and China as possible alternatives.

Snooker • 14 Apr 24

Fergal O'Brien had been a professional for over 30 years

Curtain comes down on O'Brien's career after defeat

Fergal O'Brien was beaten 10-8 by Mostafa Dorgham in a World Snooker Championship qualifying first round match in Sheffield in what proved to be the final night of his career.

Snooker • 10 Apr 24

The World Championships will be Fergal O'Brien's last tournament as a pro

O'Brien fully focused as he prepares to take final bow

Fergal O'Brien tells RTÉ Sport that he has his 'business head on' ahead of the start of the qualifiers for this year's Wold Snooker Championship, in what will be his final tournament as a professional.

Snooker • 08 Apr 24

"I just didn't fancy winning this final"

Brecel 'not going to go wild' after Crucible triumph

Luca Brecel withstood a stirring fightback from Mark Selby to clinch a dramatic 18-15 victory and become the first player from mainland Europe to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

Snooker • 01 May 23

The four-time champion finished strongly at the end of the second session

Selby hits 147 as he reels in Brecel at the Crucible

Mark Selby made the first maximum break in a World Snooker Championship final as he reeled off the final three frames of an exhilarating opening day to trail Belgium's Luca Brecel 9-8 overnight at the Crucible.

Snooker • 01 May 23

Brecel completes greatest comeback in Crucible history

Luca Brecel produced the greatest ever Crucible comeback as he won 11 frames in a row against Si Jiahui to book his place in the World Snooker Championship final.

Snooker • 29 Apr 23

Mark Allen rallies to boost World hopes against Selby

Mark Allen won three of the final four frames to stay within one of Mark Selby in their scrappy World Championship semi-final.

Snooker • 29 Apr 23

Mark Selby has won four frames on the trot to take the lead

'It was not pretty' – Allen and Selby semi criticised

Stephen Hendry criticised Mark Selby and Mark Allen for casting a "dark cloud" over the Crucible after the second session of their World Championship semi-final was halted three frames earlier than scheduled in Sheffield.

Snooker • 28 Apr 23

Ronnie O'Sullivan congratulates Luca Brecel after the Belgian fought back to beat him

Misfiring Rocket beaten by booze-loving Brecel

Seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is out of the World Championship after losing 13-10 to Luca Brecel.

Snooker • 26 Apr 23

Ronnie O'Sullivan grimaces during his quarter-final against Luca Brecel

O'Sullivan forges clear at Worlds despite frustrations

Ronnie O'Sullivan repelled a fightback from Luca Brecel to move three frames away from a place in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Snooker • 25 Apr 23

Mark Selby remains on track to regain the title he won in 2021

Updated Selby eases past Wilson to set up date with Higgins

Mark Selby saw off Gary Wilson 13-7 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship and keep alive hopes of a fifth title.

Snooker • 24 Apr 23

Hossein Vafaei proved no match for Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sheffield

Rocket humbles Vafaei at the Crucible

Ronnie O'Sullivan turned his so-called grudge match against Hossein Vafaei into a demolition job as he won their second round match at the World Snooker Championship 13-2 with a session to spare.

Snooker • 22 Apr 23

Mark Allen will face Neil Robertson or Jak Jones in the quarter-finals

Allen seals win over Bingham to reach Crucible quarters

Antrim's Mark Allen is through to quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship for the first time since 2018 after a 13-4 win against 2015 champion Stuart Bingham.

Snooker • 23 Apr 23

Underdog Si comes back to haunt Murphy

Si Jiahui held his nerve in a seesawing final-frame shootout to clinch another famous upset victory over Shaun Murphy and a spot in the second round of the World Snooker Championship.

Snooker • 21 Apr 23

Anthony McGill: 'I fancy beating anyone to be honest. I like these long matches'

Former champ Trump in early Crucible exit, Wilson 147

Judd Trump became the biggest casualty of the 2023 World Snooker Championship after falling to a 10-6 first-round defeat against Glasgow's former semi-finalist Anthony McGill.

Snooker • 23 Apr 23

The 151st Open will take place at Royal Liverpool in July

Open confident protest disruption will be prevented

Open organisers admit it will be "challenging" to prevent protesters disrupting this year's championship at Royal Liverpool but have expressed confidence in their "robust" security arrangements.

Golf • 19 Apr 23