Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts after the morning session

O'Sullivan facing uphill struggle to avoid early exit

Reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan faces an uphill battle to stay in this year's World Snooker Championship as he trails Anthony McGill 10-6 after the second session of their second round match at the Crucible.

Snooker • 23 Apr 21

McGill wipes out Rocket lead at Crucible

Anthony McGill clawed back a three-frame deficit to tie defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan at 4-4 after the first session of their second-round match at the World Snooker Championship.

Snooker • 22 Apr 21

Williams is a three-time winner at the Crucible

Williams unhappy with 'farcical' WPBSA interference

Mark Williams blasted a bid to ban his controversial break-off technique after cruising into the second round of the World Snooker Championship with a 10-4 victory over qualifier Sam Craigie.

Snooker • 21 Apr 21

Trump maintains number one ranking with comfortable win

Judd Trump confirmed his status as world number one for the start of next season after sweeping into the second round of the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield, but believes it is only a matter of time before a new superstar emerges to re-write the record books.

Snooker • 21 Apr 21

The four-time champion won six frames on the trot to advance

Crucible pressure still getting to Higgins despite win

John Higgins blamed the suffocating Crucible pressure for his poor performance despite battling his way into the second round of the World Snooker Championship with a 10-7 win over China's Tian Pengfei.

Snooker • 19 Apr 21

Neil Robertson is considered one of the top contenders, along with Judd Trump and Ronnie O'sullivan, for this year's crown

Robertson embracing expectations at World Championship

Neil Robertson has vowed to take nothing for granted after underscoring his status as one of the favourites for this year's World Snooker Championship by brushing aside Liang Wenbo at the Crucible.

Snooker • 18 Apr 21

Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts after playing a shot as Mark Joyce (R) looks on

Ronnie fears fans could derail world title defence

Ronnie O'Sullivan gave the returning Crucible fans a treat by firing three consecutive centuries to wrap up a first-round win over Mark Joyce – but he fears their overenthusiasm could wreck his bid for a seventh world crown.

Snooker • 17 Apr 21

O'Sullivan won his sixth world title last year

Rocket views bid for magnificent seven as 'anti-climax'

Ronnie O'Sullivan insists he could not care less about the prospect of equalling Stephen Hendry's record of seven Crucible crowns as he prepares to begin the defence of his world snooker title.

Snooker • 16 Apr 21

Ken Doherty and a full crowd at Goffs, during Ireland's golden age of snooker

Irish snooker starting on long road back to glory days

From box office to struggling on the ropes, is Irish snooker's decline terminal or can the game move away from its nadir in this country? Peter Branigan takes a look at snooker in Ireland.

Snooker • 17 Apr 21

Snooker's path to Crucible drama and beyond

Ahead of this year's World Championship, we chart snooker's history from its origins in India to the many characters who have illuminated the game since.

Snooker • 16 Apr 21

Ronnie O'Sullivan is the defending champion

Could Rocket's record bid be scuppered by Robertson?

Just eight months have passed since Ronnie O'Sullivan eased away from Kyren Wilson to claim his sixth World Snooker Championship crown in front of a socially distanced crowd at the Crucible.

Snooker • 12 Apr 21

Brown has only reached the Crucible once before

Brown aims to end dream season with trip to Crucible

After claiming his first ranking title earlier this season in Wales, Jordan Brown tells RTÉ Sport that he wants to cap off his season with a second trip to the Crucible.

Snooker • 11 Apr 21

Gerard Greene keeps World Championship hopes alive

Gerard Greene battled past James Cahill 6-5 in the second qualifying round for the World Snooker Championship on Friday evening.

Snooker • 09 Apr 21

Hendry's hopes of Crucible return ended by Xu Si

Stephen Hendry's hopes of returning to the Crucible were dashed by a 6-1 defeat to China's Xu Si in the World Championship second qualifying round in Sheffield.

Snooker • 07 Apr 21

Ken Doherty has to win two frames tonight

Doherty falls at first hurdle in Crucible qualifiers

Ken Doherty's hopes of playing in this year's World Championships are over after he suffered a 6-4 qualifier defeat to Lee Walker in the first round.

Snooker • 07 Apr 21

Hendry sees off Jimmy White in World C'ship qualifier

Twenty-seven years after dashing Jimmy White's dreams in their fourth World Championship final, Stephen Hendry returned to haunt his former foe once again with a 6-3 comeback win in Sheffield.

Snooker • 05 Apr 21

Hendry: Pressure is all on White ahead of qualifier

Stephen Hendry is relaxed about the prospect doling out one final snooker indignity to his great rival Jimmy White when the pair meet again in the first qualifying round for the World Championships in Sheffield on Monday.

Snooker • 05 Apr 21

This is Hill's third attempt to qualify for the World Championships (Pic: WST Twitter)

Hill hoping to do some 'damage' at World qualifiers

Cork teenager Aaron Hill will begin his third attempt to qualify for the World Snooker Championships on Wednesday morning against Ashley Hugill in Sheffield.

Snooker • 06 Apr 21

Doherty last played at the Crucible in 2014

Hendry gets White as Irish players learn qualifier fate

The eight Irish players who will compete in next month's World Snooker Championship qualifiers learned their fate this afternoon, while the draw of the first round will see seven-time champion Stephen Hendry take on Jimmy White.

Snooker • 24 Mar 21

O'Sullivan has rediscovered his zest as he closes in on another world crown

Seven-frame surge has O'Sullivan on the brink of title

Ronnie O'Sullivan reeled off seven frames in succession to move to the brink of joining Steve Davis and Ray Reardon as a six-time world champion at the Crucible.

Snooker • 16 Aug 20

Taylor hopeful of a close finish at World Championship

Dennis Taylor tells RTÉ Radio 1's he expects Sunday's concluding sessions of the World Snooker Championship to be at a higher standard than what was seen on Saturday, and Ronnie O'Sullivan to claim title number six.

Snooker • 16 Aug 20

Hendry declares final 'over' as O'Sullivan moves ahead

Stephen Hendry pronounced this year's World Snooker Championship final a done deal after Ronnie O'Sullivan built a 6-2 lead over Kyren Wilson at the end of an underwhelming opening session on Saturday.

Snooker • 15 Aug 20

'I get it from a cash perspective – there's quite a few quid to make out there'

O'Sullivan brands decision on crowds 'irresponsible'

Ronnie O'Sullivan has branded the decision to allow fans back into the Crucible for the World Championship final this weekend "irresponsible" and motivated by financial gain.

Snooker • 15 Aug 20

The three-time World Champion reeled off five frames on the trot

Williams sets the early tempo against O'Sullivan

Mark Williams hit form to build a commanding 6-2 lead in his Betfred World Championship quarter-final showdown with five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Snooker • 10 Aug 20

There were no positive Covid-19 tests in the second round of testing

World Snooker Championship Covid-19 tests all clear

The second round of coronavirus testing at the World Snooker Championship has returned no positive results.

Snooker • 10 Aug 20