It is getting to that time of the season when the countdown really kicks in for the World Championship.
The 17 days of thrills and spills at Sheffield’s famous Crucible Theatre is edging closer.
The venue has been a happy hunting ground for many over the years. Snooker stars of recent generations have gone through the ups and downs at the small theatre.
But those who have been lucky enough to win the world title for the first time have failed to retain it a year later. It has since been referred to as the ‘Crucible Curse’.
The “curse” is so strong, it is a wonder that it hasn’t featured in a Harry Potter book.
Some of snooker’s greats of all time have been spellbound by the Crucible Curse – Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump have failed to win the year after landing the big trophy for a first time.
It’s best not to mention the Crucible Curse to Davis. After winning for the first time in 1981, the Nugget crumbled to a famous 10-1 first round thrashing by Tony Knowles the following year.
Dennis Taylor didn’t have a great time at Sheffield the year after that famous black ball final. He lost in the first round too the following year. And last season saw then defending champion Luca Brecel also crash out in the first round, losing to David Gilbert.
Can Kyren Wilson crack the Crucible Curse code?
Joe Johnson (1987) and Ken Doherty (1998) have come the closest to beating the Crucible Curse. Both going all the way to the final when defending their crown, but losing at the final hurdle.
In the coming months it will be Kyren Wilson’s turn to try and overcome the Crucible Curse. He impressively beat Jak Jones 18-14 to win his first world title last year.
And he appears to be in confident mood. Kyren Wilson has vowed to crack the “Crucible Curse” and is quoted in national news outlets as saying: “I will win the Worlds”.
Speaking after his defeat to Shaun Murphy in the Masters final, Wilson said: “My game is in fantastic shape, I have kicked on since becoming a world champion. I haven’t let it burden me. I have used it to inspire me.
“I’ve got this inner steel. I love playing at the Crucible. It suits my game, it suits my personality. I know how tough it is to win a world championship, but a lot of players go missing after winning it.
“I feel like it has inspired me, it has made me push my chest out a little bit at events. It has given me that inner confidence.”
The Warrior is playing unstoppable snooker at the moment and his brilliant spell got even better when he won the German Masters in Berlin last weekend, his third major trophy of the season.
The 33-year-old has been widely praised during an impressive season on tour following his victory in Sheffield last year. But it remains to be seen if he can crack the curse when the action begins on April 19.
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