Zhao Xintong, the reigning snooker world champion, is set to defend his title at the Crucible Theatre. On May last year, he became China's first-ever snooker world champion.
What is the Crucible Curse?
The Crucible Curse refers to the streak where no first-time winner has successfully defended their title the following year, with 20 players attempting to do so since 1977.
Why is Zhao Xintong the perfect man to break the curse?
Zhao Xintong's fearless style of play and unruffled demeanor make him an ideal candidate to break the curse. He dominated last year's World Championship, with his closest match being a 13-10 victory over Lei Peifan in the second round.
What happened to previous champions?
Previous champions, including Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, have fallen short in their title defenses. Hendry suffered a shock 13-11 defeat in the quarter-finals to Steve James in 1991, while O'Sullivan lost 17-13 to Hendry in the semi-finals in 2002.
Zhao Xintong's path to the title was not easy, as he had to win four matches to qualify for the Crucible and was technically competing as an amateur after returning from a match-fixing ban.
The pressure of expectation from a population of 1.4 billion may be heavy, but Zhao Xintong has taken it in his stride. His ability to perform under pressure will be put to the test as he attempts to break the Crucible Curse.
The two men to come closest to breaking the curse are Joe Johnson and Ken Doherty, who both reached the final the year after their first world title but lost. Only four all-time greats, including Steve Davis and Mark Selby, have won back-to-back World Championships.
Zhao Xintong's bid to break the curse begins at the Crucible Theatre, where he will face stiff competition from other top players. His fearless style of play and ability to perform under pressure make him a strong contender to defend his title and make history.