Ronnie O’Sullivan could be handed one of the hardest World Championship draws possible despite being a second seed.
The 12-man Tour Championship in Manchester takes place next week in the penultimate event of the season before the World Championships in Sheffield.
Only three of the final seedings are known ahead of the Crucible, with defending champion Luca Brecel the top seed, Mark Selby seeded fifth and Robert Milkins the 16th seed.
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As the provisional rankings stand however O'Sullivan and Judd Trump are on a collision course to meet in the semi-finals in Sheffield.
O'Sullivan is seeded to meet Barry Hawkins in the second round before coming up against 2005 world champion and three-time Crucible finalist Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals.
Moreover, if he landed 2010 world champion Neil Robertson as a qualifier in the draw for the first round it could potentially be a minefield for the 41-time ranking event winner.
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O'Sullivan has won the world title on seven occasions and is just one triumph away from overtaking Stephen Hendry as the most prolific world champion of the modern era.
However, a lot can change regarding World Championship seedings at the Tour Championship.
In Manchester, Judd Trump is the Tour’s top seed with O'Sullivan the second seed. Both are guaranteed £30,000 from starting their respective title bids in the quarter-finals.
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Trump knows he will return to world No.1 for the first time since 2021 if he wins the Tour Championships outright or if he reaches the final and O'Sullivan loses in the semi-finals or earlier.
Meanwhile, world No.1 O’Sullivan has held the top spot since his Crucible triumph against Trump two years ago and will retain his place at the summit if he secures the Tour trophy or goes further in Manchester than his rival.
He would also retain his No.1 status ahead of the World Championships if Trump fails to reach the final.
Whoever ends the tournament has World No.1 would be seeded second at the Crucible.
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Elsewhere, Champions of Champions winner Mark Allen could also become World No.1 and be seeded second at the Crucible if he wins the Tour Championship and O'Sullivan and Trump fail to reach the final in Manchester.
Such a scenario would leave O'Sullivan as third seed and Trump as fourth seed in Sheffield.
Topics: Snooker, Ronnie OSullivan
Chris Byfield