World Snooker Championship 2024

Crucible curse in your face!

I am reliably informed that the last player who won the World Championship for the first time then went on to win his opening match the following year was Judd Trump who was champion in 2019 and beat Tom Ford in his opening match in 2020.

Luca Brecel joins the likes of Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor and Neil Robertson as one of the players who failed to win their opening match the following year after winning the World Championship for the first time.

The last player to retain the World Championship after winning it for the first time was John Pullman in 1964, but the tournament wasn't held at the Crucible in those days it was held mostly in Burroughes Hall, Norwich.