Supercomputer predicts 2024 World Snooker Championship as Ronnie O'Sullivan's chances rated

A supercomputer has predicted the outcome of the World Snooker Championship - and some big names miss out on the list of top five favourites to win the tournament.

Snooker's finest will descend on the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield next week for the biggest event on the sport's calendar.

The world's top 16, plus 16 qualifiers that were decided earlier this week, will compete for a prize pot which totals £2.5 million.

Reigning champion Luca Brecel will kick off the action on Saturday, with the Belgian taking on qualifier David Gilbert on the main table.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, meanwhile, takes on Jackson Page, while Judd Trump will do battle against Hossein Vafaei in one of the ties of the first round.

Neil Robertson would have been among the favourites to lift the trophy, despite a difficult season, but the Australian surprisingly failed to qualify after losing 10-9 to Jamie Jones on 'Judgement Day'.

Now, a supercomputer from MyBettingSites, alongside bet365, has predicted the outcome of the 2024 World Snooker Championship - and the five players most likely to win it.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the supercomputer tips O'Sullivan to win his record-breaking eighth World Championship at the Crucible, having enjoyed a superb season.

The 48-year-old has been given a 23.4 per cent chance of securing the crown once again, with Trump the second favourite at 15.8 per cent.

Mark Selby has been given an eight per cent of winning - despite threatening to retire if he carried on playing how he did to lose 10-8 to Gary Wilson at this month's Tour Championship.

Fourth favourite is world number three Mark Allen, while Tour Championship winner Mark Williams is down in fifth.

Those outside of the top five favourites include reigning champion Brecel, and three-time World Championship winner John Higgins.

Ding Junhui, who is aiming to become China's first-ever world champion, also isn't among the top five favourites, and faces a tricky first round draw against Jack Lisowski.