Ronnie O'Sullivan makes embarrassing blunder entering Crucible at World Snooker Championship

However, upon entry into the arena, O'Sullivan got his bearings all wrong as he stepped forward for his match.

The Englishman made his way in when he was introduced as the "greatest player in history" and headed straight to table two.

But the Rocket was on table one, as he had to make a quick turn past where Lei Peifan and Wu Yize were sitting in their chairs.

Referee Rob Spender, who will take charge of the final at the start of May, pointed to his left to let the seven-time world champion know he had gone the wrong way.

Fans giggled as O'Sullivan made the error, with the Rocket sharing their humour, having a little laugh to himself.

The 50-year-old first-bumped referee Olivier Marteel before beginning the game.

BBC snooker presenter made a joke over the innocent mistake, saying: "Well, he's on the right table now and we are all ready for action. All eyes today on Ronnie's table."

The Rocket came under fire for not attending the Crucible photoshoot on Friday, with him and world number one Judd Trump both absent.

Former world champion Shaun Murphy criticised both O'Sullivan and Trump for their absence from the event.

When asked whether the no-shows could damage the image of snooker, Murphy responded: "I don't know about image problem. I think it might give those two a particular image problem. I think it might affect their image slightly.

"Once the public tag onto that themselves and realise that two of the biggest stars of the game weren't here for opening day, when everyone else has made the effort to be here... listen, it's a strange one.

"I don't know why they're not here. Their own decisions, aren't they?

"I've got no idea, but none of us are shocked by it. It would be more strange for us if they were here, which is saying something.

"It's a real shame and they probably could both have done a little bit more to help promote the game over the years."

The Rocket is seeking his eighth world title, to put him clear of Stephen Hendry at the top of the all-time list.

O'Sullivan's first World Championship came in 2001, winning his latest in 2022.

Murphy, who won in 2005, said: "I think it would be great for snooker if he did it. It would be great for him, obviously, to have the eight. It's the story everybody wants to write. It would be an incredible achievement.

"He is running out of time. He needs to do it sooner rather than later. But it's Ronnie O'Sullivan - you wouldn't put anything past him.

"It's the first tournament in a long time when he hasn't come in as clear favourite, but I have to say when I played him at the World Open a few weeks ago, he looked pretty sharp to me. He looks as good as ever from where I can see."

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