Ronnie O'Sullivan continues to be snooker's superstar and the main attraction at every event he plays in.
That will be the case once again this week at the 2024 World Snooker Championships when he takes on Jackson Page in the first round.
The 48-year-old continues to be box office whenever he steps out to perform on the green baize.
Fans - and players - never quite know what to expect from O'Sullivan. He could step out and blow the best players out of the water. Or he could look completely uninterested and exit the tournament in a whimper.
This season has been more of the former with O'Sullivan winning five titles, two of which came in the other Triple Crown events.
Nobody can match his win percentage record this season with just eight losses in 49 competitive matches that he's entered.
Ronnie O'Sullivan clashed with Ali Carter in 2018
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He heads into the 2024 World Snooker Championships with plenty of confidence, admitting recently he's not 'going to give up' without a fight.
He's proven in the past that could be meant in the literal sense in previous years.
O'Sullivan has been involved in a number of spats over the years but none seem more frosty than his relationship with Ali Carter.
The two former practice partners famously came to blows at the Crucible in 2018 when O'Sullivan appeared to shoulder barge into Carter during their second-round contest.
The pair exchanged words before Carter went on to win the match 13-9.
They both downplayed the incident afterwards, but there was still clearly bad blood between the two in the ensuring years.
In 2020, O'Sullivan denied Carter's claim that he apologised over the shoulder barge incident.
"I didn’t apologise to Ali," O'Sullivan said. "I just said, 'Look, let’s move on, let’s not hold any grudges over it'.
"I still feel that I was in the right, so that apology that they say that I said was definitely not an apology.
"More like, 'Let’s just move on, it was what it was and it doesn’t really matter. I’ve got to see you around tournaments, you’ve got to see me, we might as well say hello to each other so let’s just break the ice'.
"The pair came to blows in an explosve affair earlier this year in the final of the Masters, what was dubbed 'snotgate'.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ali Carter barged shoulders
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O'Sullivan was branded 'disgusting' by Carter afterward for 'snotting all over the floor', comments which infuriated the seven-time world champion.
"He needs to sort his f***ing life out. I’m not going to skirt around it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells around someone like that. He’s a f***ing nightmare,’ O’Sullivan fumed.
"Playing snooker against someone like that is a nightmare. He’s not a nice person. It’s not a nice vibe he leaves around the table.
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"He’s got issues. F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls. I don’t give a f about any of these snooker players, any of them.
"The more he brings it on, the more I f***ing punish him every time. He’s just digging a grave for himself. I don’t give a f***. That’s it, I’ve said my piece."
All eyes will be on O'Sullivan at the Crucible this time around to see whether he can keep his emotions in check to land a record eighth title.
He'll get his tournament underway on Wednesday against qualifier Jackson Page.
