The 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre is once again delivering the usual array of sporting drama as the best players on the planet vie to lift the famous trophy. Ronnie O’Sullivan is out, with his bid for a record eighth title ended by fellow “Class of ‘92” member John Higgins in a last-16 epic. Higgins took the deciding frame and the match 13-12 having fought back from 9-4 down in a statement win 30 years on from the pair’s first meeting in Sheffield. Zhao Xintong returned to Sheffield as defending champion after making history as the first Chinese winner of the tournament 12 months ago and despite being the bookies’ favourite to retain his crown, he was unable to break the legendary ‘Crucible Curse’, with 2005 champion Shaun Murphy beating him 13-10 in the quarter-finals.…