Image source, BBC Sport

If fans of Jackson Page are looking for positives heading into his meeting with seven-time Crucible champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, well, the Welshman has never lost in the first round of the World Championship.

Granted, he's only qualified once before.

But he provided a real shock on his debut two years ago, upsetting former World finalist Barry Hawkins 10-7 in round one before losing to compatriot Mark Williams.

He comes into this event in decent nick too, having beaten John Higgins and Mark Selby on his way to the World Open semi-finals in March before bowing out to Judd Trump.

Speaking of prize money, here's what's at stake at the Crucible this year, cash-wise.

I'd be happy with a second-round exit to be honest.

Anyway, we'll break away from Barry Hearn's thoughts because the boys will shortly be on the baize...

Image source, BBC Sport

Barry Hearn on rumours the World Championship could move to Saudi Arabia:

"They are buying up sports left, right and centre - we've seen what they have done with boxing. It's a completely different world.

"We've got to show we can compete and raise at least something near it to justify me not turning around to the players and saying 'Why don't we make the prize money 10 times more than it is?'

"In the business sense, and snooker is a sport played by professionals, their first demand is prize money. They want to see it as big as possible and we as custodians of the sport have a fiduciary duty to those players.

"Why should the tournament have one home and why isn't the Crucible transported around the world to play ione year in Saudi Arabia, one year in Beijing, one year in Sheffield?"

More from Barry Hearn on BBC Two:

"Trust me, money has the edge every time. We live in the real world, if there are deals out there that are going to change people's lives and increase profitability, there's not really a choice to make.

"The Crucible has a fantastic history, it has been a massive part of my life. But we've all got to live in the real world, there's a price for everything in today's world whether we like it or not.

"But I don't like it and I want to stay here. I can't do any more than say but I need help, I need a reason to stay here. I can't be more loyal to Sheffield than I have but everybody needs to pull in the right direction."

Barry Hearn speaking to BBC Two:

"Nothing much has changed - I am doing absolutely everything to stay in Sheffield. But it takes two to tango - I'll stay here while we are wanted. I know we are wanted by the BBC, I think we're wanted by Sheffield.

"But they've got to be realistic and we have said for the last few years we need a new venue that seats 2,500-3,000 people because I am fed up of getting letters from people all over the world asking how they can get a ticket.

"I'm looking to Sheffield to come to the party and if they do, we're staying. And if they don't, they're really saying to me 'We don't want you'. So it's not really my call."

Now then, there's been plenty of debate about the future of the World Championship at the Crucible.

Matchroom Sport Group president and former World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has been speaking on BBC Two and says he will do everything he can to keep the event in Sheffield.

Full quotes to follow.

Image source, BBC Sport

Not many records in snooker that Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't hold.

Most centuries. Most Masters titles. Most UK titles. Most maximum breaks. Most ranking titles. He's virtually got them all.

Of course, there's one he shares with Stephen Hendry.

And you suspect, despite his frequent attempts to play it down, there's nothing he would like more than to turn those seven Crucible crowns into eight.

1430 BST

Mark Allen 7-2 Robbie Williams

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Jackson Page

1900 BST

John Higgins v Jamie Jones

Barry Hawkins 4-5 Ryan Day

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

Image source, Getty Images

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan does not think he is the greatest snooker player of all time, even as he bids for a record-breaking eighth Crucible title.

O’Sullivan, 48, begins his first-round match against 22-year-old Welsh qualifier Jackson Page this afternoon (14:30 BST), with the second session on Thursday.

Another world title would move O’Sullivan one clear of Stephen Hendry’s seven Crucible successes in the 1990s.

O’Sullivan has already won the other two events in snooker’s Triple Crown – the UK Championship and the Masters – this season, the eighth time he has lifted each trophy, more than any other player.

Asked if he considered himself as the best ever, O’Sullivan said: “I don’t regard myself as the greatest. I’m one of them, maybe. You’ve got Hendry, [six-time world champion Steve] Davis, and my hat’s in the ring with them. I’ve had a different career to them.

"They did it over a 10-year period, whereas I’ve sort of gone off track, got myself together, back off track, then got myself back together.

“I’ve had to go on longer to get what I’ve got. I was a bit all over the show at times with stuff going on off the table and that can affect how you perform on it. Hendry and Davis pretty much had everything fitted around them to be focused on snooker and I didn’t have that.”

Right then, not long until 'The Rocket' launches his bid for a record eighth Crucible crown.

T-minus 30 minutes to blast off until Ronnie O'Sullivan meets Welsh prodigy Jackson Page.

And, as usual, he's been making headlines even before he hits the table...

Image source, Getty Images

Twelfth seed Kyren Wilson will meet Joe O'Connor - conqueror of Mark Selby - in round two after his demolition job on Dominic Dale.

Jack Lisowski, speaking to BBC Two:

"I always thought it was going to be a really close game, everyone was saying it would be.

"My game is in really good shape and when you're confident in your cueing you've always got a chance.

"I just wanted a chance in the last frame and everything went in the middle of the pocket. It's probably one of my best wins ever.

"I had six weeks off and I've come here so fresh - I couldn't keep going, I needed a break but I have been practicing a lot the last couple of weeks and the qualifiers have definitely sharpened me up."

Image source, Getty Images

Here's the top 16 seeds - and seven (in bold) are out...

1. Luca Brecel, 2. Ronnie O'Sullivan, 3. Judd Trump, 4. Mark Allen, 5. Mark Selby, 6. Mark Williams, 7. Ding Junhui, 8. Shaun Murphy

9. Ali Carter, 10. Gary Wilson, 11. Zhang Anda, 12. Kyren Wilson, 13. John Higgins, 14. Tom Ford, 15. Barry Hawkins, 16. Robert Milkins

Ding Junhui is the seventh seed to lose in the first round this year.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I'm really happy for Jack. He's not had the best of seasons - obviously he had to qualify for this having dropped out of the top 16.

He played a fantastic deciding frame.

Fantastic final frame from Jack Lisowski as he defeats Ding Junhui in a cracking match.

A second-round meeting with former world champion Stuart Bingham awaits.

Another brilliant long pot gets Lisowski back in - he's really put the loss of those previous two frames behind him.

Massive chance to seal this deciding frame now for the Gloucestershire man. Just a couple more reds and colours needed.

A bit of adrenaline from Jack Lisowski as he plays a screw shot on a red too hard and snookers himself on pink and black.

No alternative than to play a safety but he has a 38-point lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Stunning long red from Jack Lisowski, cue ball deep in baulk, red just past the blue, to give himself first chance in this deciding frame.

If he'd missed, he was leaving a load on for Ding but stroked it in superbly.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

He's like a surgeon with the cue ball, Ding.

This has been a magnificent break. A clinic in break building. Absolutely phenomenal.