2018 World Snooker Championship The win came 15 years after Williams' second world title in 2003 and he became, at the age of 43, the second oldest winner at the Crucible. Three-time world champion Mark Selby had won the title for the previous two years but lost in the first round 4–10 to Joe Perry. The 2018 World Snooker Championship was held on 21 April to 7 May 2018 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. This was the 42nd consecutive year that the tournament was held at the Crucible, and the 50th consecutive year the championship was contested through the modern knockout format.
Mark Selby second round of the China Open with a neck injury. His withdrawal was also a precautionary measure to be ready for the upcoming World Championship, which Selby declared himself fit for the week before the event. He played Barry Hawkins in the first round and was beaten 3–10. After the match Selby admitted he had only managed nine hours of practice in the lead up and that there were certain shots he was physically unable to play. Despite the disappointing end to the season Selby was guaranteed to end it ranked number one following Judd Trump's early exit from the