World Snooker Championship 2024: Jackson Page eager to face 'greatest of all time' Ronnie O'Sullivan

Jackson Page says he will have no fear facing the "greatest of all time" Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

The Welsh 22-year-old is the first-round opponent for O'Sullivan, who is seeking a record eighth world crown.

World number 43 Page knows that upsetting Crucible hero O'Sullivan would make him an unpopular figure with some sections of the crowd.

"I don't mind... I'll give him my best shot to try and stop him," said Page.

Page goes into the O'Sullivan match at the Crucible Theatre on Wednesday having beaten former champion Graeme Dott and Thailand's Noppon Saengkham in qualifying, and he is hoping to emulate his 5-2 win over Mark Selby during last month's World Open in China.

"If I bring the form I had in China like in the Selby match, I can easily do the same against Ronnie. He's not invincible, so if I play like that I'll win, if I don't it may be a different story," Page said.

"Everyone has the goal of going to win it. With Ronnie first, it doesn't make a difference to me, I've got to beat the table and who's in front me. I'll be looking forward to playing the greatest of all time on the greatest stage but I'll still want to win.

"I've played him once this season, it was a decent game. I had one chance in five frames. I think he had three centuries and I had one. Another time, I was younger, about 15, in the UK Championship, he beat me 6-3 so hopefully I'm due a win."

Only once in 20 years has the 48-year-old O'Sullivan lost his opening match at the Crucible.

But earlier in April, O'Sullivan lost the Tour Championship final to Page's friend and mentor Mark Williams, although Page says he will not be looking for advice from his fellow Welshman.

"There are no tips when it comes to that. You've just got to play your best against Ronnie, if you don't play well then you don't really win, if I play well I can," Page said.

"You've got to attack him and just play your best, you've just got to keep him off the table, so if I play well I can do it but we'll soon see."

This is the second time Page has qualified for the Crucible. In 2022 he beat Barry Hawkins before losing to Williams in the second round.

"He battered me two years ago," added Page. "Like Mark, I've always been calm and level-headed. I learn off Mark in many other ways, like on the table.

"Two years ago I qualified the hard way by winning four games and it was a good experience, especially winning a game. I'm just so relieved to be back there so quickly.

"It's completely different to any other event I've played in. The atmosphere is immense, I think partly from watching it when you grow up and then to be there is something else.

"I've always wanted to be the best and have always wanted to win tournament."

Page and Williams are joined in the tournament by four other Welsh players - Jak Jones, Ryan Day, Jamie Jones and Dominic Dale, who is playing at the Crucible for the first time since 2014.