The World Snooker Championship is the second longest annual sporting event in the world behind cycling's Tour de France.

To be at the Crucible for 17 days requires huge concentration from the players in a cramped and intimate atmosphere.

One player who is used to the unique pressures of the Sheffield venue is seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, who this year is making a record 23rd consecutive appearance at the event.

The Scotsman looks rejuvenated and his comeback to beat Mark Allen 10-9 in the first round was the best we have seen from him for many, many months.

He is playing Ding Junhui in the second round and the Chinaman and his compatriots are making huge strides in the sport.

The Chinese public are obsessed by snooker, TV audiences are huge, and its popularity is growing at such a rate that there could be a time in the not too distant future where we see six or seven players in the world's top 32.

It's a really open tournament this year and the trophy is up for grabs, but keep your eye on Stephen Maguire, who is hungry to win the title.

He was shattered after losing in the semi-finals to John Higgins last year and looks totally focused this time round.

If you are tuning into our coverage make sure you check out Shaun Murphy's trousers.

The 2005 champion went down to watch Willie Thorne compete in Strictly Come Dancing and said it changed his life!

He got one of the costume designers to make him an outfit to wear during the evening sessions.

It's a pretty flashy waistcoat and the trousers are beautifully cut and offset by crystals sewn into the sides.

I like his style!

Enjoy the action,
Hazel

Hazel Irvine presents BBC TV coverage of the World Snooker Championship

Hazel was talking to Paul Birch

World Championship: 1000-2300, BBCi/online; 1300-1630, BBC ONE/online; 1645-1830, BBC TWO/online; 1900-2105, BBC TWO/online; 0040-0305, BBC TWO.

World Championship: 1400-2300, BBCi/online; 1300-1730, BBC TWO/online; 1900-2100, BBC TWO/online; 0025-0300, BBC TWO.

Football Focus (1210, BBC ONE/online); Chelsea v Man Utd commentary (1245, Radio 5 Live/online); Score (1430, BBCi/online); Birmingham v Liverpool commentary (1500, Radio 5 Live/online); Tottenham v Bolton commentary (1500, Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); SPL: Commentary of every game (1230 & 1500, BBC Radio Scotland/online); Final Score (1630, BBC ONE/online); Match of the Day (2230, BBC ONE/online).

Match of the Day repeat (0735, BBC ONE/online); SPL: Celtic v Rangers (1230, BBC Radio Scotland/online); Everton v Aston Villa commentary (1600, Radio 5 Live/online); Match of the Day 2 (2200, BBC TWO/online).

Formula One: Spanish Grand Prix qualifying (1000-1105 and 1255-1415, BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online).

Boxing: Joe Calzaghe v Bernard Hopkins re-run (1200-1300, BBC TWO); Formula One: Spanish Grand Prix (1300-1430 BBC Radio 5 Live/online); Rugby union: Heineken Cup - Saracens v Munster (1455-1645, BBC Radio 5 Live sports extra/online); Rugby league: Super League Show (1645-1715, BBC ONE North and BBC Sport website and 0300-0330, BBC TWO).