Malta’s Terry Camilleri among the referees

Snooker’s top event of the year – the world championship – gets under way at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield today.

Malta is once again represented in this top event by international referee Terry Camilleri, who has been chosen as one of the referees to control matches in this year’s tournament.

This will be the fourth time that he has been given this great opportunity to be part of the biggest snooker tournament in the world. Previously he had controlled two quarter-final matches including that of last year between Ali Carter and Peter Ebdon where Carter potted the 147 maximum break.

The World Snooker Championship is the peak of the snooker world, and all eyes will be focused on the Crucible between today and 4 May.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending champion and he is undoubtedly the greatest player on the circuit, but he always is liable to blow up mentally, especially under the intense pressure at the Crucible.

Mark Selby is leading the way amongst the top new players rising through the ranks, along with Ali Carter and Ryan Day, while former fairytale winner Shaun Murphy is now established as one of the best around.

Old hands like Stephen Hendry and John Higgins still have the ability to light up the Crucible, while talented Scot Stephen Maguire has long been touted as a world champion of the future, but who will come out on top in Sheffield.