Players from eight countries have won snooker’s most prestigious title and become world champion – but China is still waiting for its first success. Could 2025 be the year that changes? This season’s World Championship last 16 includes six Chinese players – Ding Junhui, Lei Peifan, Pang Junxu, Si Jiahui, Xiao Guodong and Zhao Xintong...
The World Championship had lived a nomadic existence before promoter Mike Watterson took it to the Crucible almost half a century ago, heeding the advice of his wife, Carole, who had watched a play in the theatre and felt it had just the right attributes to stage a snooker event. It is where the sport’s...
Former world champion Luca Brecel fought back from 5-1 down to beat Ryan Day 10-7 and move into the last 16 of the 2025 World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield. Belgium’s Brecel had won the last three frames of Wednesday’s first session to trail 5-4, only for Welshman Day, ranked 36th in the world,...
In Tuesday’s first session against two-time Crucible finalist Carter, neither player was at their best, with it seemingly finely balanced at 5-4 to O’Sullivan. But on Wednesday, ‘The Rocket’ was in sensational form, winning all five frames and not letting Carter score a point in four of them. O’Sullivan made breaks of 59, 117, 74,...
Reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy also moved into the last 16 with a 10-4 victory in a high-quality match with Crucible debutant Daniel Wells. Murphy, 42, is aiming to win a second world title 20 years after his first success but could face world number one Judd Trump in the next round. Against Welsh qualifier...
Ronnie O’Sullivan made his return to snooker and secured a one-frame lead over Ali Carter after the opening session of their World Championship first-round match. O’Sullivan, 49, had not played competitively since January when he snapped his cue and threw it in the bin following four losses in five matches at the Championship League event....
An emotional John Higgins says he “was in tears” on the morning of his first round match at the World Snooker Championship. Higgins’ father-in-law suffered a heart attack last week and BBC Snooker presenter Seema Jaswal consoled the player after his 10-7 win against Joe O’Connor. READ MORE: Emotionally ‘drained’ Higgins defeats O’Connor to advance...
Trump, 35, has won 30 ranking titles during his decorated career but his 2019 victory at the Crucible is his sole World Championship triumph. He defeated fellow Englishman Hawkins to win a second UK Championship title in December, a success that helped him to break the record for the most prize money won in a...
Zhao’s first-round display was one of the most impressive of any player during the tournament so far. The 28-year-old led 7-2 overnight and, after Jones took the first two frames of the morning, Zhao won the next three with breaks of 70, 55 and 87 to defeat the 16th seed from Wales. Zhao is competing...
The winner will face Lei Peifan, who knocked out defending champion Wilson on Saturday, in the last 16. Zhao, 28, is competing as an amateur at the World Championship but breezed through qualifying and is among the favourites to lift the trophy on 5 May. Zhao was one of 10 players banned in 2023 following...
Reigning champion Kyren Wilson holds a 6-3 lead over Lei Peifan in the first match of his world title defence at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The world number two twice missed blacks off the spot in the second frame as Crucible debutant Lei, 21, went 2-0 in front. The 33-year-old Englishman recovered to win...
Remarkably, O’Sullivan was installed as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to succeed at the Crucible, well before even confirming if he would participate. ‘The Rocket’ has not competed on the World Snooker Tour (WST) since he withdrew from his Championship League group and was so frustrated with his game he snapped his cue after losing...
Seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan says he will overcome “stage fright” to take on Ali Carter in the first round of the World Snooker Championship. O’Sullivan, 49, who only confirmed his participation on Thursday, has not played competitively since snapping his cue at the Championship League in January. “Because it is the World Championship and the...
All-time greats such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Stephen Hendry have won multiple World Championships but failed to retain the title the year after their maiden victory. O’Sullivan won his first in 2001 and went on to win again in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022. Selby won back-to-back in 2016 and 2017...
Defending champion Kyren Wilson will play Lei Peifan with Ronnie O’Sullivan set to face Ali Carter in the first round of the World Championship as he bids for a record eighth title in the modern era. O’Sullivan, 49, who is yet to confirm if he will participate, has not played competitively since snapping his cue...