2025 World Snooker Championship Shocks, Surges and Star Performances
The 2025 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield has already delivered plenty of excitement and surprises in its early stages. From the speculation surrounding Ronnie O’Sullivan’s participation to the shocking first-round exits of defending champion Kyren Wilson and last year’s runner-up Jak Jones, snooker fans have been treated to a thrilling start to the tournament.
Wilson, the current world number two, suffered a stunning upset at the hands of debutant Lei Peifan, who battled back from a 6-2 deficit to clinch a 10-9 victory. Meanwhile, Jones was eliminated by Zhao Xintong, prompting bookmakers to slash the Chinese player’s odds of winning the title from 14/1 to 9/2 ahead of his second-round clash with Peifan.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Mark Allen, who has openly expressed his desire to secure the World Championship trophy. The 39-year-old Northern Irishman, who began the season as the world’s top-ranked player, overcame an early scare in his opening match against Fan Zhengyi. Despite falling behind 3-0, Allen showcased his class with breaks of 88 and 102 en route to a 10-6 triumph.
Allen’s next opponent is qualifier Chris Wakelin, who is making history of his own. The 33-year-old Englishman secured his first-ever victory at the Crucible by defeating world number nine Neil Robertson 10-8. Wakelin, who had failed to qualify for the past two years and suffered first-round exits in his previous two appearances, will be eager to continue his impressive run.
With Allen aiming to complete snooker’s Triple Crown, having already won the Masters in 2018 and the UK Championship in 2022, he is the clear favorite to progress. While betting on an outright win may not offer the best value, backing Allen to record at least one century break against Wakelin at odds of 10/3 could prove to be a shrewd investment.
Another intriguing second-round encounter pits four-time World Champion John Higgins against China’s Xiao Guodong. Higgins, who was tipped as one of the pre-tournament favorites, showcased his resilience in his opening match against Joe O’Connor. Despite being emotionally drained due to his father-in-law’s serious illness, the Scot managed to secure a 10-7 victory, just a month after defeating O’Connor in the World Open final in China.
Xiao, who impressed in his 10-4 win over Matthew Selt, will undoubtedly pose a stern test for Higgins. However, given the Scot’s recent success, including his triumph at the Tour Championships, he is expected to advance to the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year. With the match being played over a best-of-25 frames format, betting on there being under 21.5 frames at 11/10 could prove to be a wise choice.
As the 2025 World Snooker Championship unfolds, fans can expect more drama, tension, and world-class performances from the sport’s elite players. With the likes of Allen and Higgins looking to etch their names in the history books and rising stars such as Peifan and Xintong aiming to make their mark, the Crucible is set to witness another unforgettable chapter in snooker’s most prestigious event.
Key Takeaways:
- Defending champion Kyren Wilson and last year’s runner-up Jak Jones suffered shock first-round defeats.
- Mark Allen is the favorite to win his second-round match against Chris Wakelin and is tipped to record at least one century break.
- Four-time champion John Higgins is expected to overcome Xiao Guodong and reach the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row.
- Rising stars Lei Peifan and Zhao Xintong have emerged as potential dark horses for the title.
- The 2025 World Snooker Championship promises to deliver more thrilling moments as the tournament progresses.
