From April 19, the 2025 Snooker World Championship begins. Kyren Wilson will have to defend his title against the world’s best snooker players in the 49th edition of this championship at the Crucible. But there are other top contenders for the title, as the battle for the Fred Davis Trophy could just as well be between Judd Trump and Mark Selby. Read all about it in this article.
Snooker World Championship
The Snooker World Championship has been the most important tournament in the sport of snooker since 1927. Since 1977, it has been held at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, United Kingdom. The first final of the Snooker World Championship took place in 1927 at Camkin’s Hall in Birmingham and was won by Joe Davis. Davis dominated the tournament in its first two decades, securing a total of 15 titles before retiring undefeated.
The World Championship is also the most lucrative snooker tournament, with a total prize pool of nearly 3 million euros and almost 600,000 euros going to the winner.
The main competition is a knockout tournament featuring 32 players. The top 16 players in the world rankings automatically qualify. The remaining 16 spots are determined through a qualifying tournament, held from April 7 to 18 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. There, 128 players compete across four qualifying rounds. The winners of these matches are then drawn against the top 16 in the main draw. These snooker players compete for that coveted world title.
Favourites
One of the top favourites is, of course, defending champion Kyren Wilson. This season, he has already claimed three ranking titles, including the prestigious Players Championship. It’s clear he’ll be eager to secure the world title once again this year. But it certainly won’t be an easy task, as his draw could see him face Jak Jones, Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and even Mark Selby on his road to the final.
We also have to talk about Judd Trump. Since his Crucible Theatre victory in 2019, he hasn’t managed to reclaim the title. Although it’s now been six years since he became world champion, he has still been one of the top players throughout this season. Earlier this year, he lost the final of the Players Championship in a thrilling deciding frame – to none other than the reigning world champion Kyren Wilson.
Like Trump, Mark Selby is also in fine form. He recently won the Welsh Open and avoided any major slip-ups. At the Tour Championship, he convincingly defeated Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui before losing the final to John Higgins in an 18-frame clash. That’s why he, too, must be included among the title contenders. Selby has already won the World Championship four times at the Crucible, most recently in 2021.
Other Contenders
Ronnie O’Sullivan always remains a dangerous outsider. The seven-time world champion is still capable of bringing out his best game when it matters most. Once he finds his rhythm, he can cruise through even the toughest part of the draw. He holds the record for most Crucible wins with seven titles. Still, it’s uncertain whether he can endure the more demanding path this year, especially since he hasn’t played a match since January.
One player who finds himself on the ‘easier’ side of the draw is John Higgins. The Scotsman is seeded third and is a veteran of the snooker circuit. He recently defeated Mark Selby and Barry Hawkins during the Tour Championship, and earlier this year, he won the World Open. Although he has only reached the semi-finals once in the last five World Championships, things could go differently this year. The draw has been kind to him, and with his experience, he is definitely a name to watch.
Finally, there’s Neil Robertson, who is currently in top form. The Australian snooker player reached the semi-finals of the Players Championship after defeating Mark Selby. He lost the final to Kyren Wilson, but not before taking an early 4–1 lead. Robertson won the World Championship once before, in 2010.
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