The 2025 World Snooker Championship started at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday, with a major shock on the opening day.
Defending champion and top seed Kyren Wilson, who defeated Jak Jones 18–14 in the 2024 final was knocked out 10-9 by Chinese qualifier Lei Peifan in the first round.
Seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan is playing in a 33rd consecutive edition of the tournament despite battling “stage fright” and “nerves” over the past two years.
Seeded fifth this year, the 49-year-old is set to face two-time finalist Ali Carter in his opening match at 14:30 BST on Tuesday.
World number one Judd Trump begins his campaign against Zhou Yuelong at 19:00 on Tuesday.
BBC Sport has comprehensive live coverage of the championship on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and Red Button, while every match will be shown in full on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.
The final takes place over two days, starting on Sunday 4 May.
Who are the top 16 seeds?
As the defending champion, Wilson had the honour of being the top seed.
Trump is the second seed, with four-time champions John Higgins and Mark Selby third and fourth respectively.
Higgins beat Selby in the Tour Championship final earlier in April to move above him in the listings.
O’Sullivan, bidding for an eighth title to surpass the record he shares with Stephen Hendry, is seeded fifth.
The 49-year-old is seeded to play 12th seed Zhang Anda in the second round, Selby in the quarter-finals and Wilson in the semi-finals.
Full seedings:
1) Kyren Wilson, 2) Judd Trump, 3) John Higgins, 4) Mark Selby
5) Ronnie O’Sullivan, 6) Mark Williams, 7) Luca Brecel, 8) Mark Allen
9) Neil Robertson, 10) Ding Junhui, 11) Barry Hawkins, 12) Zhang Anda
13) Si Jiahui 14) Xiao Guodong, 15) Shaun Murphy, 16) Jak Jones
- Wilson to face Lei, O’Sullivan v Carter at World Championship
- The greatest first-round Crucible upsets
- No imminent decision to be made on Crucible future
Who came through qualifying?
Among the 16 players who secured their places at the Crucible were two-time runner-up Carter and 2021 UK champion Zhao Xintong, while Daniel Wells, Zak Surety and Lei will make their Crucible debuts.
China’s Zhao returned to the sport as an amateur player in September following a 20-month ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
Five of Zhao’s fellow countrymen also qualified, bringing the number of Chinese players in the first round up to a record 10.
Jack Lisowski, 2015 winner Stuart Bingham, world number 17 Gary Wilson and Jackson Page were among the names to miss out.
In the third qualifying round, Page became the first player to compile two maximum 147 breaks in the same match, earning the Welshman a £147,000 bonus.
But Page did not qualify for the Crucible, losing 10-7 to Englishman Joe O’Connor in the fourth and final qualifying round.
Six-time finalist Jimmy White’s bid to play at the Crucible for the first time since 2006 ended in the second round, while former semi-finalist Joe Perry and Dominic Dale retired from the sport after going out in the third round.
How much is the Crucible prize money?
The winner will receive £500,000 and there is total prize fund of £2,395,000.
Winner: £500,000
Runner-up: £200,000
Semi-finalists: £100,000
Quarter-finalists: £50,000
Last 16: £30,000
Last 32: £20,000
Last 48: £15,000
Last 80: £10,000
Last 112: £5,000
Highest break (qualifying stage included): £15,000
What’s the format?
First-round matches are the best of 19 frames.
Second round and quarter-final matches are played over a maximum of 25.
Semi-final matches are best of 33 frames.
The final is the best of 35 frames.
How can I follow on the BBC?
Watch live coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four, or take your pick of the matches on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
For further coverage, audiences can tune into Snooker Extra every night on BBC Two and iPlayer to catch up on the action from the day’s early games.
Radio 5 Live will have regular updates and features in programmes throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, the BBC Sport website and app will have text updates on the early rounds and quarter-finals before full live text commentary on the semi-finals and final.
Who are the BBC TV pundits?
The BBC’s presenting team will be Hazel Irvine, Seema Jaswal and Rishi Persad, with reporting from Shabnam Younus-Jewell and Abigail Davis.
Audiences can expect expert commentary and insights from snooker legends Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott, Ken Doherty, Dennis Taylor and John Virgo, alongside some of the game’s current players including Masters winner Shaun Murphy.
Match schedule and BBC coverage times
All times are BST and subject to late changes. Championship seedings in brackets
Sunday 20 April
First round
10:00
Jak Jones (16) v Zhao Xintong
Xiao Guodong (14) 7-2 Matthew Selt
14:30
Mark Allen (8) v Fan Zhengyi
Mark Williams (6) 5-4 Wu Yize
19:00
Neil Robertson (9) 2-7 Chris Wakelin
Barry Hawkins (11) 5-4 Hossein Vafaei
Live coverage
10:00-12:15 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-17:40 – BBC Two (13:00-16:50 on BBC Two Wales)
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-22:00 – BBC Four
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
Highlights
23:45-01:45 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Monday 21 April
First round
10:00
John Higgins (3) v Joe O’Connor
Jak Jones (16) v Zhao Xintong
14:30
Ding Junhui (10) v Zak Surety
Mark Allen (8) v Fan Zhengyi
19:00
Si Jiahui (13) v David Gilbert
John Higgins (3) v Joe O’Connor
Live coverage
10:00-12:00 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-22:00 – BBC Four
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
Highlights
23:55-01:45 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Tuesday 22 April
First round
10:00
Zhang Anda (12) v Pang Junxu
Shaun Murphy (15) v Daniel Wells
14:30
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5) v Ali Carter
Ding Junhui (10) v Zak Surety
19:00
Judd Trump (2) v Zhou Yuelong
Si Jiahui (13) v David Gilbert
Live coverage
10:00-12:15 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-22:00 – BBC Four
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Wednesday 23 April
First round
10:00
Zhang Anda (12) v Pang Junxu
Shaun Murphy (15) v Daniel Wells
14:30
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5) v Ali Carter
Luca Brecel (7) v Ryan Day
19:00
Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston
Judd Trump (2) v Zhou Yuelong
Live coverage
10:00-11:15 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-22:00 – BBC Four
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
Highlights
01:05-03:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Thursday 24 April
First round
13:00
Luca Brecel (7) v Ryan Day
19:00
Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston
Second round
13:00
Neil Robertson (9)/Chris Wakelin v Mark Allen (8)/Fan Zhengyi
19:00
John Higgins (3)/Joe O’Connor v Xiao Guodong (14)/Matthew Selt
Live coverage
13:00-17:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-22:00 – BBC Four
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
Highlights
23:55-01:55 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two (00:55-01:55 on BBC Two Northern Ireland)
Friday 25 April
Second round
10:00
Neil Robertson (9)/Chris Wakelin v Mark Allen (8)/Fan Zhengyi
Barry Hawkins (11)/Hossein Vafaei v Mark Williams (6)/Wu Yize
14:30
John Higgins (3)/Joe O’Connor v Xiao Guodong (14)/Matthew Selt
Lei Peifan v Jak Jones (16)/Zhao Xintong
19:00
Barry Hawkins (11)/Hossein Vafaei v Mark Williams (6)/Wu Yize
Neil Robertson (9)/Chris Wakelin v Mark Allen (8)/Fan Zhengyi
Live coverage
10:00-12:00 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-22:00 – BBC Four
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
Highlights
00:25-02:25 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Saturday 26 April
Second round
10:00
John Higgins (3)/Joe O’Connor v Xiao Guodong (14)/Matthew Selt
Lei Peifan v Jak Jones (16)/Zhao Xintong
14:30
Barry Hawkins (11)/Hossein Vafaei v Mark Williams (6)/Wu Yize
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)/Ali Carter v Zhang Anda (12)/Pang Junxu
19:00
Si Jiahui (13)/David Gilbert v Mark Selby (4)/Ben Woollaston
Luca Brecel (7)/Ryan Day v Ding Junhui (10)/Zak Surety
Live coverage
10:00-12:00 – BBC Two & Red Button
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
13:45-16:30 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
16:25-18:00 – Red Button
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-22:00 – BBC Four
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Sunday 27 April
Second round
10:00
Lei Peifan v Jak Jones (16)/Zhao Xintong
Shaun Murphy (15)/Daniel Wells v Judd Trump (2)/Zhou Yuelong
14:30
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)/Ali Carter v Zhang Anda (12)/Pang Junxu
Luca Brecel (7)/Ryan Day v Ding Junhui (10)/Zak Surety
19:00
Si Jiahui (13)/David Gilbert v Mark Selby (4)/Ben Woollaston
Shaun Murphy (15)/Daniel Wells v Judd Trump (2)/Zhou Yuelong
Live coverage
10:00-12:25 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app (Red Button 10:00-12:15)
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app (Red Button 14:40-18:00)
15:00-18:00 – BBC Two
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-22:00 – BBC Four
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Monday 28 April
Second round
13:00
Si Jiahui (13)/David Gilbert v Mark Selby (4)/Ben Woollaston
Shaun Murphy (15)/Daniel Wells v Judd Trump (2)/Zhou Yuelong
19:00
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)/Ali Carter v Zhang Anda (12)/Pang Junxu
Luca Brecel (7)/Ryan Day v Ding Junhui (10)/Zak Surety
Live coverage
13:00-17:00 – BBC Two
13:00-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-22:00 – BBC Four
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Tuesday 29 April
Quarter-finals
Live coverage
10:00-12:15 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-22:00 – BBC Four
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Wednesday 30 April
Quarter-finals
Live coverage
10:00-11:15 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-22:00 – BBC Four
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Thursday 1 May
Semi-finals
Live coverage
13:00-16:00 – BBC Two
13:00-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-22:00 – BBC Four
Highlights
00:05-02:05 – World Championship Extra – BBC Two
Friday 2 May
Semi-finals
Live coverage
10:00-12:00 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
14:00-18:00 – BBC Two
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
19:00-20:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-23:00 – BBC Four
Saturday 3 May
Semi-finals
Live coverage
10:00-12:00 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
13:15-16:30 – BBC One
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
16:30-17:30 – BBC Two
19:00-22:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
20:00-23:00 – BBC Four
Sunday 4 May
Final
Live coverage
13:00-18:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:00 – BBC Two
Monday 5 May
Final
Live coverage
13:00-16:00 – BBC Two
19:00-22:00 – BBC Two
Results
First round
Kyren Wilson (1) 9-10 Lei Peifan