In a week’s time we will know who will be in the final of the 2025 World Championships and it’s fair to say that the tournament so far has provided a host of shocks and upsets.
Early exits have been suffered by Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Mark Allen and just like last year the tournament has a wide open feel to it.
As we approach the business end of proceedings and the competition ramps up, let’s take a look at the current odds and who could be worth backing at this stage of the tournament.
Judd Trump
Whilst the early exit of Kyren Wilson was a shame for the tournament, the one man who would have been delighted with Wilson’s exit would have been Judd Trump.
Despite sitting atop the world rankings, of late Wilson has had the better of Trump on the biggest stages and if the two had met in the final it would have been tough to call as to who would have won.
Instead, with Wilson now watching the action from his couch, it’s fair to say that the draw has opened up from the man from Bristol and he looks to have a great chance of reaching yet another World Championship final.
Standing in his way of trying to reach the finals are talented opponents in the shape of Shaun Murphy and John Higgins, but Trump will be confident of breathing both men.
In his opening day victory over Zhue Youlong, Trump was exceptional as he went to post five century breaks on his way to his 10-4 victory.
Ronnie O’Sullivan believes that Trump is in a class of his own and is without doubt the man to beat. Trump will hope to prove the Rocket correct.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
After his stunning 10-4 victory over longtime rival Ali Carter, it isn’t surprising that the bookmakers have positioned Ronnie O’Sullivan as one of the major favourites for victory at the 2025 World Championships.
A seven time winner of this tournament, it’s fair to say that O’Sullivan has an affinity with the Crucible. After a year where he has struggled for form on the table and with his battles away from it, the Crucible appears to be a home from home and a welcome safe area for him to play his very best snooker.
In his opening round win over Carter, O’Sullivan showed very little signs of rust and as the match developed he looked to be showing signs that he was reaching his fluent best.
With the tie in the balance at 5-4, O’Sullivan showed why he is regarded as the best to ever play the game as he rattled off five consecutive frames to win the match 10-4.
In order to get over the line he saved his best for last and posted four century breaks and eight breaks over fifty. When in that mood it will take something special to stop him from reaching yet another quarterfinal.
Standing in his way and an appearance in the last eight is world number 27 Junxu Pang. The two have enjoyed victories over each other in the past, but interestingly the two shared this exact same stage back in 2023 when O’Sullivan emerged as a 10-7 victor. It would be a surprise if a different result were to happen this time around.
Zhao Xintong
Despite the huge strength and depth in Chinese snooker, China is still searching for their first ever World Championship and there are high hopes that the man to deliver that elusive title could be Zhao Xintong.
A former winner of the UK Open, Xintong’s hugely promising career ground to a halt after it was revealed that he had been involved in match fixing scandals and he wasn’t able to play for a period spanning twenty months.
Having served his time, Zhao has wasted no time in trying to return to the very top of the game and is remarkably on a twenty match winning streak. Having had to emerge through qualifying, he was simply a class apart when dismantling last year’s finalist, Jak Jones 10-4 and many believe that he could well go all the way to the final.
A huge benefactor of Kyren Wilson’s first round exit, he looks on course to beat his victor, Lei Peifan and a quarterfinal match up against Chris Wakelin won’t hold too many fears.
He could be one to watch with real interest as the tournament reaches its most critical juncture.
John Higgins
The pressure and emotion of John Higgins in trying to win a fifth World Championship crown was clear for all to see. After his 10-7 victory over the very gritty Joe O’Connor, Higgins revealed that he has been struggling away from the table and that has to cast some doubt over how far he will advance this year. However, a man with his class can’t be overlooked.
Higgins has already enjoyed a Hall of Fame career and he has added to his legacy with victories at the World Open and Players Championship, he arrived at the Crucible as one of the form men in the game.
In beating O’Connor, Higgins had to hold his nerve in several scrappy frames and would have been disappointed that he was only able to produce three frames of over 50.
In his last sixteen match against Guodong Xiao, Higgins was locked in a battle and ahead of the final session was locked at eight frames apiece.
Once again the Scot will need to rely on every ounce of his experience and Crucible nous to get through. The one positive for fans of Higgins is that if he can reach the quarterfinals he would have done so by not playing anywhere near his best.
Yet to find his fluency and rhythm, if he can rediscover the level of form which took him to two titles this season, few would bet against Higgins winning a fifth World Championship crown.
Jonathan Ashby
Jonathan Ashby, at 35, boasts a deep well of knowledge about the world of snooker. A specialist with a passion for the game's history, techniques, and players, he provides invaluable insights to both novices and seasoned enthusiasts. Through his articles, Jonathan aims to share the rich tapestry and nuances of this beloved cue sport.
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