Image source, Getty ImagesThe seeded players gathered at the Crucible Theatre for a group photograph on Friday
- Published
The 2025 World Snooker Championship started at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday, with Kyren Wilson bidding to retain his title.
The Englishman defeated Jak Jones 18–14 in the 2024 final and, as top seed, got this year's championship under way against China's Lei Peifan.
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.
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Watch the best shots as Wilson beats Jones to world title
Who are the top 16 seeds?
As the defending champion, Wilson has the honour of being the top seed.
Trump becomes 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
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Who came through qualifying?
A total of 144 players started the qualifying tournament, which was staged at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport from 7-16 April.
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 and putting the 23-year-old in line for the £15,000 World Championship highest break prize.
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.
What's the 'Crucible curse'?
No first-time champion has managed to retain the title since the championship moved to the Crucible Theatre in 1977.
Will Kyren Wilson be the player to break the 'Crucible curse' in 2025?
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.
Kyren Wilson was the second first-time Crucible winner in a row, after Luca Brecel was victorious in 2023
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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.
World Snooker Championship
19 April to 5 May
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
Saturday 19 April
First round
10:00
Kyren Wilson (1) 6-3 v Lei Peifan – to be continued at 19:00
Xiao Guodong (14) 7-2 v Matthew Selt – to be continued on Sunday 10:00
14:30
Neil Robertson 2-7 Chris Wakelin – to be continued on Sunday at 19:00 BST
Mark Williams (6) 5-4 Wu Yize – to be continued on Sunday 14:30
19:00
Kyren Wilson (1) 6-3 Lei Peifan
Barry Hawkins (11) v Hossein Vafaei
Live coverage
10:00-12:00 – BBC Two
10:00-14:00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app
13:15-16:30 – BBC One (15:00-16:30 on BBC One Scotland and 13:15-16:30 on BBC Two Wales)
14:30-18:00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app
16:30-18:00 – Red Button
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
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) v Chris Wakelin
Barry Hawkins (11) v 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
Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston
Second round
Schedule TBC
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
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
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
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
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
The 1985 Black Ball Final: Final Frame
Sunday, 28 April 1985
Crucible Theatre
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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
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