World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O'Sullivan LEADS Pang Junxu, Higgins THROUGH
THE World Snooker Championship is rolling on at pace at the Crucible - with the sport's biggest names back in action.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken a healthy lead in his second round tie with Pang Junxu, as the Rocket has a 6-2 advantage.
Earlier today, Mark Williams booked his spot in the quarter-finals with a 13-10 win over Hossein Vafaei.
Later in the evening, John Higgins edged a thrilling 25-frame clash with Xiao Guodong 13-12 to progress to the last-8.
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Follow ALL the action from the Crucible Theatre with our live blog below...
19th Apr 2025, 10:29 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
Peifan gets going after that missed red from the defending champion, scoring an unanswered 58 points.
But a failed cannon into the pack lets Wilson back onto the table.
There are still 75 points left - this one could get cagey as both players begin to play safe.
Kyren Wilson 0-0 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 0-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:21 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores - Morning session
The nerves clearly playing a part for Lei Peifan.
A disaster of an opening break, smashing into the blue which flies into the pocket.
Wilson can't cash in though, missing the long red into the right corner.
Kyren Wilson 0-0 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 0-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:15 By Jim Sheridan
Here come the players
It's go time at the Crucible.
Defending champion Kyren Wilson gets a rapturous reception from the crowd.
Time to see if the Crucible Curse strikes again.
Kyren Wilson vs Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong vs Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:05 By Jim Sheridan
Davis on Crucible future
"This is the best snooker venue we are ever going to have."
A bold statement from Steve Davis - and made amid speculation the Sheffield arena could soon lose the World Championship.
The players are about to make their entrance infront of a capacity crowd in South Yorkshire.
19th Apr 2025, 09:58 By Jim Sheridan
Draw in full
We're focusing on Kyren Wilson's first-round clash against Lei Peifan this morning, with Xiao Guodong and Matthew Selt on Table 2.
As we await the players in Sheffield, here's a full rundown of matches coming at you over the next few days.
Judd Trump vs Zhou Yuelong
Zhang Anda vs Pang Junxu
Shaun Murphy vs Dan Wells
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Ali Carter
Ding Junhui vs Zak Surety
Mark Allen vs Fan Zhengyi
Jak Jones vs Zhao Xingtong
John Higgins vs Joe O'Connor
Neil Robertson vs Chris Wakelin
Xiao Guodong vs Matthew Selt
Mark Williams vs Wu Yize
Barry Hawkins vs Hossein Vafaei
Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston
Kyren Wilson vs Lei Peifan
Luca Brecel vs Ryan Day
Si Jiahui vs David Gilbert
By Nyle Smith
Baulk at the idea
TNT Sports have left fans shocked after announcing their commentary team for the World Snooker Championship.
The BBC will continue to air the bulk of the sessions in Sheffield, with every match available on iPlayer.
But the switch to TNT Sports means fans will access an all-new commentary team.
That includes chief commentator Darren Fletcher, who is often heard on Champions League matches and at big boxing events.
He is often accompanied by Ally McCoist for those big European nights, and the Scot is set to join him for the snooker.
19th Apr 2025, 09:30 By Nyle Smith
History in the making?
Surely Ronnie isn't going to withdraw because he is chasing a history-making 8th World Championship?!
But who dare tell him what to do especially after he has won this competition the most amount of times along with Stephen Hendry.
Here are the years of O'Sullivan's previous wins:
2001
2004
2008
2012
2013
2020
2022
19th Apr 2025, 09:16 By Nyle Smith
Ronnie's reality check
Ronnie O'Sullivan fears he has lost his bottle — and warned he may quit the World Snooker Championship if he has 'a meltdown'.
The Rocket said: 'I'm not playing until Tuesday. So if I have a meltdown, who knows? I might still bloody withdraw. I hope I don't.
"I'm surprised I'm here but I'm here. I don't have any expectations.
"I'd just like to not feel all at sea out there. If I can just play and at least feel semi-competitive, I'd be happy with that.
"Could I win the whole thing? I doubt it. I'd be very happy to just give Ali a game.
"I'm nearly 50 now and there's a lot of young guys who are hungry and competing all the time. It's a bit different to say 2012, 2013."
19th Apr 2025, 09:02 By Nyle Smith
The Crucible curse
The Crucible curse is the quip given to the fact that no first-time world champion has ever retained their crown the following year.
Since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977 it has cursed 19 players in a row with every debut champion crumbling under the pressure of snooker 's grandest stage.
Some have come close though - Joe Johnson and Ken Doherty both made it to the final the year after their maiden victories - but most don't get anywhere near that far.
As recently as 2023, Luca Brecel was doomed by the curse, losing in the first round of the 2024 tournament after winning the title the year before.
Brecel is not on his own though - seven champions have gone on to lose their first match the following year.
Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby have all managed to win consecutive titles at the Crucible, but they had won the championship previously.
Wilson returns to South Yorkshire as the reigning champion and is determined to lift the curse and posted a hilarious video to social media in an effort to exorcise the demons.
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