
World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O'Sullivan resumes clash against foe Ali Carter, Trump LEADS Zhou
The Rocket narrowly leads 5-4 but Carter battled back to set up the perilous tie.
While World No 1 Judd Trump is beating Zhou Yuelong 6-3 in his tournament opener as he bids to become only the 10th multiple champion of the Crucible era.
And there will be a new champion this year - after Kyren Wilson suffered a shock loss to Lei Peifan in his opener.
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.
In the video, Wilson jokingly completed some of the superstitions people believe to bring us bad luck, including smashing a mirror and holding his World Championship trophy next to a black cat.
19th Apr 2025, 09:01 By Nyle Smith
Wil he win it again?
Kyren Wilson claimed his first world title after some thrilling action at the Crucible, beating Jak Jones in the 2024 final.
The Kettering superstar beat Jak Jones 18-14 despite a spirited comeback from the qualifier.
And he'll be hoping to break the Crucible curse this year.
By Nyle Smith
Welcome to SunSport's World Snooker Championship 2025 coverage
The day we have all been waiting for is FINALLY here… The World Snooker Championship and us here at SunSport will be ALL over it for the first ball to the last.
Last year's winner, Kyren Wilson, heads to Sheffield as top seed after he claimed the crown with an 18-14 win over Jak Jones in the 2024 final.
World No1 Judd Trump will be heavily tipped to take the title this year as the Ace aims to add to his 2019 world championship triumph.
Seven-time Crucible winner Ronnie O'Sullivan hasn't featured since January but is set to make his return to snooker in Sheffield.
John Higgins heads into the World Championship as the man in form after the Scotsman won the Tour Championship earlier this month.
This year's competition promises to be a thriller, and SunSport brings you all the information so you don't miss a second from the Crucible.
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Scottish Sun
34 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
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Metro
18 hours ago
- Metro
Why players love controversial Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters...other than money
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'When you're scratting about at 9.30am at Ponds Forge for a swig of water or a cup of tea, it's a joke, to be honest with you. 'You're trying to ask the cleaning lady if she's got a quid spare because you've got no change in your pocket. We're not asking for much. It's a joke. 'Put on some bottles of water and a bit of snap. I'm not asking for the world, just the odd can of Red Bull! We get treated well in a few events, but there's no excuse, for me, every event should be like that.' Many other players have voiced the same opinion and that does seem to be what is really enthusing the cueists about the Saudi event. Yes, obviously the money is fantastic, but it appears to be the star treatment that adds the genuine enjoyment to the financial opportunity. Of course, fans care about this a whole lot less than the players. In fact, they might not care about it at all. Whether the stars of the baize have been served a delicious pre-match meal or not matters little to the television viewer who just wants to watch the snooker. You could argue the pampering could help produce the best quality snooker, and there was a lot of great snooker last week including some of the best ever from the Rocket, but it's hard to tell if that really correlates. What clearly does bother the television viewer is the lack of crowd for much of the event before the final, something even the champion acknowledged. 'The crowd today was absolutely awesome,' Robertson said of the final. 'The crowds need to improve, we all know that, but for the final that was amazing.' The final was well attended, but almost every other game was not, many with literally no one watching. The event features 144 players so it would be completely unrealistic to expect good crowds throughout, but often it looked and sounded ridiculous on TV. Even when the big names joined the action in the last 32, there would often be a lone person applauding or still complete silence after a moment of brilliance. Riyadh Season-sponsored Ronnie O'Sullivan felt the crowds were actually quite good, saying: 'In China it's a different energy, in the UK it's a completely different energy, if we were in America it would be a different energy. In Saudi Arabia and the Middle East it's a different energy, it's a very cosy atmosphere here. 'The crowds have been good here. Very cosy and very chilled. I prefer playing in this atmosphere to the rowdy thing. It's like playing in your front room, a nice cosy atmosphere.' The Rocket, as ever, draws the best crowds of any player and the best way he could sell it was 'chilled' and 'cosy' which illustrates the kind of numbers we are dealing with. Ultimately, though, it seems the players don't mind and are happy being treated very well and competing for big money in front of very few people. 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They do not need to sell tickets to dish out the dosh. So as long as they are stumping up the prize fund and putting on a nice spread, the players will have a lovely old time. The television audience will see some great action from some well-fed talent, but will they ever really feel they are watching a tournament – a whole tournament, not just the final – comparable to the biggest and best in the sport? Maybe not. MORE: Why Neil Robertson conquering Ronnie O'Sullivan in Saudi Arabia is his 'best win' MORE: Ronnie O'Sullivan makes historic two 147s in stunning Saudi Arabia Masters semi MORE: Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters 2025 results, schedule, TV channel and prize money


Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ronnie O'Sullivan's actions speak volumes as Neil Robertson denies him £500,000 jackpot
Neil Robertson has opened up on his relationship with Ronnie O'Sullivan, who he beat in a thrilling Saudi Arabia Masters final at the weekend to clinch a £500,000 payday and surge in the snooker rankings Neil Robertson has shared details of his "incredibly special" bond with Ronnie O'Sullivan. It comes after the Australian ace edged past the seven-time world champion to claim the Saudi Arabia Masters crown at the weekend. Robertson was forced to dig deep and showcase his finest form to overcome the 'Rocket' in a nail-biting finale that concluded 10-9 in Robertson's favour. Despite engaging in some fiery encounters on the green baize throughout their careers, Robertson has shed light on his friendship with one of snooker's all-time greats beyond the sport. Discussing O'Sullivan, the 43-year-old said: "He calls me pretty frequently. He wants to see me win more world titles and more tournaments, he really wants to see me do well. "To have that kind of relationship with him is incredibly special. He's one of the inspirations for me. Growing up as a kid, there's no way I would have thought as a 14 or 15-year-old that I'll be competing against Ronnie in major finals or I'll be where I am today 30 years later." Reflecting on the thrilling finale he experienced with O'Sullivan on Saturday, Robertson also confessed that he needed to produce his absolute best to emerge triumphant against the persistent danger posed by the 49-year-old. He added: "It's got to go down as one of the greatest finals of all time. "To be a part of that and to be on the right side of it as well. I also believe if he's playing anyone else in the world, then he probably wins today. I think from 7-2 to 7-7. I'm not too Judd [Trump] or Kyren [Wilson] could possibly withstand that. "To be able to withstand the pressure and to be the first person who stood up to him this week when he's come back like an absolute freight train, that's more pleasing than if I went on to win the match 10-4 or 10-5. To win it in this way from 9-8 down and the two breaks I made the last two frames, just amazing." It proved a nail-biting encounter in Jeddah as Robertson established a commanding 7-2 advantage only to discover himself trailing 9-8 following a stunning comeback from O'Sullivan. The Thunder from Down-Under then managed to pip O'Sullivan with a thrilling 10-9 victory to claim a £500,000 jackpot and rocket to third in the world rankings, now hot on the heels of Trump and Wilson. Whilst Robertson claimed the same amount that Zhao Xintong banked for capturing the World Snooker Championship earlier this year, O'Sullivan still secured a decent £200,000 windfall of his own as runner-up. He will now switch his focus to his British Open qualification battle with Lam Sanderson on Friday evening.