World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O'Sullivan LEADS Pang Junxu, Williams THROUGH
THE World Snooker Championship is rolling on at pace at the Crucible - with the sport's biggest names back in action.
John Higgins is currently locked in a tense battle with Xiao Guodong as the pair will return in the evening to finish their tight-edge tie.
While 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.
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Follow ALL the action from the Crucible Theatre with our live blog below...
19th Apr 2025, 11:42 By Nyle Smith
Latest scores - Morning session
Selt pulls one back at long last!
The Englishman was trailing 3-0 and looked down and out but he played a brilliant frame to give himself a glimmer of hope.
Could the comeback be on?
Kyren Wilson 2-2 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 3-1 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 11:23 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
Not to be for Selt, who can't reel in Guodong's lead.
It's 3-0 to the Chinese star and a big frame coming up for the Englishman.
He will be desperate to get on the board before the mid-session interval.
Over on Table 1, Wilson and Peifan are already taking a breather.
Kyren Wilson 2-2 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 3-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 11:18 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
Matthew Selt is battling over on Table 2.
He looked set to go 3-0 down in the blink of an eye, with Xiao Guodong again dominating a one-sided third frame.
But after the Chinese star missed an easy red, Selt has got the snooker he needs and currently trails 73-35.
On Table 1, we're all level. Wilson rattles in another break of 78 and looks to have hit his stride.
Kyren Wilson 2-2 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 2-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 11:03 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
A strong response from the defending champion.
Wilson looks fired up after that little break to compose himself and appears on for a big century.
He has to settle for a break of 82 after rattling the jaws with a long red.
But it's enough to half the deficit.
Kyren Wilson 1-2 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 2-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:59 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
So far, it's a good day for the Chinese challengers at the Crucible.
A first century break of the Championships as Xiao Guodong rattles in a brilliant 120.
Kyren Wilson 0-2 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 2-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:52 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
What a start this is from Lei Peifan.
He's settled in brilliantly and dominates the second frame, taking it 71-12.
Wilson marches off to the dressing rooms to settle down. He missed an early black in that frame and looks nervy.
Kyren Wilson 0-2 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 1-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:44 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
It's first blood to Xiao Guodong over on Table 2.
After a cagey start, the Chinese star shows off his skills with a silky break of 69.
Kyren Wilson 0-1 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 1-0 Matthew Selt
19th Apr 2025, 10:37 By Jim Sheridan
Latest scores – Morning session
A strong start for the 21-year-old from China.
Wilson can't take advantage of being let back onto the table, missing an audacious double attempt on a difficult red.
Peifan returns and clears the remaining reds, but can't find the yellow.
No matter - he takes the opener 70-32.
Over on the other table, Xiao Guodong and Matthew Selt are exchanging safety shots in a cagey first frame.
Kyren Wilson 0-1 Lei Peifan
Xiao Guodong 0-0 Matthew Selt
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
19th Apr 2025, 09:47 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.
The news was confirmed during Arsenal's 2-1 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday - much to the surprise of viewers.
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.
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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