Latest news with #CrucibleCurse
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Kyren Wilson ready to follow Ronnie O'Sullivan's lead in bid to regain World Snooker Championship crown
KYREN Wilson has pledged to be more like Ronnie O'Sullivan in a bid to improve his performances. The decision came after his opening round exit at the World Snooker Championship at the hands of debutant Lei Peifan this year. 2 2 O'Sullivan voiced concerns on punditry duties that the 33-year-old defending champion might have spread himself too thin over a hectic snooker schedule. A receptive Wilson said to Metro: "I think definitely I'll take a leaf out of his book. "I think you want to stay hungry. You want to keep enjoying it. "And I think if you slog it out and you go tournament, tournament, tournament, tournament, it almost becomes too repetitive to the point where you stop enjoying it." The star did not feel impaired going into the tournament and was taken by surprise at his opponent. He said: "'It was definitely a unique feeling because that's probably the most confident I've ever gone into a World Championship. "I really, really fancied winning it. [Lei] played some really inspired snooker and just hit the ground running in the evening session. "So yeah, no complaints really." Wilson fell victim to snooker's infamous Crucible curse. The curse refers to the inability of a first-time winner to retain their title since 1977 when the tournament moved to Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. Reflecting on what was the biggest shock of the tournament with seven-time winner O'Sullivan could change Wilson's form. But it is unlikely to go down well with the fans who will want to see more matchups of the greats not fewer.
Straits Times
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
China's Lei Peifan stuns reigning snooker champion Kyren Wilson on Crucible debut
2024 winner Kyren Wilson is the latest to suffer the Crucible Curse. PHOTO: AFP LONDON - Chinese debutant Lei Peifan caused a huge shock on the first day of the snooker world championship as he stunned defending champion Kyren Wilson 10-9 at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. England's Wilson, who had already won four titles this season, appeared to have the first-round match under control as he recovered from losing the opening two frames to reel off six in a row to lead 6-2 in the best of 19 frame duel. But the ice-cool Lei stormed back in astonishing fashion to win seven frames in succession as Wilson lost his way. Wilson finally stopped the rot to win the 16th frame with a superb century clearance but missed a routine pot on the black early in the next frame to allow and Lei the chance to seal one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history. Lei looked set for victory when he fluked a red but then missed an easy red with the finish line in sight as he led 60-25. Wilson then returned to the table and win the frame on the black to close the gap to one frame. Again, Lei led in the next frame, but again he faltered and Wilson levelled for 9-9 to set up a decider. Wilson looked favourite then, but Lei took his chance in the final frame to claim victory with a composed break of 66. The 33-year-old Wilson is the latest player to suffer the so-called Crucible Curse which refers to the fact that no first-time champion has ever retained the title the following year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Inside the ‘Ding Junhui curse' that's struck at Crucible again after wreaking havoc SIXTEEN times this season alone
FORGET the Crucible Curse, Ding Junhui 's hex puts that to shame. And its most recent victim SIXTEEN matches this season. 2 The Ding Junhui Curse started last season at the Players Championship 2 If a player defeats Ding at an event, they are destined to lose their next match - and it struck again this week for Luca Brecel Basically, if a player defeats Ding at an event, they are destined to lose their next match. This spooky jinx has stalked EVERY opponent Ding has faced this season. It struck again for Brecel at the World Championships on Wednesday - but the Belgian has already been a part of the sequence this year. Brecel hammered Ding 13-4 in the second round in Sheffield last week, but succumbed 13-8 Judd Trump in the quarter-finals. READ MORE SNOOKER With Ding out of an event, his opponents have suffered defeat in the next round, including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Trump, TWICE over the last year. The Ding Junhui Curse was first activated at the 2024 Players Championship last February. Ding, 38, went out in the first round 6-4 to next match in the competition to Zhang Anda. And it extends over periods when Ding loses a final or gives a bye to an opponent after he pulls out of a competition. Most read in Snooker CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Even when Trump defeated Ding in the final of the 2024 World Open, The Ace lost his opening fixture at the next tournament - the Tour Championship . Selby looked destined to end the run after drubbing Ding 10-2 in the semi-finals of the Tour in Manchester earlier this month. Scary moment snooker fan collapses live on BBC during World Championship coverage The Leicester Jester led fellow four-time world champion Higgins 8-5 in the final, only to lose the final five frames in a 10-8 defeat. Even Ross Muir couldn't break the spell after Ding withdrew from their last-64 meeting at the German Masters in January. After receiving a walkover, the Scot was dumped out after losing 5-2 to Yuan Sijun in the next round. Apart from his title run at the International Championship in November, when Ding lifted the trophy with a 10-7 win over Chris Wakelin in Nanjing, every unfortunate rival to defeat the Chinese player has faced an instant demise in the next round. The Ding Junhui Curse in full: 2024 Players Championship Round 1: Ding 4-6 John Higgins Next round - Higgins loses 6-4 to Zhang Anda 2024 World Masters of Snooker Round 2: Ding 3-4 Ali Carter Next round - Carter loses 4-1 to Luca Brecel 2024 World Open Final: Ding 4-10 Judd Trump Trump loses his next match at the Tour Championship 10-4 to Mark Williams 2024 Tour Championship Quarter-Final: Ding 8-10 Mark Allen Next round - Allen loses 10-5 to Mark Williams 2024 World Championship Round 1: Ding 9-10 Jack Lisowski Next round - Lisowski loses 13-11 to Stuart Bingham 2024 Shanghai Masters Quarter-Final: Ding 3-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan Next round - O'Sullivan loses 10-3 to Judd Trump 2024 Xi'an Grand Prix Round 1: Ding 4-5 Alfie Burden Next round - Burden loses 5-4 to Xu Si 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters Last 32: Ding 4-5 Stuart Bingham Next round - Bingham loses 6-2 to Mark Williams English Open (Brentwood) - Ding did not play 2024 British Open Round 1: Ding 3-4 Aaron Hill Next round - Hill loses 4-1 to Mark Allen 2024 Wuhan Open Last 16: Ding 3-5 Chris Wakelin Next round - Wakelin loses 5-4 to Judd Trump 2024 International Championship - Ding wins the tournament 2024 Champion of Champions Round 1: Ding 0-4 Judd Trump Next round - Trump loses 6-4 to Neil Robertson 2024 UK Championship Last 16: Ding 5-6 Shaun Murphy Next round - Murphy loses 6-2 to Barry Hawkins Shoot Out (Swansea): Ding did not play 2024 Scottish Open Last 16: Ding 3-4 Luca Brecel Next round - Brecel loses 5-1 to Xiao Guodong 2024 Riyadh Season Championship Quarter-Final: Ding 0-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan Next round - O'Sullivan loses 4-2 to Mark Allen 2025 Masters Quarter-Final: Ding 3-6 Judd Trump Next round - Trump loses 6-3 to Kyren Wilson 2025 German Masters Ross Muir had a walkover win over Ding in Round 1 Next round - Muir loses 5-2 to Yuan Sijun 2025 World Open Last 16: Ding 2-5 Shaun Murphy Next round - Murphy loses 5-1 to Joe O'Connor 2025 World Grand Prix Last 32: Ding 3-4 Xu Si Next round - Xu loses 4-3 to Hossein Vafaei 2025 Players Championship Last 16: Ding 2-6 Mark Williams Next round - Williams loses 6-3 to Kyren Wilson 2025 Tour Championship Semi-final: Ding 2-10 Mark Selby Next round - Selby loses 10-8 to John Higgins 2025 World Championship Second round: Ding 4-13 Luca Brecel Next round - Brecel loses 13-8 to Judd Trump Robbie Williams was the last person to escape it nearly 14 months ago. At the 2024 Welsh Open, Williams defeated Ding 4-2 in the last 64 and went on to reach the last 16 where he bowed out to Mark Allen. This season, the stat began with O'Sullivan at the Shanghai Masters last July. O'Sullivan defeated Ding 6-3 before losing 10-3 to Trump in the semi-finals. Of course, while the new hex may only be a seasonal haunting, the 48-year-old 'Crucible Curse' shows no signs of being lifted. Simply put, that curse is the belief that no first-time world champion has ever successfully followed up with a defence in the next year. Defending champion World Snooker Championship 2025 WE are BACK at the Crucible for another thrilling fortnight of snooker action! There will be a new champion this year after reigning champ You can follow every frame of the tournament LIVE - plus the latest news, interviews and reaction - as it happens with our dedicated BLOG. Latest News Snooker Explained FULL schedule and results for 2025 How much prize money can be won? Who are the BBC snooker presenters and pundits?
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
World Snooker Championship 2025: Schedule and results as O'Sullivan and Trump progress to quarters
Connor Greaves, Sport SEO Editor Published: Invalid Date, ALL eyes have been on the Crucible as the very best cueists from around the globe battle it out at the World Snooker Championship - and there is a HUGE £500,000 jackpot. Last year's winner, Kyren Wilson, went into Sheffield as top seed after he claimed the crown with an 18-14 win over Jak Jones in the 2024 final. But the Kettering legend felt the raft of the Crucible Curse as he went crashing out in the first round at the hands of Chinese star Lei Peifan. 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 he has made a stunning return to snooker in Sheffield. John Higgins went 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. When is the World Snooker Championship 2025? The World Snooker Championship got underway on Saturday, April 19. The tournament will conclude on Monday, May 5. The Crucible in Sheffield will host. How to watch the World Snooker Championship 2025 BBC will air the World Snooker Championship across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four. The BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport app/website will provide fans with coverage of every ball potted from the opening round to the final. TNT Sports and discovery+ will also be airing the World Snooker Championship, but you must have a subscription to watch their service. World Snooker Championship 2025 schedule Saturday, April 19 (round one) 10am Xiao Guoddong 10-4 Matthew Selt Kyren Wilson 9-10 Lei Peifan 2:30pm Neil Robertson 8-10 Chris Wakelin Mark Williams 10-8 Wu Yize 7pm Barry Hawkins 9-10 Hossein Vafaei Sunday, April 20 (round one) 2:30pm Mark Allen 10-6 Fan Zhengyi Monday, April 21 (round one) 10am John Higgins 5-4 Joe O'Connor (first session) Jak Jones 4-10 Zhao Xintong 2:30pm Ding Junhui 6-3 Zak Surety (first session) John Higgins 10-7 Joe O'Connor 7pm Si Jiahui 6-3 David Gilbert (first session) Tuesday, April 22 (round one) 10am Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu (first session) Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells (first session) 2:30pm Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-4 Ali Carter (first session) Ding Junhui 10-7 Zak Surety (second session) 7pm Judd Trump 6-3 Zhou Yuelong (first session) Si Jiahui 10-6 David Gilbert (second session) Wednesday, April 23 (round one) 10am Zhang Anda 7-10 Pang Junxu (second session) Shaun Murphy 10-4 Daniel Wells (second session) 2:30pm Luca Brecel 5-4 Ryan Day (first session) Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4 Ali Carter (second session) 7pm Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston Judd Trump 10-4 Zhou Yuelong (second session) Thursday, April 24 (round two unless stated) 10am Luca Brecel 10-7 Ryan Day (second session) 1pm Chris Wakelin 6-2 Mark Allen (first session) 7pm John Higgins 8-8 Xiao Guodong (first session) Friday, April 25 10am Hossein Vafaei 4-4 Mark Williams (first session) Chris Wakelin 12-4 Mark Allen (second session) 2.30pm Lei Peifan 3-5 Zhao Xintong (first session) 7pm Hossein Vafaei 9-7 Mark Williams (second session) Chris Wakelin 13-6 Mark Allen Saturday, April 26 10am John Higgins 13-12 Xiao Guodong (second session) Lei Peifan 6-10 Zhao Xintong (second session) 2:30pm Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu 7pm Si Jiahui 5-3 Ben Woollaston Luca Brecel 7-1 Ding Junhui Sunday, April 27 10am Shaun Murphy 3-5 Judd Trump (first session) Lei Peifan 6-13 Zhao Xintong (third session) 2:30pm Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu (second session) Luca Brecel 7-1 Ding Junhui (second session) 7pm Si Jiahui 9-7 Ben Woollaston (second session) Shaun Murphy 6-10 Judd Trump (first session) Monday, April 28 1pm Si Jiahui 13-10 Ben Woollaston Shaun Murphy 10-13 Judd Trump 7pm Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-4 Pang Junxu Luca Brecel 13-4 Ding Junhui (third session) Tuesday, April 29 Quarter-finals 10am Zhao Xintong 6-2 Chris Wakelin (first session) John Higgins 5-3 Mark Williams (first session) 2.30pm Luca Brecel 3-5 Judd Trump (first session) Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui (first session) 7pm John Higgins 8-8 Mark Williams (second session) Zhao Xintong 12-4 Chris Wakelin (second session) Wednesday, April 30 Quarter-finals 10am John Higgins 8-8 Mark Williams (third session) Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui (second session) 2.30pm Luca Brecel 3-5 Judd Trump (second session) Zhao Xintong 12-4 Chris Wakelin (third session) 7pm TBC Thursday, May 1 Semi-finals TBC Friday, May 2 Semi-finals TBC Saturday, May 3 Semi-finals TBC Sunday, May 4 Final TBC TBC
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Steve Davis in disbelief as BBC snooker star responds to John Higgins dig
We are now approaching the business end of the World Snooker Championship, with the players preparing themselves for the quarter-finals of the prestigious event in Sheffield The World Snooker Championship at the iconic Crucible Theatre has reached its midpoint, and it's been nothing short of spellbinding. Kyren Wilson was the latest defending champion to succumb to the infamous 'Crucible Curse', crashing out in the first round to rookie Lei Peifan. Chris Wakelin also bested Mark Allen in their second-round match, despite the Northern Irishman managing a phenomenal 147 break on Friday. In doing so, Wakelin, along with Zhao Xintong, John Higgins and Mark Williams, punched his ticket to the quarter-finals. And as we await the conclusion of four more second-round matches, including Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Pang Junxu and Judd Trump vs Shaun Murphy, we bring you a round-up of the latest news from Sheffield. John Parrott sees funny side of John Higgins dig John Parrott couldn't help but laugh at a comment made by renowned Celtic fan John Higgins after he managed to scrape through the second round against Xiao Guodong. Celebrating Celtic's Scottish Premiership title victory on Saturday - the same day when Higgins narrowly edged out a win in the snooker marathon with a 13-12 finish - he took a cheeky swipe at rivals Rangers. In a post-match interview with Hazel Irvine, where she mentioned how he'd had quite the day, Higgins quipped: "I think that's erm, what it is that, 54 titles ahead of our rivals." Parrott was then heard laughing in the background, before saying: 'I like that dig. You couldn't resist it could you!'. Irvine, seemingly not catching on to the jibe right away, responded with: "Not that you can't count! 55 I'm hearing, but you'll take it!". Higgins had also taken a cheeky swipe at Rangers legend Ally McCoist earlier that day. Judd Trump's warning to Shaun Murphy Meanwhile, Trump had some bold words for Murphy ahead of their highly anticipated match. The World No. 1 claimed he was in The Magician's 'mind', having got the better of his rival by winning each of their last seven match-ups. He explained: "I think there's players recently I've had great records against. John Higgins, Mark Selby as well in ranking events, I've not lost for I don't even know how long, but a long time. 'There's certain players I feel comfortable playing and Shaun is one of them but I've also lost many times to him in the past. In the back of your head you think the more times you beat someone, the law of averages eventually you're going to lose. So there's that on the other hand. 'For me it's just about going out there and if I can get in front, get off to quick starts, put the long balls in then it puts Shaun under a lot of pressure because he knows what I'm capable of in those few games we've played this season.' Trump did say, however, that he holds great respect for Murphy, whose performance in the first game he described as 'superb'. Steve Davis hails star as 'jaw-dropping' Snooker legend Steve Davis has hailed Luca Brecel as the "most jaw-dropping player" in the World Snooker Championship following his extraordinary performance against Ding Junhui on Saturday. The 2023 world champion earned a standing ovation at the Crucible for his exceptional play, which handed him a dominant 7-1 lead over Ding. Despite Ding kicking off with an impressive 141 break, Brecel's aggressive playing style left him in a comfortable position before progressing. Six-time world champion Davis said on commentary for the BBC: 'We all have our favourites. But this is the most jaw-dropping player in the game, for me. He is astonishing. It's just ridiculous isn't it. The crowd absolutely loving it. You've just got to take your hat off to this performance. 'We've seen some great performances at the Crucible. The performance Luca put in to beat Mark Selby in the final two years ago was astonishing. But as a single session of snooker this is as jaw-dropping as I've ever seen. And he's done this to one of the greatest players that's ever held a cue, Ding Junhui. Incredible stuff.'
