World Snooker Championship 2025: Dates, full schedule, players, prize money and how to follow as Kyren Wilson defends title

The 2025 World Snooker Championship is underway, and the best players on the planet are competing for glory.

Last year at the Crucible, Kyren Wilson lifted the title for the first time as he beat Jak Jones 18-14 in the final.

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A year on, Jones is now in danger of an early exit, as China’s Zhao Xintong leads 7-2 in their first-round match.

This is the 49th edition of the tournament, which is the most prestigious in snooker, and Wilson is going for glory again. 

He is set to be challenged by seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, while former winners Mark Selby, Judd Trump and Mark Williams will be among those eyeing the trophy. 

O’Sullivan’s participation had been in doubt after a long spell away from events, but he’s still scheduled to return to compete, and he’s got a tasty first-round draw.

World Snooker Championship: Date and how to follow

The 2025 World Snooker Championship began on April 19 and will run until May 5.

The tournament will be held at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. 

Morning sessions are scheduled to begin at 10am each day, with afternoon sessions starting at 2:30pm and evening sessions at 7pm. 

The final will begin at 1pm on Sunday, May 4 and Monday, May 5, with the evening sessions for the final beginning at 7pm.

Fans will be able to watch the action live and free-to-air across the BBC and on iPlayer. 

talkSPORT will also have live coverage of the action. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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World Snooker Championship: Players 

The players for the World Snooker Championship are yet to be fully confirmed.

The top 16 ranked stars will be joined by 16 qualifiers, with 32 players taking part in total.

Qualifying rounds are ongoing, and the final line-up will be determined by the end of play on Wednesday, April 16.

The draw for the first round will then follow on Thursday, April 17.

Below is the list of 16 players confirmed to be entering, while another 16 will have joined them by the weekend.

1. Kyren Wilson
2. Judd Trump
3. Mark Selby
4. Ronnie O’Sullivan
5. Mark Williams
6. John Higgins
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

World Snooker Championship: Prize money 

The prize pot is set to be a whopping £2.3million in total. 

That is split between finishing positions, with the winner claiming £500,000. 

The runner-up in the tournament takes home £200,000 while losing semi-finalists will be rewarded with £100,000. 

Quarter-finalists received £50,000 each, and if eliminated in the last 16, players are able to walk away with £30,000 each. 

There is also a £15,000 bonus for the highest break in the World Championship.

World Snooker Championship: What has been said? 

Speaking to talkSPORT, Wilson admitted he still fears the threat of O’Sullivan despite the legend’s time away from the sport.

“He’s obviously more than capable,” the reigning champion said. “He did it after having a year off and came back and won the World Championships. He’s that good.

“I think it’s key that obviously he keeps himself in good shape and he’s still very hungry to win. You certainly can’t write that man off.”

He also spoke on his ‘biggest rival’ in the tournament, Trump, saying: “He’s at world number one and I’m world number two.

“We’ve played three finals this season, so it tells you all you need to know at the moment.

“We’re probably the two most in-form players of the season, but there’s still so many top, top players around that have also won events.”

World Snooker Championship: Full schedule

The first round has produced some great ties, including O’Sullivan facing his great rival Ali Carter.

The two really don’t get on and have exchanged barbs in the media.

Elsewhere, defending champion Wilson kicks off his defence against Lei Peifan.

The other standout tie sees Barry Hawkins take on outspoken Hossein Vafaei.

Round 1

Saturday, April 19 – Thursday, April 24

• Kyren Wilson 6-6 Lei Peifan
• Jak Jones 2-7 Zhao Xintong
• Neil Robertson 2-7 Chris Wakelin
• Mark Allen vs Fang Zhengyi
• Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Ali Carter
• Zhang Anda vs Pang Junxu
• Si Jiahui vs  Dave Gilbert
• Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston
• John Higgins vs Joe O’Connor
• Xiao Guodong 7-2 Matthew Selt
• Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei
• Mark Williams 5-4 Wu Yize
• Luca Brecel vs Ryan Day
• Ding Junhui vs Zak Surety
• Shaun Murphy vs Dan Wells
• Judd Trump vs Zhou Yuelong

Round 2 / Last 16

• Thursday, April 24 – Monday, April 28

Quarter-finals

• Tuesday, April 29 – Wednesday, April 30

Semi-finals

• Thursday, May 1 – Saturday, May 3

Final

• Sunday, May 4 – Monday, May 5