World Snooker Championship 2025 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in World Snooker Championship 18 April 2025

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Neil Robertson fuelled by “painful” World Championship absence ahead of Crucible return

Wilson begins his title defence on Saturday (Phil Duncan/Every Second Media Credit: Every Second Media/Alamy Live News)

Kyren Wilson will begin the defence of his Crucible title on Saturday as the 2025 World Championship gets under way in Sheffield.

The waiting is over for snooker fans around the world, as the 17-day marathon commences at the Crucible Theatre, where three World champions are joined by a further five ranking event winners on day one.

Following tradition, Wilson will launch the tournament when he is introduced as the reigning Crucible king during the morning session, as he takes on debutant Lei Peifan.

The Warrior is aiming to become the first player to break the notorious “Crucible Curse” by successfully defending his maiden crown in Sheffield.

He is certainly in the form to do so, having won four ranking titles this season – including the German Masters and Players Championship – as well as reaching the Masters final.

At least a quarter-finalist in seven of his 10 previous Crucible appearances, Wilson will be confident of going deep once again this year.

Standing in his way is Scottish Open champion Lei, who only returned to the tour at the start of the season.

Nevertheless, the Chinese has certainly made up for lost time – defeating the likes of Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen on the way to triumphing in Edinburgh – as well as securing his Crucible bow.

Meanwhile, Neil Robertson returns for his 20th appearance in Sheffield, having missed out 12 months ago for the first time since 2004.

The 2010 champion has also regained his place in the winner’s circle this season, capturing the English Open and World Grand Prix, with his close work alongside a sports psychologist and coach Joe Perry – while also switching to a titanium ferrule – paying dividends.

The Thunder goes up against International Championship finalist – and recent member of the top 16 – Chris Wakelin, who is back in Sheffield for the first time since 2022 and seeking a first victory in four appearances.

This year marks the 27th appearance for three-time champion Mark Williams, who locks horns with rising Chinese star Wu Yize.

The Welshman, who turned 50 in March, may not be feeling overly confident due to his recent eyesight problems, but has demonstrated his ability to still produce the goods this season, having triumphed at the Champion of Champions last November.

His opponent has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, reaching the English and Scottish Open finals, while he recovered from 4-0 down to edge out two-time World finalist Matthew Stevens 10-9 on Judgement Day.

Elsewhere, Barry Hawkins begins his 19th Crucible campaign against Hossein Vafaei, who is back for a fourth straight appearance after hitting seven centuries during his victories over Duane Jones and Wang Yuchen in qualifying.

The Hawk was runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2013 – and reached a further four semi-finals – but this season’s UK Championship and German Masters finalist is looking to get back on track, having not won a match here since 2021.

Hawkins certainly appeared in the form to do so, though, during the recent Tour Championship, as he hit five centuries on the way to a 10-1 rout of Shaun Murphy, and also beat Judd Trump 10-5 before succumbing to eventual champion John Higgins.

Xiao Guodong returns to the Crucible after a seven-year absence, but does so as a seed for the first time following a memorable campaign, in which he won his maiden ranking title at the Wuhan Open.

Matthew Selt is his opponent. The former Indian Open champion is looking to record a victory here at the fifth time of asking, having recovered from 8-3 down to beat good friend Jimmy Robertson 10-9 on the final black on Judgement Day.

Play gets under way at 10am BST on Saturday with all first-round matches contested over the best of 19 frames at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

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