World Snooker Championship 2025 Draw | Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter to renew rivalry

The draw for the 2025 World Snooker Championship has been confirmed, with Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter set to renew their fierce rivalry at The Crucible.

The sport’s annual show-piece features the world’s top 16 ranked players alongside a further 16 qualifiers as they battle it out for £2.4 million in prize money from April 19 to May 5.

A host of decorated stars and exciting emerging talents lock horns at the sport’s spiritual home – The Crucible Theatre – for the 49th consecutive staging in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan is set to resume his bid for a record-breaking eighth world title, and subject to confirmation of his participation in this year’s showpiece, ‘The Rocket’ will mark his return to competitive action with a tie against Essex rival Carter.

The pair have contested two previous World Championship finals and have been embroiled in a number of fiery encounters both on and off the baize in recent years,

Kyren Wilson, who secured a memorable maiden world title last year, begins the defence of his Crucible crown with a tie against Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan.

Fresh from his terrific Tour Championship triumph, third seed John Higgins begins his bid for a fifth Crucible crown with a showdown against Joe O’Connor.

Fourth seed Mark Selby, who has also claimed this title on four occasions, will start out against fellow Leicester cueist Ben Woollaston.

Three-time World Champion Mark Williams will take on Wu Yize – one of a record ten Chinese competitors in this year’s tournament.

World number one Judd Trump, the 2019 World Champion and twice a runner-up, has been drawn to face Zhou Yuelong,

Ninth seed Neil Robertson, the 2010 World Champion, meets Chris Wakelin, while 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel comes up against Ryan Day.

Reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy, who was famously crowned World Champion as a qualifier 20 years ago, faces Daniel Wells – one of three debutants in this year’s field.

The full schedule of play will be confirmed in due course.

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World Snooker Championship 2025 Draw

Kyren Wilson (1) v Lei Peifan
Jak Jones (16) v Zhao Xintong
Neil Robertson (9) v Chris Wakelin
Mark Allen (8) v Fan Zhengyi
Ronnie O’Sullivan (5) v Ali Carter
Zhang Anda (12) v Pang Junxu
Si Jiahui (13) v David Gilbert
Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston
John Higgins (3) v Joe O’Connor
Xiao Guodong (14) v Matthew Selt
Barry Hawkins (11) v Hossein Vafaei
Mark Williams (6) v Wu Yize
Luca Brecel (7) v Ryan Day
Ding Junhui (10) v Zak Surety
Shaun Murphy (15) v Daniel Wells
Judd Trump (2) v Zhou Yuelong