World Snooker Championship 2025: Dates, full schedule, players, prize money and how to follow

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.

A year on, Wilson has become the latest victim of the infamous Crucible curse after being knocked out in the opening round.

The 33-year-old fell at the first hurdle in looking to become the first player to defend his world crown since 1977, after losing 10-9 against Chinese debutant Lei Peifan.

This is the 49th edition of the tournament, which is the most prestigious in snooker, with the rest of Wilson's rivals going for glory. 

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, alongside former winners Mark Selby, Judd Trump and Mark Williams, are among those eyeing the trophy. 

O'Sullivan's participation had been in doubt after a long spell away from events, but he's back 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 at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. 

Morning sessions 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.

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? 

Fallen champion Wilson told BBC Sport: ";It is really hard to take. I gave it my all, and Lei came out extremely positive this evening and potted some incredible balls.

"It really hurts to be honest. As a debutant he held himself together incredibly well and I'd like to wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament.

"He seems like quite a cool character. He showed no emotion at all."

Reflecting on the curse, he then added: "It's obviously been built up into something it's not, because other players have gone on to win it.

"I'm sure it'll be broken at some point but unfortunately I won't be that person."

World Snooker Championship: Full schedule

Round 1

Saturday, April 19 - Thursday, April 24

• Kyren Wilson 9-10 Lei Peifan
• Jak Jones 2-7 Zhao Xintong
• Neil Robertson 2-7 Chris Wakelin
• Mark Allen 10-6 Fang Zhengyi
• Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Ali Carter
• Zhang Anda vs Pang Junxu
• Si Jiahui 10-6 Dave Gilbert
• Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston
• John Higgins 10-7 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 10-7 Zak Surety
• Shaun Murphy 10-4 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