World Snooker Championship 2025

Probably only three more years of snooker at the Crucible, sadly.

Fantastic performance in qualifying today from Zhao Xintong. Best match I've seen in a while. He won 10-8 against Elliot Slessor, who himself played very well. I think Zhao's attacking style will defeat his chances against the elite 16, but he'll entertain royally for as long as he stays in the main tournament

 

Will be going next week as usual. Wonder if the Crucible curse will strike Kyren?
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Higgins, Robertson or Ding for me. O'Sullivan will win his eighth title in Dubai or China.

 

I have the semis between Wilson, Selby, Higgins and Trump. But I can't pick a winner. Will Ronnie show?

 

I don't think he will. Repeating myself but I think he likes his comforts. If it came to Dubai or China he'd be in his element.

 

The allure of riches from the middle and/or far east will sadly prove too much for Hearn.

But if the World Championship does move then why don't they permanently move the UK Championship to Sheffield?

It would mean the "home of snooker" would still host one of the triple crown events.

 

Barbican a better venue.

 

But you're much further away from the action. The whole point of the Crucible is that it's intense cos the crowd is right on top of the players. It's unique.

 

If Sheffield loses the World Championship they would only have themselves to blame. They were lucky to have their current contract renewed. Barry Hearn has warned them for many years about moving with the timed and modernising so they have a venue fit for the biggest event of the year.

Sheffield Council continue to call his bluff and there will only be one winner.

 

What about Preston?

 

Granted York is further to get to.

 

If they did everything Hearn would like them to they'd still lose out because Qatar, China or Saudi would put up megabucks in prize money to get the tournament. In times of tight local finances, Sheffield is right not to gamble. That's notwithstanding that we'd all be sorry to see it leave.

 

Sheffield? Move with the times? I think that city gave up that game during the middle ages

 

Aww come on lass lol, don't put pressure on our Kyran ehh.
Your the biggest member of the Kyran Wilson fan club aren't you, but he's going to be under pressure as the defending champion.
I'd like to see Mark Allen and Judd Trump do well, I've just got this weird left handed thing, as I think I've already said on here.

 

Here's the top (16) seeds anyway...

Full seedings:
1) Kyren Wilson, 2) Judd Trump, 3) John Higgins, 4) Mark Selby, 5) Ronnie O'Sullivan, 6) Mark Williams, 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.

So Kyran is the number 1 seed, and Ronnie is only number 5.
There are more Asian players now amongst the top seeds, so I wonder which of them will win it for the first time.

 

It’s incredible to see O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams still occupying 3 of the top 6 seedlings.
They’ve won a few titles between them and have all had ups and downs over the years.
Higgins is the winner in my opinion

 

It'll be a very sad day when Hearn takes the cash. But the majority of thr players will support that too I guess.

Not seen much build up as yet. How many times has Ronnie threatened to retire so far?

 

This 100%, at the end of the day the snooker isn’t going to make or break Sheffield or the crucible theatre, they can’t compete with oil money anyway.

 

The Sheikh's are vacuuming up all the big events.

 

Sheffield Council wouldn't be gambling. Having the World Championship is a major money maker for the area and building a bigger new Crucible to keep it there would make them even more. They could even keep the current Cruicible for the secondary game.

It would be like Tennis events with the bigger game at the bigger venue. You would still have two games happening at the same time, but without the divider between the tables.