Who’s Set to Shine at The Crucible? A Look at World Snooker Championship 2025 Odds
World Snooker Championship 2025: What You’ll Learn
- Understanding Odds: Gain insights into how odds work in the context of the World Snooker Championship 2025 and what they mean for bettors.
- Favorites and Underdogs: Discover which players are currently favored to win the 2025 championship and who are considered the dark horses.
- Factors Affecting Odds: Learn about the various factors that influence the betting odds, including player form, historical performance, and recent tournament results.
- Betting Strategies: Explore effective betting strategies and snooker betting tips for making informed decisions when using betting sites for the World Snooker Championship 2025.
- Expert Predictions: Access expert predictions from online bookmakers and analyses that highlight potential outcomes and surprises in the upcoming tournament.
The World Snooker Championship, held annually at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre since 1977, is a 17-day marathon of precision, nerve, and tactical brilliance. Snooker has evolved from a smoky pastime into a global spectacle, captivating audiences from Hong Kong to Europe and the WSC remains its biggest event.
The 2025 edition takes place with the game at a historic crossroads. Icons like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams are defying time and potentially coming to the end of their career, while newcomers like Judd Trump and previous winners like Kyren Wilson are coming into positions of prominence.
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This year’s event underscores a unique challenge—ranking contenders across eras and styles. How does O’Sullivan’s genius compare to Trump’s aggression?
Can tactical maestros like Mark Selby outlast break-building phenoms like Neil Robertson? Who will end up snatching the distinctive World Championship trophy and claiming their £500,000 share of the £2.3 million prize pot?
In this guide, our experts have dissected the top contenders, weighing their odds, recent form, Crucible pedigree, and the “X-factor” that defines snooker’s greats.
From veterans chasing legacy to rising stars hungry for glory, the 2025 Championship promises to be an outstanding festival of snooker. So, without further ado, let’s see who has the highest chance of securing victory.
Current Top 10 World Snooker Championship Players & Odds
1. Judd Trump
- Current odds: 7/2
A titan with the cue in hand, Judd Trump is undoubtedly a formidable contender for the 2025 World Snooker Championship. Trump has been a dominant force since turning pro in 2005, boasting a 2019 world title, over 30 ranking crowns, and a record six ranking wins in a single season.
A hugely successful player, Trump is renowned for his aggressive and explosive flair, audacious long-potting, and prolific break-building. He has notched up over 1,000 centuries and eight maximums.
Winning the 2024 UK Championship and Saudi Masters sealed his position as world number one going into the tournament. Despite Crucible near-misses since 2019, his tactical adaptability, mental toughness, and knack for astonishing comebacks position him as a prime candidate to reclaim snooker’s ultimate prize.
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2. Kyren Wilson
- Current odds: 7/1
The reigning 2024 World Snooker Champion Kyren Wilson is undoubtedly among the biggest contenders to seal back-to-back titles. Blending tactical precision, mental resilience, and proven pedigree in high-stakes matches, the Kettering-born English player is a product of the modern era dominated by break-building specialists.
Wilson has established himself as one of snooker’s top talents with 10 ranking titles, including his 2024 World Championship title, where he defeated Jak Jones 18-14.
Known for his steely composure, tactical versatility, and ability to thrive under pressure, Wilson combines safety play with explosive scoring, achieving over 500 career centuries and five maximum breaks in his career.
Wilson has secured victories in several competitions recently, including the 2024 Northern Ireland Open and the 2025 German Masters.
His experience in multiple Triple Crown finals—including a heartbreaking 2020 World Championship loss to icon Ronnie O’Sullivan—has forged a champion’s mindset.
With a game built for endurance and a knack for peaking at Crucible, Wilson’s blend of break-building prowess and proven ability to navigate marathon matches positions him as a strong favorite to defend his title.
3. Ronnie O’Sullivan
- Current odds: 8/1
Ronnie “The Rocket” O’Sullivan is, simply put, one of snooker’s most electrifying talents, one of the richest players, and a true snooker legend. Despite nearing the age of 50, O’Sullivan enters the 2025 World Snooker Championship as a perennial favorite thanks to his era-defining career and status as one of the all-time greats in the history of the game.
With 23 Triple Crown victories and over 1,200 centuries, he is known for his blistering speed, ambidextrous precision, and genius on the table.
O’Sullivan’s attacking style and break-building mastery remain unmatched. His 2022 and 2024 triumphs—setting records as the oldest UK Championship and Masters winner—prove his enduring dominance.
While age and a packed schedule pose challenges, his unrivalled big-match temperament, recent form, and hunger to surpass Stephen Hendry’s seven-world-title mark make him a formidable threat.
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4. Mark Williams
- Current odds: 22/1
The Welsh Potting Machine, Mark Williams, is looking to seal a fourth World Championship title in 2025 despite being 50 years old.
World famous for his effortless long potting and unflappable demeanour, William has defied age with recent triumphs like the 2024 Tour Championship, overturning a 5-3 deficit against Ronnie O’Sullivan to defeat the fellow great 10-5.
A master of adaptability, his unorthodox slot selection, including underarm strokes and one-handed escapes, means Williams is box-office and a must-watch during the tournament.
Part of the “Class of 92” alongside John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, Williams has a blend of skill and clutch mentality that makes him a regular threat at the Crucible. While his younger rivals may test his stamina, his 2024 form shows that a fourth-world title might not be out of reach for Mark Williams.
5. John Higgins
- Current odds: 16/1
Another member of the famed Class of 92, John Higgins, remains one of the major contenders for the 2025 World Snooker Championships.
A four-time world champion and holder of 32 ranking titles, the third-highest all-time figure, Higgins is a master of safety play and peerless break-building, exemplified by his 13 maximum breaks and over 1,000 career centuries.
Despite recent near misses, including three consecutive World Championship finals in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and a loss in the 2024 British Open final, his resilience is unmatched.
After winning the 2025 World Open, he became the oldest ranking event winner since 1982 at age 49. Higgins’ 29-year unbeaten streak in the top 16 means he cannot be ruled out in Sheffield.
6. Luca Brecel
- Current odds: 28/1
Luca Brecel, the Belgian Bullet, is a trailblazer for snooker in his home country. The first mainland European World Snooker Champion and a four-time ranking title winner, his audacious attacking style featuring fearless long-potting and creative shot selection complements his mental resilience.
This includes overturning a 14-5 deficit against Si Jiahui en route to winning a Crucible triumph.
Brecel thrives under pressure, dismantling legends of the game like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby in high-stakes matches.
While he suffered a dip in his form throughout 2023 and 2024, he worked hard to return to form. Brecel also has the ability to peak at majors and adapt tactically, making him a consistent threat when the game’s best descend on Sheffield.
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7. Mark Allen
- Current odds: 14/1
Mark Allen is another dominant figure in the modern era, boasting 11 ranking titles, two Triple Crown wins, and a 2018 Masters and 2022 UK Championship win, leading to a career-high number 1 world ranking in 2024.
His powerful break-building, including four 147 breaks and over 600 centuries, makes him a leading contender to win at the Crucible.
Despite falling short in two World Championship semi-finals in 2009 and 2023, his recent form, including three ranking titles between 2022 and 2023 and a 2024 Players Championship victory, highlights the threat he poses to the tournament in 2025.
Allen’s tactical adaptability and resilience under pressure position him as a serious challenge to claim a maiden Crucible victory.
8. Ding Junhui
- Current odds: 22/1
The greatest Chinese player of his generation, Ding Junhui, is credited with popularizing snooker in his home nation and transforming the sport in China.
A three-time UK champion and a 2011 Masters winner, Ding’s precision, break-building, and ability to perform under pressure culminated in his 2016 World Championship final appearance, which was the first by an Asian player.
With over 600 century breaks and seven maximums, his smooth cue action and close control underscore his elite skill. Despite a recent dip in form, his 2024 International Championship victory signalled a resurgence and positioned him as a contender for a maiden World Championship victory.
Ding’s legacy as a trailblazer, his technical mastery and his ability to thrive in marquee events put him as a serious dark horse for the tournament.
9. Mark Selby
- Current odds: 7/1
The Jester from Leicester, Mark Selby, surely ranks as one of the biggest contenders to win the 2025 World Snooker Championship. A four-time world champion and a holder of 24 ranking titles, Selby dominated the mid-2010s with relentless safety play, precision on the break, and the ability to thrive under pressure.
He has been nicknamed “The Torturer” for grinding down opponents.
His defining trait, his mental fortitude, has seen him claw back from seemingly impossible positions, including his 18-14 comeback win against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2014 final at the Crucible.
Despite a record 800 career victories, Selby has been inconsistent in recent years. Still, his ability to peak at the Crucible – where he made the first World Championship maximum break in 2013 – underscores his ability to challenge for the ultimate prize.
Selby might not have age on his side, but he has tactical IQ, clutch temperament, and hunger to offer in droves.
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10. Neil Robertson
- Current odds: 10/1
The Thunder from Down Under, Neil Robertson, is a genuine contender for the 2025 World Snooker Championship. Robertson boasts a sole World Championship title, three UK Championships, and two Masters victories, making him the only non-UK player to complete snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown.
A prolific break-builder with over 900 centuries, including a record 103 in a single season, Robertson’s aggressive, precise style continues to pose a threat.
His recent 2025 World Grand Prix victory shows that snooker fans shouldn’t discount Robertson adding to his single title at the Crucible in 2025.
While his 2024 Crucible absence highlighted his inconsistency, Robertson’s recent resurgence and unmatched experience in multi-session matches (25 ranking titles) position him as a dangerous outsider.
At 43, his aggressive style, refined through eras dominated by O’Sullivan and Selby, could exploit younger opponents’ nerves, making him a dark horse to reclaim snooker’s ultimate prize.
World Snooker Championship 2025: Masters of the Green Baize
The highlight of the snooker calendar, the 2025 World Snooker Championship is set to feature several competitors with generational talent, tactical mastery, and resurgent dark horses.
Judd Trump, world number one and holder of six titles, currently leads the betting markets as a 7/2 favorite. 2024 Champion Kyren Wilson, 7/1 second favorite, is also a top contender, although historical pressure to defend a title might see him fall in some snooker fans’ opinions.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is always a magnet for bettors’ wagers due to his unmatched legacy and recent Triple Crown wins, despite questions about endurance. Veteran Mark Williams and John Higgins defy age with tactical adaptability, offering value for wagerers looking for a dark horse.
International players like Luca Brecel, Ding Junhui, and Neil Robertson can also challenge, with odds valued at 28/1, 22/1, and 10/1, respectively.
Some bettors will look at Mark Allen, fresh off his 2024 Players Championship valued at 14/1, and four-time world champion Mark Selby, who remains a tactical threat and good value in the betting market at around 7/1.
Whoever comes out on top, the 2025 World Championship is sure to provide drama, excitement, and top-quality snooker for the game’s spiritual home.
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