World Snooker Championship 2025 Results – Zhao Xintong Beats Williams 18-12

Zhao Xintong made history at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship in May 2025. The 28-year-old defeated Mark Williams of Wales 18-12 in the final, completing a remarkable journey back to the sport following a match-fixing ban that had sidelined him from professional competition.

The tournament ran from April 19 to May 5, 2025, featuring 32 players competing across multiple rounds in the traditional best-of format. Zhao entered as an amateur qualifier and progressed through the draw with dominant performances, culminating in a semifinal victory over seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan before defeating Williams in the final.

The championship attracted significant attention due to Zhao’s unprecedented status as an amateur winner and Williams’ run as a 50-year-old finalist, making him the oldest player to reach the Crucible final in the event’s history.

Who Won the 2025 World Snooker Championship?

Key Insights from the 2025 Championship

• Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese player to claim the world title at the Crucible Theatre
• He was the first amateur to win the championship since the professional tour restructuring
• The victory came less than two years after Zhao returned from a match-fixing suspension
• Williams, aged 50, became the oldest finalist in World Championship history
• Zhao defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in the semifinals
• Defending champion Kyren Wilson lost in the first round to Lei Peifan
• World number one Judd Trump was eliminated by Williams in the semifinals

Snapshot: 2025 World Championship at a Glance

2025 World Snooker Championship Draw and Key Matches

The 2025 World Snooker Championship featured a 32-player draw with 16 seeded players facing 16 qualifiers who progressed through earlier rounds. The format escalated from best-of-19 frames in Round One to best-of-35 frames in the final, following the standard Crucible progression.

Tournament Structure

The draw placed top seeds against qualifiers in the opening round, with matches structured across five sessions per round. The BBC and Discovery+ broadcast the event throughout the United Kingdom, providing extensive coverage of each stage from the first round through to the final.

Notable Upsets in the Draw

Several unexpected results shaped the tournament’s trajectory. The most significant upset came when Williams, seeded lower in the draw, defeated world number one Judd Trump 17-14 in the semifinals. This victory proved Williams had lost none of his competitive edge despite his age.

Defending champion Kyren Wilson suffered an early exit in the first round, losing to qualifier Lei Peifan. This result opened the draw considerably and allowed several qualifiers to advance further than expected.

Zhao’s path included victories over Jak Jones in qualifying and Chris Wakelin in the quarterfinals, setting up his semifinal meeting with O’Sullivan.

Full 2025 World Snooker Championship Results and Scores

Final

Zhao clinched the title during the fourth session on May 5, leading 17-8 before the final frame concluded at 18-12. The match was decided over two days, with sessions on May 4 (1pm and 7pm BST) and May 5 (1pm and 7pm BST).

Semifinals (Best of 33 Frames)

Zhao dominated his semifinal against O’Sullivan, building a commanding lead across sessions. Williams earned his place in the final by overcoming world number one Judd Trump in a tightly contested match that extended across three days of play.

Quarterfinals (Best of 25 Frames)

Second Round Highlights (Best of 25 Frames)

Second round action saw several high-profile players advance. O’Sullivan defeated Pang Junxu 13-4 in a dominant performance. Luca Brecel eliminated Ding Junhui 13-4 in a rematch of their previous encounters. Chris Wakelin upset Mark Allen 13-6 to reach the quarterfinals. Ben Woollaston defeated Mark Selby 10-8, ending the three-time champion’s title defence.

2025 World Snooker Championship Dates and Schedule

The 2025 World Snooker Championship ran across 17 days at the Crucible Theatre, following a structured daily schedule with afternoon and evening sessions.

Tournament Timeline

1. Qualifying Rounds: Early April (preliminary stages)
2. Round One: April 19–23 (best of 19 frames)
3. Round Two: April 24–28 (best of 25 frames)
4. Quarterfinals: April 29–30 (best of 25 frames)
5. Semifinals: May 1–3 (best of 33 frames)
6. Final: May 4–5 (best of 35 frames)

The final concluded on May 5, with the afternoon session bringing Zhao’s victory at 18-12. Each day featured two sessions: one starting at 1pm BST and an evening session at 7pm BST, allowing comprehensive broadcast coverage across multiple time zones.

2025 World Snooker Championship Prize Money Breakdown

While official 2025 prize money details were unavailable in the sources reviewed, the championship traditionally offers one of the largest prize funds in professional snooker outside of the Triple Crown events.

What Zhao Xintong’s Victory Means for the Sport

Zhao Xintong’s triumph represented more than an individual achievement. His victory marked a watershed moment for snooker’s global reach, confirming China’s emergence as a dominant force in the sport. Before this result, no Chinese player had ever won the world title at the Crucible Theatre.

The manner of Zhao’s victory added further significance. After serving a ban following match-fixing investigations that affected several Chinese players, he returned as an amateur and navigated the entire draw without losing his composure in key moments. His semifinal victory over O’Sullivan, who had previously described him as the most talented player of his generation, validated that assessment.

For Williams, reaching the final at 50 years old demonstrated remarkable longevity. His elimination of top seed Trump in the semifinals proved that tactical experience and ball control remain effective regardless of age, offering inspiration for players throughout the tour. Those following other major sporting events from the same period may also be interested in the Rugby Six Nations 2025 results.

Sources and References

“Zhao Xintong claimed his first world title as an amateur, dominating semifinals against seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and overcoming Williams in the final.”

Results and match data were compiled from multiple sports outlets. Detailed frame-by-frame statistics were available through dedicated snooker databases. The Crucible Theatre has hosted the championship since 1977, making it one of the most established venues in professional sport.

• Sky Sports: Championship Schedule, Scores and Results
• The Independent: Final Results, Schedule, Draw
• Sporting News: Results, Latest Scores
• Cuetracker: Tournament Statistics

Summary

Zhao Xintong’s 18-12 victory over Mark Williams at the 2025 World Snooker Championship concluded a historic tournament at the Crucible Theatre. The Chinese player’s triumph as an amateur, following his return from suspension, marked the first world title for any player from China or Asia at the Sheffield venue. His path included dominant wins over qualifiers and seeded players alike, culminating in a semifinal defeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan and a final victory over Williams, who became the oldest finalist in championship history. For those interested in other major sporting events from the same period, the Rugby Six Nations 2025 and Club World Cup Final 2025 also produced notable results.

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