World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O’Sullivan resumes clash against foe Ali Carter, Trump LEADS Zhou
WORLD Snooker Championship action is rolling on at pace from the iconic Crucible as Ronnie O'Sullivan resumes his tense match against rival Ali Carter!
The Rocket narrowly leads 5-4 but Carter battled back to set up the perilous tie.
While World No 1 Judd Trump is beating Zhou Yuelong 6-3 in his tournament opener as he bids to become only the 10th multiple champion of the Crucible era.
And there will be a new champion this year - after Kyren Wilson suffered a shock loss to Lei Peifan in his opener.
- Start time: 10am BST
- Live stream: BBC iPlayer
- TV channel: BBC One / Two / Four
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Follow ALL the action from the Crucible Theatre with our live blog below...
Latest scores – Morning session
It's very much game on.
Junxu is allowed back on the baize and makes no mistake in sealing the frame 93-14.
- Zhang Anda 7-6 Pang Junxu
Credit: Alamy Latest scores – Morning session
Back underway in this epic between Anda and Junxu.
Pang makes a strong start to the frame, racing into a 35-0 lead.
But a missed red has let Zhang back to the table...
- Zhang Anda 7-5 Pang Junxu
Still to come
Play set to resume soon on Table 1, with Anda still leading fellow Chinese star Junxu by two frames.
There's a host of action throughout the day at the Crucible, with some big names still to come.
Ronnie and 2023 champ Luca Brecel expected on the table from 2.30pm, before Judd Trump and Mark Selby play this evening.
- Zhang Anda 7-5 Pang Junxu (live now)
- Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-4 Ali Carter (2.30pm)
- Judd Trump 6-3 Zhou Yuelong (7pm)
- Luca Brecel vs Ryan Day (2.30pm)
- Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston (7pm)
Credit: PA
Latest scores – Morning session
A real slog this on Table 1, with the score now 2-2 in this morning's session.
Zhang has been nowhere near his best but manages to re-establish his two-frame cushion as we head into the interval.
- Zhang Anda 7-5 Pang Junxu
Latest scores – Morning session
Shaun Murphy is through to the last-16.
Wells fought hard this morning to halt the Magician's progress.
But a break of 72 in the 14th frame seals a comfortable win for the 2005 champion.
- Zhang Anda 6-5 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 10-4 Daniel Wells
Credit: Getty Latest scores – Morning session
What an epic frame.
And after trading safeties on the brown, it's Pang Junxu who finally breaks through to move within one.
This match feels like it's going all the way to a decider.
- Zhang Anda 6-5 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 9-4 Daniel Wells
Latest scores – Morning session
Murphy and Wells have gone in for the interval, with Murphy needing just one more frame for victory.
Anda and Junxu are currently locked in a tense battle, with Anda 47-45 to the good.
- Zhang Anda 6-4 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 9-4 Daniel Wells
Latest scores – Morning session
Some magic from Murphy as he moves to within one frame of victory.
A third century of the match (137) leaves The Magician on the cusp of Round 2.
- Zhang Anda 6-4 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 9-4 Daniel Wells
Credit: Getty Latest scores – Morning session
Brilliant response from Anda to dropping that first frame, as he takes the latest 93-4.
Over on Table 2, Murphy races into a 37-0 lead but misses a routine red.
Wells takes advantage to close the gap.
- Zhang Anda 6-4 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 8-4 Daniel Wells
Latest scores – Morning session
It's a long road ahead for Dan Wells.
But any comeback has to start somewhere.
A welcome break of 115 for the Welshman, who claws the deficit back to five frames.
- Zhang Anda 5-4 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 8-3 Daniel Wells
Credit: Alamy Latest scores – Morning session
Junxu looks similarly locked in as he puts together a masterful century clearance, closing in on Zhang.
One pot into the top corner pocket was particularly impressive.
This match is now beautifully balanced through 9 frames.
- Zhang Anda 5-4 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 8-2 Daniel Wells
Latest scores – Morning session
It's a perfect start to the day for The Magician.
Murphy's cueing looks on point as he saunters to the first frame of the day, moving to within two of victory.
Looks like the Masters champion is in a hurry to get this one wrapped up.
- Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 8-2 Daniel Wells
Latest scores – Morning session
Wednesday morning snooker is underway from the Crucible.
Zhang Anda gets us going on Table 1, looking to secure a third frame on the bounce after a century last night.
Over with the other match, Shaun Murphy has a favourable table and is in the ascendancy against Daniel Wells.
- Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells
Credit: Alamy Latest scores - Morning session
Another bumper day of action coming your way from the Crucible.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump are both in action later, with Shaun Murphy the highlight in this morning session.
The Magician resumes 7-2 up against Welshman Daniel Wells, while the all-Chinese clash on Table 2 is currently 5-3 to Zhang Anda.
We're just minutes away from play in South Yorkshire.
- Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells
Ben's ordeal
Crucible qualifier Ben Woollaston nearly never made it to the Worlds after almost blacking out while driving.
Woollaston – whose wife is top referee Tatiana – has been battling chronic fatigue syndrome since he had a Covid vaccination jab four years ago.
Before he won two qualifying rounds – and secured his place at the Worlds for the first time since 2013 – the Leicester cueist suffered a funny turn in his car.
Rocket fuel
Ronnie O'Sullivan will resume his match against Ali Carter leading 5-4.
And The Rocket claims all it needs is a good Chinese takeaway to fire him to victory later today.
He told TNT Sports: "I feel alright, it’s pretty much what I expected, probably a little bit better than I thought.
"I was looking forward to it. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t nervous. I haven’t played for a while and the reason why I did stop was because it was so bad, even in practice.
"No plan. Just go home, relax, get some food and go again tomorrow. Probably Chinese."
Credit: Getty Morning session
Things get underway bright and early at the Crucible this morning.
Zhang Anda resumes his contest with Pang Janxu leading 5-3.
While Masters champion Shaun Murphy looked in solid form yesterday and currently leads Daniel Wells.
- Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells
Credit: Getty Good morning snooker fans!
A big day of world championship action ahead with some of the game's biggest hitters in action!
Last night, Si Jiahui became the fifth Chinese player into the last-16 with a 10-6 win over Dave Gilbert.
In terms of today, Shaun Murphy leads Daniel Wells 7-2 going into the second session today.
Ronnie O’Sullivan returns with a 5-4 lead over Ali Carter in the race to 10 this afternoon.
Judd Trump and Mark Selby are both in action in a glamour evening session, with Trump leading Zhou Yuelong 6-3 after a good display last night and Selby getting his competition up and running.
Juicy stuff!
Today's full schedule
10am
- Zhang Anda 5-3 Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy 7-2 Daniel Wells
2.30pm
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Ali Carter
- Luca Brecel vs Ryan Day
7pm
- Mark Selby vs Ben Woollaston
- Judd Trump 6-3 Zhou Yuelong
Outright odds
The bookmakers had Judd Trump as the pre-tournament favourite before last night's first round match.
And nothing they've seen so far has made them flinch in the market.
Mark Selby is his closest challenger ahead of his opening round match tonight.
Outright odds
- Judd Trump 11/4
- Mark Selby 9/2
- Zhao Xintong 9/2
- Ronnie O’Sullivan 6/1
- John Higgins 9/1
- Mark Allen 10/1
- Shaun Murphy 14/1
- 18/1 bar
Win would be Ronnie's 'greatest achievement'
Six-time world champ, Steve Davis said: “(Age) could be a big difference for Ronnie.
“If he were to win the World Championship this year, it would be his greatest ever achievement.
“Because he’s losing ground more so now than he did to the top players in the game.
“There are many players who’re capable of beating Ronnie O’Sullivan if he is now playing close to his best.
“Ronnie has to be foot to floor, hit the ground running, and even then he isn’t guaranteed to win the World Championship.
“And that’s talking about the classiest player we have ever seen on the planet. The margins are pretty small now.”
More on Ronnie
O'Sullivan gave fierce rival Ali Carter a surprisingly warm greeting ahead of their World Snooker Championship clash.
The rivals were drawn in the opening round of the historic tournament last week.
And ahead of Tuesday's tussle at the Crucible, snooker fans around the world were wondering if the pair would put their feud to one side.
The duo were cordial with one another before their match got underway.
But rather than fist-bump his opponents, O'Sullivan extended a handshake out to Carter.
And Carter sportingly accepted the offer from the seven-time world champion.
Co-commentator Stephen Hendry informed viewers of the pair's embrace live on air before it was shown following the frame.
He said: "They shook hands, not the normal fist bump that Ronnie gives.
"Quite a warm handshake. That's good to see."
Chinese whispers
Ronnie O'Sullivan said that he would treat himself to a Chinese takeaway after his long-awaited snooker comeback.
One hundred and three days after snapping his cue in anger, the Rocket, 49, finally returned to the match table for a record-extending 33rd appearance at the World Snooker Championship.
O’Sullivan said: “Yeah, I feel alright, it’s pretty much what I expected.
“I was looking forward to it. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t nervous. I haven’t played for a while and the reason why I did stop was because it was so bad, even in practice.
“It just got to me a bit. I didn’t even expect much today. I thought if I could get a few frames over Ali, make it a little bit competitive, I would be happy with that.
“Were the wayward shots down to a new cue? No, just me. I have had four years of it to be honest with you, hitting the ball over the place.
“I have to try and stay in the moment, try to play my way through it.
“No plan. Just go home, relax, get some food and go again tomorrow. Probably Chinese.”
Record breaker
Just to round up the action from earlier, ahead of tonight getting underway, and Zak Surety told the gathering media he leaves ‘with his head held high’ after breaking the century record for a debutant.
He lost 10-7 in his first round match – having come through four qualifying rounds to get here – but knocked in four 100+ breaks which was the most for a debutant.
He said: “I loved it today considering how bad I felt when I started yesterday. It was brilliant to feel like that out there, just a shame I gave him such a big headstart at 4-0.
“It was just a bit of nerves early on. I’m the biggest Crucible nerd and was waiting for the nerves and I felt OK. But then I felt the arena get smaller and it all got on top of me.
“Yesterday I felt I didn’t belong here. But it’s nice to go away with something out of it. In the end I can go away with my head high, desperate to get back here again next year.”
How the draw is shaping up
The second round is starting to take shape now.
Here's what we know so far, heading into day five tomorrow.
- Lei Peifan vs Zhao Xintong
- Chris Wakelin vs Mark Allen
- Hossein Vafaei vs Mark Williams
- John Higgins vs Xiao Guodong
- Si Jiahui vs Mark Selby/Ben Woollaston
- Luca Brecel/Ryan Day v Ding Junhui/Zak Surety
- Ronnie O'Sullivan/Ali Carter vs Zhang Anda/Pang Junxu
- Shaun Murphy/Daniel Wells v Judd Trump/Zhou Yuelong
