Snooker: 2025 Halo World Championships

[Late of the Boleyn]

Apropos of nothing, I love Mark WIlliams, What a geezer.

As for Kyren Wilson, he has been through a lot lately. Lot so health issues in his family:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ampionship

[Concerned of Canvey]

Essex boy Zak Surety now playing great against Ding Junhui after a nervous first session.

4 centuries in 5 frames which is a record for a debutant

I used to play Pool with his dad back in the day, he was a fantastic player and obviously it runs in the family.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Very disappointed Robertson went out early again
He just cannot seem to click at Crucible
Horrendous record apart from when he won

[Late of the Boleyn]

Very disappointed Robertson went out early again
He just cannot seem to click at Crucible
Horrendous record apart from when he won

Delighted. Can't stand him.

[Korea Hammer]

Delighted. Can't stand him.

That seems strange to me. He comes across as a very laid back, affable bloke. Why do you feel so strongly?

[ironilunga]

This is already better than last year's tournament.

Feels of late like the sport is going through a bit of a renaissance. China and the Middle East has helped significantly but I also think online content has given the game a boost. I’m loving the clipped highlights and interviews. I also think the majority of players are putting in more of a shift with the media stuff. I’ll include Ronnie in that. Perhaps he recognises that no man is bigger than the sport.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

i do fear for the game once the old guard are gone though
Most of the up and coming talent is Chinese, and that won't sustain the game long-term

We need some new British superstars to come though in the same way Luke Littler has done in darts

The inexorable rise of darts has really impacted Snooker. Much easier to buy a dartboard and some darts than a snooker table and a cue, and now all the youngsters who may have been attracted to snooker want to play darts as it is cool, hip and trendy (and more money in in it than snooker now)

[Ironing Board]

Shaun Murphy looks very strong.

[thamesideiron]

Think Pool led to some of us playing and having an interest in Snooker.....Very rare you see a Pool table in a Boozer now,most seem
to have used the space to become more restaurant based...but that's same with darts I spose,but Darts is easier to set up at home..
and Littler effect is def there..seen a few pubs with dart board areas that can have tables as and when as well.
Used to go to the Upton Park Snooker hall,right near station now and again before a game,think it's still there.

Seems to be a vibe when hearing some players ex and present,the Worlds will move to Saudi next few years....Love the Crucible,but maybe
finding a bigger venue if poss could ward that off..

Funny with the Chinese/Asian guys,been around trying for Worlds 20 years or so right back to Marco Fu who was from Hong Kong,James
Wattana..Ding Junhui...they can't quite crack it at Worlds...Best chance tho this year,tho can't see present guys beating Selby,Trump,Murphy,
who is on fire at moment ..Ronnie O not 100%, Long game looks dodgy at Mo,hopefully will kick in,Mark Allen up there as well,it's tough for
them.

[Late of the Boleyn]

That seems strange to me. He comes across as a very laid back, affable bloke. Why do you feel so strongly?

Comes across as very smug to me. But each to their own.

[Awooga_Iron]

Just watching Judd Trump play Zhou Yuelong and a miss is called in the 15th frame. Trump asks for the shot to be retaken, and then the ref has to put all the balls back where they were.

How on Earth is technology not helping better here?! It could be as simple as the ref carrying an iPad for reference. But instead another official has to stand off camera, looking at a screen and relaying small adjustments to the ref who has to then work out what is meant by "a tiny bit more". Utterly bizarre.

[dasnutnock3]

Just watching Judd Trump play Zhou Yuelong and a miss is called in the 15th frame. Trump asks for the shot to be retaken, and then the ref has to put all the balls back where they were.

How on Earth is technology not helping better here?! It could be as simple as the ref carrying an iPad for reference. But instead another official has to stand off camera, looking at a screen and relaying small adjustments to the ref who has to then work out what is meant by "a tiny bit more". Utterly bizarre.

I suspect it could easily be remedied with overhead laser pointers to show the ref where the balls were.

[Up the Junction]

That Brecel v Day match was something else. Made the Junxu/Anda clash look good.

Luca - who's what, 47th in the 12 month rankings? - probably should've stayed in Portugal*.

* For those who haven't seen it, LB posted a picture of himself on the beach on Instagram - the day before his tie with Day began.

[Up the Junction]

First Round Results:

Luca Brecel [7] 10 - 7 Ryan Day [36]
Judd Trump [2] 10 - 4 Zhou Yuelong [32]
Ronnie O'Sullivan [5] 10 - 4 Ali Carter [18]
Pang Junxu [27] 10 - 7 Zhang Anda [12]
Shaun Murphy [15] 10 - 4 Daniel Wells [49]
Si Jiahui [13] 10 - 6 David Gilbert [23]
Ding Junhui [10] 10 - 7 Zak Surety [72]
John Higgins [3] 10 - 7 Joe O'Connor [30]
Mark Allen [8] 10 - 6 Fan Zhengyi [46]
Zhao Xintong (a) 10 - 4 Jak Jones [16]
Chris Wakelin [20] 10 - 8 Neil Robertson [9]
Hossein Vafaei [24] 10 - 9 Barry Hawkins [11]
Mark J Williams [6] 10 - 8 Wu Yize [22]
Xiao Guodong [14] 10 - 4 Matthew Selt [34]
Lei Peifan [39] 10 - 9 Kyren Wilson [1]
Mark Selby [4] 8 - 10 Ben Woollaston [44]

Six of the 16 seeds were knocked out in the first round - they are:

Kyren Wilson (1)
Mark Selby (4)
Neil Robertson (9)
Barry Hawkins (11)
Zhang Anda (12)
Jak Jones (16)

My tie of the round - Woollaston's 10-8 victory in the all-Leicester tie. Brilliant match, not one for the purists perhaps but a classic for the ages.

[Up the Junction]

And here's how Round 2 looks.

Massive shock already with Allen 12-4 behind against Wakelin - another seed about to topple there.

[Chicken Run Supreme]

Mark Allen is staring defeat in the face but still puts together a fantastic 147. Several times it looked like the maximum might break down but he pulled off some tremendous pots to keep it going.

Ronnie’s half of the draw has opened up nicely for him.

[Korea Hammer]

Talking about players you don't like - Luca Brecel, what a charmless and arrogant man he is.

As for the future of the game, I think it is predominantly Chinese and I expect the WC will be there within the next 10 years. All things must pass.

Really enjoying this tournament - Trump, Higgins, Xintong, Murphy, O'Sullivan, Ding - have all had at least one excellent session.

The bottom half of the draw is savage.

[Gaz]

I see Barry Hearn is talking up the unsuitability of the crucible again, seems to align with the stars that he will want to host it in China for the moolah.

[simon hammer]

Hossein Vafaei is playing superb "defensive" snooker against Mark Williams. Some of Vafaei's safety shots have been...well, glorious I suppose.

[Late of the Boleyn]

Mark Allen is staring defeat in the face but still puts together a fantastic 147. Several times it looked like the maximum might break down but he pulled off some tremendous pots to keep it going.

Yeah, that was an impressive maximum. Some terrible positional shots redeemed by some fine cuts and even a hit-and-hope canon at one point. Almost snookered himself on the yellow as well!