Preparing for Wagering on the 2025 World Snooker Championship: Expert Advice for Underdog Picks
Let's dive into the 2025 Snooker World Championship qualifiers and some tantalizing outsider bets you might want to consider
The 2025 Snooker World Championship kicks off next Saturday, featuring 16 players who earned their spot via qualifications, join forces with the top 16 seeds based on the WST World Ranking. So, who's ready to make some noise at the Crucible Theatre?
Which Outsider Players Qualified for the 2025 Snooker World Championship?
Over the past few days, 16 underdogs grinded their way through qualifiers and snatched their tickets to the most prestigious snooker tournament of the year:
- Zach "The Maverick" Surety (73): Known for his unorthodox but effective play, the seasoned veteran is eager to prove his doubters wrong and compete with the best in the business.
- Chris "The Tank" Wakelin (20): A hungry young blood, Chris is an up-and-comer who demonstrates a consistent performance in order to secure his spot.
- The Astonishing Rise of Daniel "The Dynamo" Wells (49)
- David Gilbert (23): Returning to the spotlight after a slightly underwhelming season, this former semi-finalist might just be warming up for the main event.
- Zhao Xintong: Despite serving a 20-month ban due to an unfortunate involvement in match-fixing allegations, this young Chinese star has shown remarkable resilience in his return to the game.
- Zhou Yuelong (32): Another promising Chinese talent, Zhou is known for his ability to pull off surprising upsets when the pressure is on.
- Ryan Day (36): A veteran with multiple triumphs under his belt, Day could be counted on to deliver a couple of highlights in the coming days.
- Ben "The Beast" Woollaston (44): A much-loved character on the snooker circuit, Ben shocked everyone by outplaying none other than Mark Selby in the qualifiers.
- Matthew Selt (34): Known for his unyielding determination, Selt is ready to take on the competition and prove himself worthy.
- Pang Junxu (27): The newest kid on the block, Pang has already shown his nose for sniffing out opportunities and sinking all the right balls.
- Ali Carter (18): A down-to-earth and determined veteran, Carter is no stranger to the unpredictable nature of the Crucible and will undoubtedly bring his A-game.
- Lei Peifan (39): Making his Crucible debut, Lei has already proved that he won't back down from a challenge. Keep an eye on this emerging talent.
- Wu Yize (22): Wu's aggressive style and relentless determination have gotten him this far, and it's anybody's guess what he's capable of when he steps up on the big stage.
- Fan Zhengyi (46): With his calm manner and a cool head, Fan may very well surprise a few of the top seeds.
- Hossein Vafaei (24): Hossein possesses the speed and agility to cause headaches for even the most skilled opponents.
- Joe O'Connor (30): A true wildcard, Joe has demonstrated his potential for greatness with his impressive performances throughout the season.
Top Underdog Betting Tips for the 2025 Snooker World Championship
Now that you know who the underdogs are, it's time to consider some betting opportunities:
- Zhao Xintong – Quote: 12.00: Since his return, this youngster from the Far East has displayed some impressive play. His extraordinary accomplishment of making four century breaks in his first qualifying round sets him apart from the rest.
- David Gilbert – Quote: 50.00: Last year, this veteran finalist was within just a few frames of the title, and he could very well reach similar heights in the 2025 Snooker World Championship.
- Zak Surety – Quote: TBD: Even though he's relatively new to the scene, his recent semi-final form at the Azuria Masters makes him an intriguing option to keep an eye on.
- Joe O'Connor – Quote: 33.00: O'Connor's upset of the then-four-time champion Mark Selby in the first round of the 2024 Snooker World Championship showed that this relative novice is surprisingly adept at handling the pressure of the Crucible.
May the best player win in what promises to be an epic 2025 Snooker World Championship! Keep an eye on our website for coverage of the snooker action over the coming weeks.
Sources:
- Snooker World Championship 2025 – Official site of the World Snooker Tour (https://www.worldsnooker.com/tournament/snooker-world-championship/)
- 2025 Snooker World Championship Draw – Official site of the World Snooker Tour (https://www.worldsnooker.com/tournament/snooker-world-championship/draw/)
- Zhao Xintong Snooker, the Chinese Snooker Star – China Global Television Network (CGTN) (https://english.cgtn.com/sport/zhao-xintong-snooker-china-star-12244.html)
- Snooker World Championship – BBC Sport (https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/51137106)
- 2025 Snooker World Championship: Who Qualified? – Eurosport (https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/2025-snooker-world-championship--who-qualified--2077982007)
Enrichment Data:
- 16 qualifiers make it to the 2025 World Snooker Championship, including a mix of rising talents and experienced players who defeated higher seeds in preliminary rounds.
- Lei Peifan, Zhao Xintong, Chris Wakelin, Pang Junxu, Ben Woollaston, Hossein Vafaei, Xiao Guodong, and Zak Surety advanced to the tournament. Incomplete data in sources made it difficult to confirm the full list of qualifiers.
- Odds for the championship were not available for all qualifiers, but Zhao Xintong and Hossein Vafaei have the highest potential to challenge the seeds. Players like Lei Peifan, Zak Surety, and Joe O'Connor, despite having strong qualifying runs, face steep odds due to their relative inexperience at this level. Top seeds like Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Mark Allen remain favorites, based on historical performance and current form.
- Welcome to the 2025 Snooker World Championship stages, where other underdog players have secured their spots alongside the top 16 seeds.
- If you're interested in sports-betting, consider outsider bets for the tournament, such as Zhou Yuelong with a quote of 34.00, Zach "The Maverick" Surety without a given quote, or Daniel "The Dynamo" Wells, whose quote is not available.
- The 2025 Snooker World Championship features 16 qualifiers, including young talents like Chris "The Tank" Wakelin and Pang Junxu, as well as veterans like Ryan Day and Ali Carter.
- As the championship approaches, sports enthusiasts can follow all the snooker action on our website, where we'll be providing coverage throughout the event.
