Snooker World Grand Prix 2025: Higgins Triumphs Over World Title Holder Wilson - Trump Advances to Quarterfinals with Freeloaders' Assistance
Blue Cheese 'N' T culture: Your Snooker World Grand Prix 2025 Extravaganza Breakdown!
Written by Red Hot Rebel, Revised by Crisp Critic, Published on: 06.03.2025, Updated on: 30.04.2025.
Buckle up, folks! The Snooker World Grand Prix 2025 has been nothing short of a thrill ride, packed with historic moments, peculiar scenes, and shocking results. We delve into this electrifying tournament's progress and provide you with the lowdown on sports wagering.
The Grand Finale: Neil Robertson Slams it Home!
Ladies and gentlemen, Neil Robertson has claimed the World Grand Prix 2025 trophy! In a nail-biting final, he outplayed Stuart Bingham 10:0 and notched a century break. This is the Australian's second title in the ongoing season, ensuring his spot in the top 16 of the world rankings and a guaranteed entry into the upcoming Snooker World Championship 2025.
John Higgins vs. Kyren Wilson: Historic showdown!
Just now, we wrapped up the first session today in the 16-player knockout round, where the legendary John Higgins, 49, slugged it out with Kyren Wilson, 33. With this high-caliber matchup being a rare sight in a ranking tournament's second round, it was nothing short of a spectacle.
Guess who came out on top — Higgins Almighty! With a 4:2 victory, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Higgins left his mark by registering two century breaks of 143 and 100 points. In peak form, the Wizard of Wishaw clinched the Snooker World Open just a few days ago.
Having defeated the reigning world champion Wilson, Higgins' confidence is through the roof. The victory also saw him reach his 147th quarterfinal in his career, upsetting the previously unmatched Ronnie O'Sullivan, 49.
Our gaze now turns to the tournament draw, revealing that Higgins will face the winner of the match between Barry Hawkins, 45, and Shaun Murphy, 42, in the quarterfinals.
Judd Trump: Free as a Bird!
While John Higgins clashed with Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump, 35, enjoyed a day off. He was initially slated to spar with Jack Lisowski, 33. Yet, we were quite surprised when the WST announced on Tuesday evening that Lisowski chucked his towel in for personal reasons:
"Goodbye from Jack Lisowski. He's off the World Grand Prix due to personal reasons. Trump rolls into the quarterfinals."- , WST
With a breather day in his tank, Trump, the favorite to win the tournament, can save his strength for the quarterfinals. He'll be up against Hossein Vafaei, 30, or Xu Si, 27, in the next round.
Who's the Ghost Rider?
The unpredictable outcomes in the first round of the Snooker World Grand Prix led the sportsbooks to reevaluate their odds. Judd Trump is still the favorite, but John Higgins and Mark Selby, 41, also have promising prospects of conquering Hong Kong, according to the bookmakers:
- Judd Trump: 2.63
- John Higgins: 5.00
- Mark Selby: 6.50
- Neil Robertson: 8.00
- Shaun Murphy: 8.00
Late-night Nonsense at Kai Tak Arena
While the first session welcomed an audience, the evening session had a strange twist. In the Hong Kong colossus, Kai Tak Arena, some bizarre scenes unfolded during the opening day. Matches involving John Higgins, Kyren Wilson, and Judd Trump were played without an audience in the evening session.
Various sources claim that the strict rules set by the arena operators went into effect late in the evenings. Consequently, the thousands-strong audience was forced to vacate the hall. The arena operators later struck a deal with the World Snooker Tour, allowing fans to witness the evening session live in the hall without interruption.
Early Burn: Mark Allen Sizzles Out!
The World Grand Prix's first day was peppered with unexpected results. Mark Williams, 49, went down against Stuart Bingham, 48, 2:4. Despite a strong start to the season, Williams has been grappling with his form lately.
Ding Junhui, 37, the top Chinese player in the WST world rankings, also endured a painful exit, falling 3:4 to Xu Si. For Xu Jiahui, 22, considered the strongest Chinese junior player, the tournament came to a rapid end after the first round as well.
Mark Allen, 39, who began the 2024/2025 season as the world number one, also made news with his elimination. He lost his opening match 2:4 against Jimmy Robertson, 38, and unleashed his frustration on social media:
"If I could find the safety game and a few long balls and avoid the silly mistakes, I might win one or two games. Confidence is low. Bring on next season! The World Championship is next for me."
On Allen's radar, there’s a hope that he won't qualify for the Players Championship, which starts on March 17th. His focus shifts straight to the Snooker World Championship 2025.
The Show Must Go On: Matches to Anticipate Today!
The evening session in Hong Kong will commence later today. Tune in to watch four extraordinary matches featuring some title heavyweights:
- Hossein Vafaei vs. Xu Si
- Barry Hawkins vs. Shaun Murphy
- Jimmy Robertson vs. Mark Selby
- Xiao Guodong vs. Lei Peifan
Keep your eyes peeled for more nail-biting action as the competition for the Snooker World Grand Prix 2025 heats up. The final showdown takes place on March 9th, Sunday. Catch all the action and remember — the cue ball doesn't lie!
- What is the current situation in the Snooker World Grand Prix 2025? Neil Robertson has claimed the trophy after a remarkable win against Stuart Bingham in the final.
- If you're interested in sports wagering, pay attention to the ongoing Snooker World Grand Prix 2025. Judd Trump is still the favorite to win, but John Higgins and Mark Selby are also worth considering according to the bookmakers.
- The arena operators at Kai Tak Arena have implemented strict rules, causing some evening sessions to take place without an audience. Despite this, fans can still watch the evening session live in the hall without interruption.
- Mark Allen, once the world number one, has made an early exit from the World Grand Prix 2025 after losing to Jimmy Robertson in the first round. Allen is now focusing on the Snooker World Championship 2025.
- Save the date for March 9th, Sunday, when the Snooker World Grand Prix 2025 will see its final showdown. Anticipate four exciting matches today, featuring notable players like Hossein Vafaei, Barry Hawkins, Jimmy Robertson, and Xiao Guodong.
