World Snooker Championship 2025 Qualification Complete: Top Betting Strategies for Underdogs
Gambling on the Edge: Bold Predictions for the 2025 Snooker World Championship
By Beer Bros. (a.k.a. Miriam Prellwitz & Co.)
Next Saturday, the 2025 Snooker World Championship starts with a bang. The Coveted Crystal Trophy is waiting for its rightful owner and the top 16 snooker players in the world have earned their spot to take a swipe at it. But without those lucky wildcards, only the best can enter the battleground. Here's who they are and some juicy betting tips to make it more colorful.
Standout Qualifiers
These aren't your typical snooker newbies. These 16 players fought through the gutters to get to the shining tower. And despite being unseeded, they've got what it takes to rattle some cages, as Jak Jones proved last year when he made it to the finals.
| Name | World Ranking | Chances ||------------|--------------|---------|| Zak Surety| 73 | 11.00 || Chris Wakelin| 20 | 9.00 || Daniel Wells| 49 | 10.00 || Chris Gilbert| 23 | 50.00 || Zhao Xintong| % | 12.00 || Zhou Yuelong| 32 | 15.00 || Ryan Day| 36 | 14.00 || Ben Woollaston| 44 | 20.00 || Matthew Selt| 34 | 25.00 || Pang Junxu| 27 | 20.00 || Ali Carter| 18 | 25.00 || Lei Peifan| 39 | 22.00 || Wu Yize| 22 | 7.00 || Fan Zhengyi| 46 | 100.00 || Hossein Vafaei| 24 | 20.00 || Joe O'Connor| 30 | 33.00 |
Rising Stars and Shooting Stars
Some of these warriors have been lying low in the battlefield for a while, some have been shining brightly in the shadows. But this year, they're ready to come out and play.
Zhao Xintong: Asia's Tiangle Fury
Chinese prodigy Zhao Xintong, 28, is a force to be reckoned with, a stormy mixture of talent, skill, and passion. After serving a 20-month ban for match-fixing, Zhao returned to the Crucible clearer, stronger, and hungrier.
He clawed his way through the qualifiers with a vengeance, defeating four opponents with four century breaks in the first round, making a buzz in the snooker world. Zhao may be a dark horse, but he could be one of the toughest opponents for the seeded players. Sportsbooks are giving him a 12.00 odds to win.
David Gilbert: That Old Snooker Savvy
Veteran David Gilbert, 43, also secured his place in the tournament. Known for his semi-final run last year, Gilbert has had a quiet season and hasn't made it to the finals of any major event. But his qualification went smoothly.
Beating Gong Chenzhi, 18, and Aaron Hill, 23, Gilbert shows he's still got that old snooker savvy that swept him to the brink of victory. However, bookmakers aren't giving him a high chance of winning, with odds of 50.00.
Big Names, Unexpected Collisions
While Zhao and Gilbert make their way to the Crucible, some strong players have surprisingly fallen by the wayside. Jack Lisowski, 33, Gary Wilson, 39, Stuart Bingham, 48, Jackson Page, 23, and Jimmy Robertson, 38, failed to secure a spot in the championship this year. And it's not clear if the world is missing them or not.
Joe O'Connor: A Shooting Star on the Rise
Irish sensation Joe O'Connor, 29, is a rising star with untapped potential. In the 2024/2025 season, he made it to the final of the World Open, only to lose to John Higgins.
In the 2024 Snooker World Championship, O'Connor caused a major upset by defeating four-time champion Mark Selby in the first round. And now, he's set his sights on the Crystal Trophy.
If you're into sports betting, you can currently get a 33.00 odds on O'Connor to win. So, maybe another qualifier will make it to the final this year. If you like to play it safe, maybe not. But isn't snooker all about taking risks?
Stay tuned to OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com for more coverage of this year's Snooker World Championship!
What are the odds of Zhao Xintong or Joe O'Connor winning the sports-betting market in the 2025 Snooker World Championship, given their performances and past victories?
