World Snooker Championship 2025 Qualification Completed: Top Betting Strategies for Underdogs
Unleashing the Snooker Underdogs at the World Championship 2025
By Miriam Prellwitz, Edited by Angela Burke
Published on: 17.04.2025. Updated on: 15.05.2025.
Get ready for the Snooker World Championship 2025, kicking off in a few days! Pull up a chair, grab a pint, and join us as we delve into the unlikely heroes vying for the title. A grand total of 16 participants have secured their spot through qualification.
Contenders Rising from the Ashes: The Qualifiers
The top 16 players from the WST World Ranking [Link in English] are the automatic entries for the tournament. 16 additional competitors battled it out in qualification events, determined to make a name for themselves in the snooker world.
The following 16 players have cemented their spot at the prestigious Snooker World Championship 2025:
Zak Surety (73)* Chris Wakelin (20)* Daniel Wells (49)* David Gilbert (23)* Zhao Xintong* Zhou Yuelong (32)* Ryan Day (36)* Ben Woollaston (44)* Matthew Selt (34)* Pang Junxu (27)* Ali Carter (18)* Lei Peifan (39)* Wu Yize (22)* Fan Zhengyi (46)* Hossein Vafaei (24)* Joe O'Connor (30)*
Despite the label of "qualifiers," don't count these contenders out, as last year saw Jak Jones, 31, prove that even a qualifier can make it to the championship final.
Zhao Xintong: The Chinese Phenom
Zhao Xintong, 28, is a familiar face for snooker enthusiasts following the qualification rounds. Known as one of China's brightest young talents, Xintong went through a 20-month ban due to match-fixing allegations [Link in English].
Post-ban, he's been making a splash with impressive performances. Competing as an amateur, he conquered four century breaks in his inaugural match against Ka Wai Cheung (26).
And here are the highlights from his battles against Long Zehuang, Lyu Haotian, and Elliot Slessor:
A post shared by WST (@worldsnookertour)
Translation: Welcome back to the Crucible, Zhao! The former UK Champion fights his way through every round of the World Championship qualification and seals his return to the Crucible with a hard-fought 10:8 win over Elliot Slessor.
With outstanding performances like these under his belt, Xintong stands a solid chance of causing a stir at the championship. Backers can currently snag odds of 12.00 on Xintong emerging victorious.
David Gilbert: Perennial Semifinalist
David Gilbert, 43, also qualified for the 2025 Snooker World Championship. This seasoned snooker professional has earned a spot in snooker fans' hearts by finishing as a semifinalist in the tournament the previous year.
Quiet throughout the season, Gilbert's qualification went off without a hitch. Owing to his world ranking, he only needed to win two matches to secure his spot.
Gilbert's qualification matches were a nail-biter, with a dramatic deciding frame against Aaron Hill (23) sealing his ticket to the main event.
Bookmakers unfairly cast doubt on Gilbert's chances, offering odds of 50.00 for his tournament victory.
Absent Giants and Optimistic Talents
While Zhao and Gilbert have secured their spots at the 2025 Snooker World Championship, some powerhouse players have surprisingly missed the cut, absentees from the Crucible Theatre in 2025 for the first time in three years.
Key amongst these absence are Jack Lisowski, 33, who was defeated by Zak Surety (33) in the third round, and Gary Wilson, 39, who lost a sudden-death match against Daniel Wells (36) in the fourth round.
Other notable casualties include Stuart Bingham, 48, Jackson Page (23), and Jimmy Robertson (38).
Joe O'Connor: A Shining Star on the Rise
Joe O'Connor, 29, is also making his way to the prestigious event. He bested up-and-coming talent Iulian Boiko (19) in the third round and Jackson Page yesterday.
Considered a promising talent on the brink of greatness, O'Connor reached the final of the World Open in 2024/2025 but fell to John Higgins (49).
In the 2024 Snooker World Championship, O'Connor managed an earth-shattering victory against four-time world champion Mark Selby in the opening round. With current odds of 33.00, O'Connor remains a tantalizing choice for sports bettors.
A Repeat of Last Year?
The generous presence of strong qualifiers gives sports betting aficionados a wealth of opportunities to back an underdog. Could another qualifier make a surprise run to the final? Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage of the Snooker World Championship 2025 coverage from the news team at OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com!
Sports enthusiasts in Germany may be interested to know that online casinos in Germany offer betting options for the Snooker World Championship 2025. Apart from the top 16 players from the WST World Ranking, the qualifiers also provide an opportunity for sports-betting enthusiasts to back some exciting underdogs.
In particular, bettors might want to keep an eye on players like Zhao Xintong from China, who had an impressive run through the qualification rounds, or Joe O'Connor from the UK, who demonstrated his potential with strong performances, like his victory against four-time world champion Mark Selby in the 2024 Snooker World Championship.
