World Snooker Championship 2025 Qualification Wraps Up: Expert Sports Betting Tips for Underdogs
Score the Snooker World Championship 2025 with Our Top Outsider Bets
Get ready for the 2025 Snooker World Championship, kicking off next weekend!
16 snooker masters snagged their spots in the year's most prestigious tournament through rigorous qualification rounds.
We've dug up the top hidden gems for sports betting enthusiasts to pick from!
Who's the Lineup for the 2025 Snooker World Championship?
The 2025 Snooker World Championship starts soon! The top 16 players with the highest WST World Ranking [Link in English] are locked in for the competition.
Adding to the excitement, an additional 16 players fought tooth and nail during qualification rounds and clinched their places in the 2025 Snooker World Championship roster.
The following 16 players have secured their spots:
Zak Surety (73)Chris Wakelin (20)Daniel Wells (49)David Gilbert (23)Zhao Xintong (%) (Chinese prodigy returning after a 20-month ban for match-fixing)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)
Given their qualifier status, some players could surprise the competition. In 2024, Jak Jones, 31, a qualifier, made his way to the very last round of the Snooker World Championship.
Though favorites include Judd Trump, 35, Mark Selby, 41, and Ronnie O'Sullivan, 49, according to bookmakers, we take a look at the lesser-known players with high betting potential.
Zhao Xintong: The Sharp-Shooting Underdog
Zhao Xintong, 28, was the talk of the qualification rounds. Xintong is one of the top Chinese up-and-coming talents, but his involvement in a match-fixing scandal led to a 20-month ban [Link in English].
Upon his return, he left a trail of stellar performances. As an amateur after his ban, he had to climb through the qualification rounds. Xintong stood out with epoch-making showings:
In his first match against Ka Wai Cheung, 26, he sank four century breaks. He then defeated Long Zehuang, 28, Lyu Haotian, 27, and Elliot Slessor, 30** [Video in English]:
Shared a post by WST (@worldsnookertour)
Translation: Welcome back to the Crucible, Zhao! The former UK Champion overcomes every round of the World Championship qualification and secures his return to the Crucible with a tough 10:8 victory over Elliot Slessor.
Xintong could pose a significant challenge to the seeded players. Betting fans can grab odds of 12.00 on his victory.
David Gilbert: The Undercover Threat
David Gilbert, 43, is also set to compete in the 2025 Snooker World Championship. Gilbert reached the semifinals of last year's competition.
This season, Gilbert has been mostly quiet, with few high-ranking performances. His qualification for the 2025 Snooker World Championship was straight-forward due to his world ranking, only requiring him to win two matches.
Gilbert secured a 10:6 victory against Gong Chenzhi, 18, and later also bested Aaron Hill, 23. Their match went into a thrilling decider at 9:9, which Gilbert won.
Bookmakers might not see Gilbert as a heavy contender to win the tournament, as his current odds are at 50.00.
Coming Up Short: Notable Exceptions
While Zhao, Gilbert, and other players have qualified for the 2025 Snooker World Championship, some strong players remarkably fell short and won't grace the stage at the Crucible Theatre this year.
This includes Jack Lisowski, 33, ranked 25th in the world, who lost in the third round to Zak Surety, 33, with a score of 8:10, marking his first absence from the championship in three years. Gary Wilson, 39, also dropped the decider in the fourth round to Daniel Wells, 36.**
Other missing figures from this year's championship are Stuart Bingham, 48, Jackson Page, 23, and Jimmy Robertson, 38, who all failed to qualify.
Joe O'Connor: The Future Shines Bright
Joe O'Connor, 29, is another contender in the 2025 Snooker World Championship. He defeated Iulian Boiko, 19, in the third round and Jackson Page yesterday evening**
O'Connor is considered a budding talent yet to fully materialize his potential. In the 2024/2025 season, he reached the finals of the World Open but lost to John Higgins, 49.
O'Connor caused a stir in the 2024 Snooker World Championship by knocking out four-time champion Mark Selby in the first round.
Those betting on an O'Connor victory can currently get odds of 33.00.
Could a Qualifier Clinch the Crown Again?
The 2025 Snooker World Championship features a multitude of strong players, leaving sports betting fans with the opportunity to back a dark horse. It could very well be that another qualifier makes it to the final.
Stay tuned for coverage from the OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com news team during the 2025 Snooker World Championship!*
1. The 2025 Snooker World Championship, with its expanded roster of 32 players, includes several intriguing prospects for sports-betting enthusiasts in Germany, as some lesser-known players have displayed remarkable form.
2. Amid the lineup of established snooker masters, online casinos in Germany might find betting opportunities in underdogs like Zhao Xintong and Joe O'Connor, who have demonstrated impressive runs in previous tournaments, including Zhao's comeback after a 20-month ban for match-fixing and O'Connor's knockout of four-time champion Mark Selby in the 2024 Snooker World Championship.
