World Snooker Championship 2025 Qualification Wraps Up: Top Betting Strategies for Underdogs
Let's Dive into the 2025 Snooker World Championship!
By Miriam Prellwitz Edited by Angela Burke Published on: 17.04.2025. Updated on: 29.05.2025.
It's Time for the 2025 Snooker World Championship
Starting next weekend, the snooker community is gearing up for the much-anticipated 2025 Snooker World Championship! The cream of the crop in the WST World Ranking [English link] has secured their places in this year's most prestigious snooker tournament through qualification. And guess what? We've got the lowdown on the dark horses you need to watch out for!
Who Made It to the 2025 Snooker World Championship?
The Snooker World Championship 2025 is just around the corner, and the top 16 players from the WST World Ranking are the tournament's automatic seeds. However, the stage has been set for 16 more players who fought tooth and nail in the qualification rounds. And you may want to keep an eye on these dudes!
- 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)
Last year, Jak Jones, aged 31, a qualifier, made it to the final of the 2024 Snooker World Championship[3]! With players like these, who seems like a dark horse to you?
Zhao Xintong: One of the Biggest Risks to Watch Out For
For those who followed the qualification, Zhao Xintong (28) should certainly have grabbed your attention. Zhao is considered one of the greatest Chinese talents, but he had to serve a 20-month ban due to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal[3]. Since his return, he's been turning heads with his strong performances. He plays as an amateur after his ban, which meant he had to start the qualification from the first round. He didn't disappoint, making four century breaks in his first match against Ka Wai Cheung[3]. He then went on to defeat Long Zehuang, Lyu Haotian, and Elliot Slessor[3]. Yes, Zhao Xintong is coming for y'all seeded players, so watch out!
David Gilbert: Last Year's Semi-Finalist
Another player to keep tabs on is David Gilbert (43), who qualified for the 2025 Snooker World Championship. Gilbert reached the semi-finals of the tournament last year, and while he's had a rather quiet season thus far, he's catching the eye with his performance in the qualification rounds. Gilbert only had to win two matches to qualify and managed to do so by defeating Gong Chenzhi and Aaron Hill[3]. The match went to a decider at 9-9, but Gilbert came out on top! Don't underestimate this veteran, as his odds for a tournament victory stand at a respectable 50.00[3].
A Few Absentees You Might Notice
While Zhao, Gilbert, and other players have qualified for the 2025 Snooker World Championship, some notable players have surprisingly failed to qualify. This includes Jack Lisowski (33), ranked 25th in the world, who lost in the third round to Zak Surety[3]. Sad to see him absent from the Crucible Theatre for the first time in three years. Gary Wilson (39), who also failed to qualify, lost in the fourth round to Daniel Wells[3].
Joe O'Connor: A Promising Talent?
Joe O'Connor (29) has also qualified for the 2025 Snooker World Championship, having defeated Iulian Boiko, 19, in the third round and Jackson Page last evening[3]. O'Connor is considered a promising talent who is yet to fully realize his potential. In the 2024/2025 season, he reached the final of the World Open but lost to John Higgins[3]. That being said, don't count this underdog out, as his odds for a tournament victory stand at 33.00[3].
Could Another Qualifier Make It to the Final Again?
With so many tough contenders among the qualifiers, sports bettors have the opportunity to back an underdog. We'll be crossing our fingers and hoping that, once again, a qualifier makes it to the final[3]!
Stay tuned for the news team from OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com's comprehensive coverage of the Snooker World Championship in the coming weeks!
References:
- World Snooker Tour World Ranking
- BBC Sport Snooker: Zhao Xintong reaches World Championship qualifying final
- WST (@worldsnookertour) Twitter post
- Reuters Asian qualifiers for World Snooker Championship begin in India
Disclaimer: Gambling should be done responsibly, and it is important to remember that sports betting carries an inherent risk of loss. If in doubt, seek professional advice.
What are the odds of a qualifier making it to the final of the sports-betting world this year? With the dark horses like Zhao Xintong and Joe O'Connor who proved their worth in the qualification rounds, the Snooker World Championship 2025 might see another sports-betting surprise like last year's finalist, Jak Jones.
