World Championship: Match schedule & BBC coverage

The seeded players gathered at the Crucible Theatre for a group photograph on Friday

The 2025 World Snooker Championship starts at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday, with Kyren Wilson bidding to retain his title.

The Englishman defeated Jak Jones 18‍–‍14 in the 2024 final and, as top seed, will get this year's championship under way against China's Lei Peifan at 10:00 BST on the opening day.

Seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan is playing in a 33rd consecutive edition of the tournament despite battling "stage fright" and "nerves" over the past two years.

Seeded fifth this year, the 49-year-old is set to face two-time finalist Ali Carter in his opening match at 14:30 BST on Tuesday.

World number one Judd Trump begins his campaign against Zhou Yuelong at 19:00 on Tuesday.

BBC Sport has comprehensive live coverage of the championship on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four and Red Button, while every match will be shown in full on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app.

The final takes place over two days starting on Sunday 4 May.

Who are the top 16 seeds?

As the defending champion, Wilson has the honour of being the top seed.

Trump becomes the second seed, with four-time champions John Higgins and Mark Selby third and fourth respectively.

Higgins beat Selby in the Tour Championship final earlier in April to move above him in the listings.

O'Sullivan, bidding for an eighth title to surpass the record he shares with Stephen Hendry, is seeded fifth.

The 49-year-old is seeded to play 12th seed Zhang Anda in the second round, Selby in the quarter-finals and Wilson in the semi-finals.

Full seedings:

1) Kyren Wilson, 2) Judd Trump, 3) John Higgins, 4) Mark Selby

5) Ronnie O'Sullivan, 6) Mark Williams, 7) Luca Brecel, 8) Mark Allen

9) Neil Robertson, 10) Ding Junhui, 11) Barry Hawkins, 12) Zhang Anda

13) Si Jiahui 14) Xiao Guodong, 15) Shaun Murphy, 16) Jak Jones

Who came through qualifying?

A total of 144 players started the qualifying tournament, which was staged at Sheffield's English Institute of Sport from 7-16 April.

Among the 16 players who secured their places at the Crucible were two-time finalist Ali Carter and 2021 UK champion Zhao Xintong, while Daniel Wells, Zak Surety and Lei Peifan will make their Crucible debuts.

China's Zhao returned to the sport as an amateur player in September following a 20-month ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

Five of Zhao's fellow countrymen also qualified, bringing the number of Chinese players in the first round up to a record 10.

Jack Lisowski, 2015 winner Stuart Bingham, world number 17 Gary Wilson and Jackson Page were among the names to miss out.

In the third qualifying round, Page became the first player to compile two maximum 147 breaks in the same match, earning the Welshman a £147,000 bonus and putting the 23-year-old in line for the £15,000 World Championship highest break prize.

But Page did not qualify for the Crucible, losing 10-7 to Englishman Joe O'Connor in the fourth and final qualifying round.

Six-time finalist Jimmy White's bid to play at the Crucible for the first time since 2006 ended in the second round, while former semi-finalist Joe Perry and Dominic Dale retired from the sport after going out in the third round.

What's the 'Crucible curse'?

No first-time champion has managed to retain the title since the championship moved to the Crucible Theatre in 1977.

Kyren Wilson will start his bid to break the 'Crucible curse' on Saturday morning.

How much is the Crucible prize money?

The winner will receive £500,000 and there is total prize fund of £2,395,000.

Winner: £500,000

Runner-up: £200,000

Semi-finalists: £100,000

Quarter-finalists: £50,000

Last 16: £30,000

Last 32: £20,000

Last 48: £15,000

Last 80: £10,000

Last 112: £5,000

Highest break (qualifying stage included): £15,000

What's the format?

First-round matches are the best of 19 frames.

Second round and quarter-final matches are played over a maximum of 25.

Semi-final matches are best of 33 frames.

The final is the best of 35 frames.

Kyren Wilson is the second first-time Crucible winner in a row, after Luca Brecel in 2023

How can I follow on the BBC?

Watch live coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four, or take your pick of the matches on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

For further coverage, audiences can tune into Snooker Extra every night on BBC Two and iPlayer to catch up on the action from the day's early games.

Radio 5 Live will have regular updates and features in programmes throughout the tournament.

Meanwhile, the BBC Sport website and app will have text updates on the early rounds and quarter-finals before full live text commentary on the semi-finals and final.

Who are the BBC TV pundits?

The BBC's presenting team will be Hazel Irvine, Seema Jaswal and Rishi Persad, with reporting from Shabnam Younus-Jewell and Abigail Davis.

Audiences can expect expert commentary and insights from snooker legends Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott, Ken Doherty, Dennis Taylor and John Virgo, alongside some of the game's current players including Masters winner Shaun Murphy.

Match schedule and BBC coverage times

All times are BST and subject to late changes. Championship seedings in brackets

Saturday 19 April

First round

10:00

Kyren Wilson (1) v Lei Peifan

Xiao Guodong (14) v Matthew Selt

14:30

Neil Robertson (9) v Chris Wakelin

Mark Williams (6) v Wu Yize

19:00

Kyren Wilson (1) v Lei Peifan

Barry Hawkins (11) v Hossein Vafaei

Live coverage

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:15-16:30 - BBC One (15:00-16:30 on BBC One Scotland and 13:15-16:30 on BBC Two Wales)

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

16:30-18:00 - Red Button

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Sunday 20 April

First round

10:00

Jak Jones (16) v Zhao Xintong

Xiao Guodong (14) v Matthew Selt

14:30

Mark Allen (8) v Fan Zhengyi

Mark Williams (6) v Wu Yize

19:00

Neil Robertson (9) v Chris Wakelin

Barry Hawkins (11) v Hossein Vafaei

Live coverage

10:00-12:15 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-17:40 - BBC Two (13:00-16:50 on BBC Two Wales)

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

23:45-01:45 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Monday 21 April

First round

10:00

John Higgins (3) v Joe O'Connor

Jak Jones (16) v Zhao Xintong

14:30

Ding Junhui (10) v Zak Surety

Mark Allen (8) v Fan Zhengyi

19:00

Si Jiahui (13) v David Gilbert

John Higgins (3) v Joe O'Connor

Live coverage

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

23:55-01:45 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Tuesday 22 April

First round

10:00

Zhang Anda (12) v Pang Junxu

Shaun Murphy (15) v Daniel Wells

14:30

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) v Ali Carter

Ding Junhui (10) v Zak Surety

19:00

Judd Trump (2) v Zhou Yuelong

Si Jiahui (13) v David Gilbert

Live coverage

10:00-12:15 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Wednesday 23 April

First round

10:00

Zhang Anda (12) v Pang Junxu

Shaun Murphy (15) v Daniel Wells

14:30

Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) v Ali Carter

Luca Brecel (7) v Ryan Day

19:00

Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston

Judd Trump (2) v Zhou Yuelong

Live coverage

10:00-11:15 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

01:05-03:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Thursday 24 April

First round

Mark Selby (4) v Ben Woollaston

Second round

Schedule TBC

Live coverage

13:00-17:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

23:55-01:55 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two (00:55-01:55 on BBC Two Northern Ireland)

Friday 25 April

Second round

Live coverage

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-22:00 - BBC Four

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

00:25-02:25 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Saturday 26 April

Second round

Live coverage

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two & Red Button

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

13:45-16:30 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

16:25-18:00 - Red Button

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-22:00 - BBC Four

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Sunday 27 April

Second round

Live coverage

10:00-12:25 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app (Red Button 10:00-12:15)

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app (Red Button 14:40-18:00)

15:00-18:00 - BBC Two

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-22:00 - BBC Four

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Monday 28 April

Second round

Live coverage

13:00-17:00 - BBC Two

13:00-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-22:00 - BBC Four

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Tuesday 29 April

Quarter-finals

Live coverage

10:00-12:15 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-22:00 - BBC Four

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Wednesday 30 April

Quarter-finals

Live coverage

10:00-11:15 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-22:00 - BBC Four

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Thursday 1 May

Semi-finals

Live coverage

13:00-16:00 - BBC Two

13:00-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-22:00 - BBC Four

Highlights

00:05-02:05 - World Championship Extra - BBC Two

Friday 2 May

Semi-finals

Live coverage

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

14:00-18:00 - BBC Two

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19:00-20:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-23:00 - BBC Four

Saturday 3 May

Semi-finals

Live coverage

10:00-12:00 - BBC Two

10:00-14:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

13:15-16:30 - BBC One

14:30-18:00 - iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

16:30-17:30 - BBC Two

19:00-22:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:30 - iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20:00-23:00 - BBC Four

Sunday 4 May

Final

Live coverage

13:00-18:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:00 - BBC Two

Monday 5 May

Final

Live coverage

13:00-16:00 - BBC Two

19:00-22:00 - BBC Two