The main stages of the 2025 World Snooker Championship are just around the corner after the qualifiers concluded on Wednesday in Sheffield.
Sixteen players emerged from the English Institute of Sport to join the top 16 seeds from the world rankings in the round-of-32 draw.
The first round proper commences on Saturday at the Crucible Theatre, but let’s see who made it through Judgement Day this week.
Who advanced from the World Snooker Championship Qualifiers?
Daniel Wells
Daniel Wells secured his Crucible debut with a dramatic 10-9 victory over Gary Wilson – one of five Judgement Day matches that needed a deciding frame to settle the outcome.
The Welshman had already beaten Dominic Dale in the penultimate round, a result that ended his countryman’s 33-year professional career on the main tour.
Zhou Yuelong
It’s incredible to think that a player with the pedigree of Zhou Yuelong has only played at the Crucible Theatre twice before.
The three-time ranking event runner-up from China will be back for the first time since 2019 after beating Yuan Sijun 10-5.
Zak Surety
World Open semi-finalist Zak Surety is one of three World Snooker Championship qualifiers who will be making a Crucible debut in 2025.
The 33 year-old was in superb form in the preliminary competition, upsetting both Jack Lisowski and Ricky Walden at the English Institute of Sport.
Hossein Vafaei
Hossein Vafaei claimed the Crucible “smells really bad” during last year’s edition of the blue-riband event in Sheffield.
The Iranian will make his return after a comprehensive 10-4 victory over Wang Yuchen on Judgement Day.
Ben Woollaston
It has taken Ben Woollaston 12 years, but he has finally made it back to the sport’s most iconic stage.
The 37 year-old Englishman edged Mark Davis on the final black in round three before orchestrating a more comprehensive 10-4 defeat of Ross Muir on Judgement Day.
Zhao Xintong
Just how far will Zhao Xintong go in this year’s World Championship, with the Chinese star undoubtedly the player every seed will want to avoid?
The former UK champion, continuing his comeback from a ban from the sport, looked in ominous form as he compiled 12 century breaks while emerging from the very first round of the qualifiers.
Ryan Day
There aren’t many players with more experience than Ryan Day, making him another dangerous proposition for the top seeds in the first-round draw.
The Welshman overcame Sunny Akani on Judgement Day, and the three-time quarter-finalist will make his 16th Crucible appearance.
Chris Wakelin
While a lot of the Judgement Day matches were close affairs, that certainly wasn’t the case for Chris Wakelin who hammered Martin O’Donnell 10-2.
Wakelin, who has reached the Crucible for the fourth time, has represented one of the most improved performers on the circuit across the last couple of years.
2025 World Championship Seeds
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
Fan Zhengyi
Fan Zhengyi is one of six Chinese competitors who made it through the 2025 World Snooker Championship qualifiers in Sheffield.
The former European Masters champion beat experienced Englishmen Robbie Williams and Michael Holt at the EIS.
Joe O’Connor
Jackson Page will take home one of the richest cheques from this year’s World Championship after his double 147 effort in the penultimate round.
But he was unable to survive Judgement Day, with World Open finalist Joe O’Connor making it back-to-back Crucible appearances following a 10-7 win.
Pang Junxu
Pang Junxu has become somewhat of a Judgement Day specialist, the young Chinese cueist successfully navigating the final round of qualifiers for the third straight year.
Pang thumped Ashley Carty in the third round before inflicting a 10-6 defeat on former quarter-finalist Jamie Jones.
Wu Yize
There was tremendous tension as Wu Yize edged two-time World Championship runner-up Matthew Stevens in a deciding frame on Wednesday.
The world number 22 potted a superb green in the final frame that helped send him through, and the 21 year-old could be a genuine danger man in the draw.
David Gilbert
David Gilbert qualified and went all the way to the semi-finals in 2024, where he was beaten by eventual champion Kyren Wilson.
Almost 12 months on and he’ll be back for another crack at the Crucible, this time having come through the qualifiers with a 10-9 victory over Aaron Hill.
Lei Peifan
Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan will end what has been a breakthrough campaign with a first-ever appearance at the Crucible Theatre.
Lei pipped WSF Championship winner Gao Yang in a deciding frame on Judgement Day, winning the last two frames against his countryman.
Matthew Selt
There was even more drama as Matthew Selt potted the final pink and black to pip Jimmy Robertson in another 10-9 thriller.
Selt – constantly the centre of controversy – will make a fifth Crucible appearance as he bids for a maiden win at the venue.
Ali Carter
A two-time former World Championship finalist and a six-time ranking event winner, Ali Carter is another obvious candidate for a player the seeds will want to avoid.
The Captain came through a Judgement Day test against He Guoqiang and will make a 21st Crucible appearance.
When is the first round draw for the Crucible?
The first round draw for the 2025 World Snooker Championship will be made at around 8:45am UTC+1 on Thursday, April 17th.
The draw will be conducted live on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website.
Featured photo credit: WST
