Crucible Chaos: Top Players Advance, Others Fall Short in Thrilling World Championship

The 2025 World Snooker Championship has reached its quarter-final stage, with some of the world’s top players setting their sights on the coveted title. In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Luca Brecel have advanced to the last eight, while others, including Shaun Murphy and Ben Woollaston, have fallen short.

O’Sullivan Struggles to Find Form

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will face China’s Si Jiahui in the quarter-finals, but the Englishman is still searching for his best level of performance. Despite securing a 10-4 victory over Ali Carter and a 13-4 win against Pang Junxu, O’Sullivan admitted that he is “nowhere near” his best and gave himself a mark of just two out of 10. He will need to find his form quickly if he hopes to win a record-breaking eighth Crucible title.

Brecel’s Cavalier Attitude Pays Off

Meanwhile, 2023 champion Luca Brecel has continued his impressive form, wrapping up a 13-4 victory over Ding Junhui in just one frame. Brecel’s cavalier attitude towards the game has been praised by former world champion Steve Davis, who believes that the Belgian’s ability to play without worrying about missing a ball is a temperament that cannot be taught. Brecel will now face Judd Trump in the quarter-finals.

Trump Holds Off Murphy’s Fightback

World number one Judd Trump has overcome a spirited fightback from Shaun Murphy to win an epic last-16 tie 13-10. Trump, who has already won the UK Championship this season, was forced to dig deep to take the 23rd frame and secure his place in the quarter-finals. He will now face Brecel in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Quarter-Final Schedule

The quarter-final schedule has been confirmed, with the following matches set to take place:

10:00 BST: Zhao Xintong v Chris Wakelin

14:30: Ronnie O’Sullivan v Si Jiahui

19:00: John Higgins v Mark Williams

The quarter-finals will be played over the best of 25 frames, with no matches played to a finish. The winners will advance to the semi-finals, where they will face off against the remaining quarter-finalists.