2025 World Championships

[snookerfollower]

I feel sorry for Ali because he's probably dreading what he'll be subjected to during the match and all the distractions he has to deal with while the ref turns a blind eye. I feel for Ali because he seems a genuine nice guy and is a class act on the match table. Ronnie can't control his fans but I hope he does his best before the match to at least try to make sure Ali gets the respect he deserves.

Ali is not a class act on the match table lol. What parallel universe have you just arrived from?

[MrRottweiler]

too late, already started on twitter

I feel sorry for Ali because he's probably dreading what he'll be subjected to during the match and all the distractions he has to deal with while the ref turns a blind eye. I feel for Ali because he seems a genuine nice guy and is a class act on the match table. Ronnie can't control his fans but I hope he does his best before the match to at least try to make sure Ali gets the respect he deserves.

[snookerfollower]

O'Sullivan has confirmed he will be playing in the World Championship - so we can move on from the speculation to focus on the actual matches.

[JimMalone]

So Jak Jones got the one probably nobody wanted to play.
There's no really an outstanding match to me in the first round, but there should be some close fights.

It's noteworthy that this year there are ten Chinese players, which is a record.

As for O'Sullivan possibly not playing. I didn't believe that for a second and actually I can't believe some people really did...

[snookerfollower]

Come on John!

I hope the pundits don't hype up the Ronnie/Ali match like it's heavyweight boxing.

It's a weird one. Ronnie has a incredible record against Carter so it's not like there's all that much jeopardy in that respect so the only reason for it being the biggest match in the draw is if you frame it is a grudge match down to their personal dislike of each other which is easy to do. Although this might be Carter's best chance to beat him.

[DeanH]

I hope the pundits don't hype up the Ronnie/Ali match like it's heavyweight boxing.

too late, already started on twitter

[MrRottweiler]

Come on John!

I hope the pundits don't hype up the Ronnie/Ali match like it's heavyweight boxing.

[DeanH]

I watched the draw, it seemed to me that Rob Walker let slip that Ronnie IS playing!

Probably as he was instructed to

[Ginger Freak]

I watched the draw, it seemed to me that Rob Walker let slip that Ronnie IS playing!

[snookerfollower]

If it goes ahead the pick of the matches is O'Sullivan v Carter - I was hoping Carter would draw O'Sullivan or Trump (anyone remember that spat).

The rest of the first round draw indicates this will be a tournament that won't really set the general once-a-year snooker fans alight until the second round. Lots of great matches for us who watch most events but not for the once-a-year brigade.

[DeanH]

i should say ronnie is even more likely to show up now, he won't want ali going through as a bye surely?

lol
.......

[akofb]

I should say Ronnie is even more likely to show up now, he won't want Ali going through as a bye surely?

Some tough matches in there, difficult to pick a winner as always.

[DeanH]

Round 1 (Last 32) Draw (match number)

1. Kyren Wilson v Lei Peifan
2. Jak Jones v Zhao Xintong
3. Neil Robertson v Chris Wakelin
4. Mark Allen v Fan Zhengyi
5. Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter
6. Zhang Anda v Pang Junxu
7. Si Jaihui v David Gilbert
8. Mark Selby v Ben Woollaston
9. John Higgins v Joe O'Connor
10. Xiao Guodong v Matthew Selt
11. Barry Hawkins v Hossein Vafaei
12. Mark J Williams v Wu Yize
13. Luca Brecel v Ryan Day
14. Ding Junhui v Zak Surety
15. Shaun Murphy v Daniel Wells
16. Judd Trump v Zhou Yuelong

[DeanH]

Anyone know when and where to view the draw for the first round will take place?


edit - found the following on BBC snooker page

The draw for the first round will take place at 08:45 BST on Thursday (17th Apr) at BBC Sport's MediaCity UK headquarters in Salford.

You can watch the draw live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app from 08:40 BST or follow it on BBC Radio 5 Live.

[Nifty50]

I started a thread for the qualifiers.