World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Champ Wilson CRASHES OUT, Robertson trailing, Ronnie O’Sullivan waits

Fans react to the major twistIn a shocking turn of events, defending champion Kyren Wilson was knocked out in the first round by Lei Peifan.

Fans have quickly reacted to the major upset on X, former Twitter.

Just in case you missed itJICYMI, the Crucible Curse has struck again – as Kyren Wilson became the latest victim.

No first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship in this iconic Sheffield theatre has successfully retained the title.

Wilson, the best player on the planet this season, had hoped to change that dynamic this year in Sheffield but he crashed out in the first round.

He looked haunted at times as he lost 10-9 to brilliant debutant Lei Peifan, who claimed EIGHT of the last 11 frames of an enthralling contest.

The Warrior is the 20TH man that has been claimed by the Curse as he departed the tournament on the opening day.

For the second year running, after Luca Brecel’s collapse 12 months ago in the same room to David Gilbert, the defending champion has been crushingly dethorned.

Ronnie’s secret weaponRonnie O’Sullivan has teamed up with long-time psychiatrist Steve Peters ahead of his Crucible comeback.

Four of The Rocket’s seven world triumphs have occurred with Peters in his corner.

And, in a warning to the rest of the field, that relationship is back on this time.

O’Sullivan snapped a cue in anger in January and weeks ago, he told SunSport he was struggling to find a suitable replacement.

The former world No 1 does have one now but, while he hit two 147s in practice at his academy in Saudi Arabia, he has urged caution with regards to this latest piece of wood.

Today’s action – as Williams faces tough finaleMark Williams resumes today, just 5-4 up in his ding-dong battle with Wu Yize.

And Neil Robertson will try to somehow turn round Chris Wakelin’s staggering 7-2 lead.

Meanwhile, another huge name in Mark Allen launches his title bid.

Here’s Sunday’s full schedule:

10am:
Jak Jones v Zhao Xintong
Xiao Guodong 7-2 Matthew Selt
2.30pm:
Mark Allen v Fan Zhengyi
Mark Williams 5-4 Wu Yize
7pm:
Neil Robertson 2-7 Chris Wakelin
Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei

Cru cue hoodoo for winning anew DOES continueThe Crucible Curse struck again – as Kyren Wilson became the latest victim, writes ROB MAUL.

No first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship in this iconic Sheffield theatre has successfully retained the title.

Wilson, the best player on the planet this season, had hoped to change that dynamic this year but he crashed out in the first round.

He looked haunted at times as he lost 10-9 to brilliant debutant Lei Peifan, who claimed EIGHT of the last 11 frames of an enthralling contest.

The Warrior is the 20TH man that has been claimed by the Curse as he departed the tournament on the opening day.

For the second year running, after Luca Brecel’s collapse 12 months ago in the same room to David Gilbert, the defending champion has been crushingly dethroned.

Of those 20 casualties, SEVEN have now gone out in round one.
That figure does not include the late Terry Griffiths, who lost his opener in 1980 but he had received a bye into round two.

Kyren bemoans pressure of being the champDethroned Kyren Wilson bemoaned the pressure that comes with being snooker’s reigning world champion.

After maintaining the Crucible curse with his loss to Lei Peifan, Wilson said: “I was so nervous this morning. I felt awful.

“I wanted to get round one out of the way. It has been very challenging to prepare for a World Championship this year.

“I sympathise with previous world champions. Your preparation takes a hit with a lot of media stuff.

“I’m gutted. It feels like the season is a bit of a waste. We go on and look on to bigger and better things.”

Ronnie fears the finals meltdownRonnie O’Sullivan fears he has lost his bottle  — and warned he may quit the  World Snooker Championship if he has “a meltdown”.

The Rocket, 49, is slated for a blockbuster first-round clash with nemesis Ali Carter on Tuesday.

Ronnie O’Sullivan remains a fans’ favourite at the CrucibleCredit: Alamy“So if I have a meltdown, who knows? I might still bloody withdraw. I hope I don’t.

“I’m surprised I’m here but I’m here. I don’t have any expectations.

“I’d just like to not feel all at sea out there. If I can just play and at least feel semi-competitive, I’d be happy with that.

“Could I win the whole thing? I doubt it. I’d be very happy to just give Ali a game.

“I’m nearly 50 now and there’s a lot of young guys who are hungry and competing all the time. It’s a bit different to say 2012, 2013.”

Caned and tableKyren Wilson reckons he “drifted” out of the World Championship thanks to a cruel Crucible table.

The world champion said: “I’m devastated. I had everything go against me.

“Every credit to Lei. He potted some incredible shots.

“The table let me down in the decider. I played a couple of slow-rolling safety shots but they drifted a mile.”

Get ready for some jackpotting!Here’s how the £2.395million Crucible prize money is split.

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

Ronnie’s Cru-cial help from psychiatristRonnie O’Sullivan has teamed up with long-time psychiatrist Steve Peters ahead of his Crucible comeback, writes ROB MAUL.

Four of The Rocket’s seven world triumphs have occurred with Peters in his corner.

And, in a warning to the rest of the field, that relationship is back on this time.

O’Sullivan snapped a cue in anger in January and weeks ago, he told SunSport he was struggling to find a suitable replacement.

The former world No 1 does have one now but, while he hit two 147s in practice at his academy in Saudi Arabia, he has urged caution with regards to this latest piece of wood.

The potting GOAT said: “I’ve got a cue.  I got given it. I’ve had this one for three or four months sitting in a rack. I tried it out and it was OK.

“Listen, it’s a lot of difference hitting a 147 in exhibitions to coming to the Crucible and playing the best players in the world.

“I practised with Barry Hawkins for a couple of days and, on the second day, it was that bad I quit. Barry said, ‘It’s not as bad as you think’.

“I was like, ‘Really?’ And he said, ‘It’s just maybe concentration’. So I held on to that.”

Reminder of seedings – with No 1 Wilson OUTLei Peifan put paid to top seed Kyren Wilson – leaving Judd Trump as the top-rated player.

• Here’s how the players were seeded:
• 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 Ana
• 13) Si Jiahui 14) Xiao Guodong, 15) Shaun Murphy, 16) Jak Jones

How Lei stunned the worldLei Peifan enjoyed an outstanding and dominant seven-frame spell in which he barely missed a ball as he defeated Kyren Wilson, writes ROB MAUL.

He hit six successive half-century breaks – 50, 60, 75, 89, 69 and 92 – while, in contrast, Wilson’s highest break was only 45.

Lei rallied again at the end for a famous winCredit: AlamyWilson, 33, made it 9-7 with a peerless 106 and then somehow survived the error of missing the black off its spot in frame 17.

In frame 18, Wilson came from 40-10 down to force the decider but then Lei’s aggressive approach paid off as he won the 19th frame with the entire auditorium watching in silence.

In the 10am morning session, Scottish Open champion Lei could not have had a worse start to proceedings – his opening shot was a FOUL as the blue went down a pocket from the BREAK-OFF.

Wilson, the world No.2, hit a 136 break in frame eight and only needed to keep his composure on Saturday night to secure easy passage.

The Curse started to tighten its grip in frame 11 and Wilson was left shaking his head when he fouled as a stray red rolled into the pocket after he sunk a blue.

Before arriving here, Wilson tried to mock his predicament in a social media clip – this involved him breaking a mirror, letting a black cat walk in front of him and opening an umbrella indoors.

It was an attempt to make light of what he was about to face, a defiance if you like to the much-mentioned ‘Snooker Gods’, but his luck eventually ran out in sensational fashion.

Wilson had mentioned his desire to break the Curse in the hours after he won the £500,000 jackpot last May but he was outpotted by the tremendous Lei.

Lei faces Jones or XintongWorld No. 39 Lei Peifan is one of three rookies in World Championship, writes ROB MAUL.

And the qualifier’s reward for sinking Kyren Wilson is a second-round clash with Jak Jones or Zhao Xintong.

This seismic result has blown open the top half of the draw and kickstarted the Chinese revolution in this competition.

When he hosted the inaugural Champions’ Dinner on Thursday night, which was attended by 11 former world conquerors, one wag could not resist the chance to joke: “Get ready Kyren, the Grim Reaper is coming for you.”

And the scythe came crashing down after 11pm in one memorable decider.

For some people, the Curse could technically be extended to have snared the likes of John Spencer, Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins.

But those three icons had already been world champions somewhere else before they had lifted the silver trophy in South Yorkshire.

Crucible Curse sinks KyrenThe Crucible Curse has struck again – as Kyren Wilson became the latest victim, writes ROB MAUL.

No first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship in this iconic Sheffield theatre has retained the title.

It got glum and glummer after Wilson after he led 6-2Credit: GettyWilson, the best player on the planet this season, had hoped to change that dynamic this year but he crashed out in the first round.

He looked haunted at times as he lost 10-9 to brilliant debutant Lei Peifan, who claimed EIGHT of the last 11 frames of an enthralling contest.

The Warrior is the 20TH man that has been claimed by the Curse as he departed the tournament on the opening day.

For the second year running, after Luca Brecel’s collapse 12 months ago in the same room to David Gilbert, the defending champion has been crushingly dethroned.

Of those 20 casualties, SEVEN have now gone out in round one.

That figure does not include the late Terry Griffiths, who lost his opener in 1980 but he had received a bye into round two.

Debutant Lei hails ‘biggest win’ everLei Peifan reckons he’s never had a bigger win than his epic 10-9 day one defest of reignign world champ Kyren Wilson.

The Chinese ace said: “I’m so happy. I did well. He is a legendary player. I’m proud I beat him.

I wanted to enjoy the match. This is my first time at the Crucible. I was nervous in the decider.

“I told myself to calm down and focus on every shot.

“This is my biggest win. Very important for me. Gives me a lot of confidence.”

Lei Peifan came out of the shadow of Kyren WilsonCredit: Alamy

‘Snooker Gods against me’World No. 2 Kyren Wilson appeared to reckon he didn’t get the rub of the greens… or any other colour.

In fact, the victim of Lei Peifan’s shock win reckons he was even more unlucky than that.

Wilson said: “I think the snooker Gods were against me.

“But taking nothing against Lei. He held himself extremely well as a debutant and good luck to him.”

Wilson added: “I’m absolutely gutted – not the end of the season I wanted.”

Lei Peifan hailed one of the biggest wins of his careerCredit: Getty

‘Season is a bit of a waste’ Kyren Wilson struggled to see the bright side after Lei Pefan’s upset win.

The English ace also revealed he woke up blighted by anxiety – despite holding a big lead.

He said: “I was so nervous this morning. I felt awful. I wanted to get round one out of the way.

“It has been very challenging to prepare for a world championship this year.

“I sympathise with previous world champions. Your preparation takes a hit with a lot of media stuff.

“I’m gutted. It feels like the season is a bit of a waste. We go on and look on to bigger and better things.”

Kyren Wilson lost 10-9 to Lei PeifanCredit: Getty

‘Devastated’ Wilson blames table for exitDethroned Crucible king Kyren Wilson is “gutted” to exit on day one – after claiming the table let him down in the final-frame decider.

Wilson said: “I’m devastated. Devastated. I gave it my all. I had everything go against me. Every credit to Lei. He potted some incredible shots.

“The table let me down in the decider. I played a couple of slow-rolling safety shots but they drifted a mile.

“In his debut, Lei has held himself together incredibly well and I wish him all the rest for the tournament.”

Lei stuns Crucible with epic dethroning of WilsonLei Peifan kept his nerve brilliantly to KO reigning champ Kyren Wilson in amazing fashion on day one of the World Championship.

The Chinese ace trailed 6-2, but led 96 before seeing Wilson level with three composed frames in a row.

But Lei pounced on an error in the final frame to stride away with in majestically, taking the 19th frame 80-14.

This blue was the turning point after Wilson had fought back

Latest scores – Wilson OUTKyren Wilson 9-10 Lei Peifan
Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei

Latest scores – Lei looking goodLei beautifully split the reds when he potted the pink.

And it means he’s gloriously positioned to finish Wilson off.

But one red took a mighty wobble before going down

Kyren Wilson 9-9 Lei Peifan (14-51)
Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei

Latest scores – Kyren’s dodgy double kissWilson was fluttering with nerves after a freaky double kiss.

And Lei was straight in to punish him for his bad luck by pocketing a red to the middle pocket.

One brilliant shot later, and the Chinese star was looking well set.

And he’s carried on the break smoothly.

Kyren Wilson 9-9 Lei Peifan (14-29)
Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei

Latest scores – so cagey!Wilson compiled 14 – but was frustrated with a misjudged blue that stopped him progressing any more.

And he then pocketed the cue ball.

But Lei couldn’t profit.

Kyren Wilson 9-9 Lei Peifan (14-13)
Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei

Latest scores – Lei miss lets Wilson inWe were into safety play at the start of this climactic frame – until Lei found a way in.

Remember, Wilson was 2-0 down, 6-2 up, 9-6 down and is now at 9-9.

The reigning Crucible king has shown incredible mental resolve and immaculate technique to haul himself back into it.

But now Lei has a difficult opportunity to build a decent break.

So far he’s taking advantage – although a bold red took a wobble before dropping.

But he then left the following black hanging over the hole.

Can Wilson make him pay?

Kyren Wilson 9-9 Lei Peifan (0-9)
Barry Hawkins 5-4 Hossein Vafaei

Latest scores – Wilson takes it all the wayFor the second frame in a row, Wilson has turned a tricky situation around – to make it three frames in a row.

Once more he could barely afford a mistake.

And he pulled out one of the shots of the tournament so far to power on

He cut in a blue to beautifully ease the red off the cushion with the cue ball.

And it left him perfectly placed – roaring on to leave Lei needing snookers.

Wilson then returned to wrap it up 82-40, via more quality pots.

Kyren Wilson 9-9 Lei Peifan
Barry Hawkins 5-3 Hossein Vafaei (23-56)

Wilson battled back with commendable composure