Ronnie O’Sullivan is already in control of his record-extending 23rd World Snooker Championship quarter-final against Si Jiahui as ‘The Rocket’ continues his bid for a history-making eighth world title.
O’Sullivan wasted little time in securing a routine 13-4 win over Pang Junxu in the second round at the Crucible Theatre and now leads talented youngster Si, who shockingly made the semi-finals here in 2023 at the age of just 20, 6-2 after their first session on Tuesday afternoon.
Now 22, the Chinese star has established himself in the top 16 but a best-of-25 clash against the greatest snooker player of all time still represents a huge challenge for the fearless potter and any errors during the first eight frames were punished by a ruthless O’Sullivan, who will look to break the back of the best-of-25 contest when the second session resumes at 10am on Wednesday.
Follow all the scores, results and latest updates from the World Snooker Championship below:
World Snooker Championship 2025 - live updates
- Ronnie O'Sullivan builds early lead in his quarter-final against Si Jiahui, moving 6-2 ahead
- O'Sullivan has cruised into the last eight as he seeks a history-making eighth world title
- Latest score: Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui (best-of-25)
- The Rocket's fellow 'Class of '92' veterans John Higgins and Mark Williams do battle in another quarter-final
- Latest score: John Higgins 5-3 Mark Williams (best-of-25)
Ronnie O’Sullivan explains success of snooker’s ‘Class of 92’
18:06 , Luke BakerHard competition and enduring happiness are the reasons why snooker’s ‘Class of ’92’ have continued to hold the sport’s new generations at bay, according to seven-times world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The 49-year-old eased into a 6-2 lead after the first session of his Crucible quarter-final against Si Jiahui on Tuesday while John Higgins slugged out a 5-3 advantage over Mark Williams.
The trio boast 14 world titles between them and and few would dare bet against that number increasing as they continue to cut a swathe through the draw in Sheffield.
Ronnie O’Sullivan explains success of snooker’s ‘Class of 92’ at World Championship
Latest score: Judd Trump 5-3 Luca Brecel
17:08 , Luke BakerOn the other table, it’s world No 1 Judd Trump who will lead overnight as he earns a 5-3 advantage against the 2023 world champion.
Ronnie O'Sullivan leads Si Jiahui 6-2 after the first session
16:54 , Luke BakerA slightly harrowing first session for Si Jiahui in the end. He took a while to get going and even when he did, any error was punished by Ronnie O’Sullivan. That missed black in frame seven in particular might haunt him.
The Rocket leads 6-2 overnight, with the next session starting at 10am tomorrow morning before the final session at 7pm tomorrow evening.
Can Si mount any sort of fightback? We’ll have to see
Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME EIGHT
16:51 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan wraps the frame up as he moves 70 points ahead with just 67 available. Can he finish this session with a flourish and make a century?
He tries to cannon a red away from the pink and misses but then pulls out a double to right middle to keep the break alive!
And he goes on to make the ton. The pink after he final red gets him through the 100 mark. In the end it’s a break of 121 and Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame eight to lead 6-2. He already has one foot in the semi-final.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui
16:46 , Luke BakerOof. A pink to left middle wipes its feet, wriggles but drops in on 17. O’Sullivan’s cueball control is as immaculate as ever though and he builds a healthy lead.
He’s suddenly 45 points in front without breaking sweat. He cannons into the pack and splits them beautifully. This is the Rocket with his swagger back
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui
16:44 , Luke BakerSi’s break-off leaves a long red for O’Sullivan to have a go at and he crunches it into the heart of the pocket. A tricky yellow is dispatched with aplomb, as is a red along the cushion.
The Rocket beginning to fire on all cylinders here. If he makes it 6-2, it could be curtains for Si.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME SEVEN
16:41 , Luke BakerFinal red is stroked to right middle and O’Sullivan just needs the colours, all of which are on their spots.
It’s simple for the Rocket really and he mops up the balls that should have been Si’s. Punished, badly for his miss.
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame seven with a break of 67 to extend his lead to 5-2.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui
16:38 , Luke BakerThis would be a painful steal to endure for Si but you know that’s exactly what Ronnie has in mind.
He cruises to 24 but a split of the reds goes slightly wrong. Leaves him a tricky cut on the red to right middle but it’s a great pot. Beautifully controlled, heart of the pocket and perfectly on the black.
There doesn’t look like any real obstacles left for him now in this break
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui
16:35 , Luke BakerThis is more like the Si Jiahui we saw two years ago when he reached the semi-finals of the World Championship. He is timing the ball beautifully and the white is zipping round the table, directed by his wand of a cue.
His lead climbs beyond 50 but then a bad error. He misses a black off the spot. Inexplicable. His is 52-0 ahead but there’s more than enough left on for O’Sullivan to hit back here. That could be costly
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui
16:32 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan leaves Si a long red straight from the break-off but the Chinese star rattles the jaws. However, he has a mid-range red on his next visit and that does find the heart of the pocket.
A couple more reds with blues follow and then a lovely shot back across the table to land beautifully on a red just below the black. Then smashes into the pack to free a few.
He’s starting to look in good nick here. Break of 20 and the balls are now nicely positioned to build a big lead.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui - SI WINS FRAME SIX
16:28 , Luke BakerThe only jeopardy left in this frame is whether Si can make the century. The answer is, he can’t, but a break of 69 and Si Jiahui wins frame six to narrow the gap to 4-2.
Nicely done and with two frames left in the session, he’ll hope to get back on level terms. Or be trailing 5-3 at the absolute worst.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Si Jiahui
16:25 , Luke BakerEven when Si doesn’t come high enough on the blue, he pulls out a nice pot to the yellow pocket. He’s working really hard in this break and you feel he knows how important it is.
Another long pot on the blue required, this time to the green pocket, and he nails it. His lead is beyond 50 points now. He needs one more colour and red to get over the line.
Crunches a long blue into the top corner! Great stuff. Then adds the blue and O’Sullivan will need snookers now. Good work from the underdog
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Si Jiahui
16:22 , Luke BakerSi works himself an opportunity and things aren’t easy as he has to go up for the blue repeatedly, with the black and pink out of action, but he’s got good cueball control here so far.
His lead reaches 30 points and he’s going well. The reds are spread nicely, it’s just the blue being the only colour of use making things harder
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Si Jiahui
16:13 , Luke BakerOh, Si Jiahui. He actually pots another nice long red to get in but then misses a routine green into the top corner pocket by a long way. The 22-year-old is struggling to find his feet on this stage at the moment.
He doesn’t immediately leave a pot on for O’Sullivan at least but the seven-time world champion is taking control of the safety exchanges.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME FIVE
16:11 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan suddenly looking imperious - the most confident he has in this match. Striding round the table, slotting in balls at pace.
He makes a break of 87, punishes Si for his initial miss and Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame five to lead 4-1. This is in danger of getting out of hand for Si.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-1 Si Jiahui
16:06 , Luke BakerThe black is tied up but O’Sullivan works with the pink, which is on the blue spot. Then plays a lovely little cannon as he pots a red on 28, which frees up the black. That makes things easier now and this is a good chance to win this frame here.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-1 Si Jiahui
16:03 , Luke BakerBack underway in the match we’re focusing on this afternoon. Can Si Jiahui properly get himself into this match?
Confidence-boosting long, straight pot to the right corner to get in. It’s not an easy start tot he break as he has tough pot after tough pot and misses a red, cutting it back into the left corner, rattling the jaws and staying out.
Just 10 points and O’Sullivan now at the table with a chance to score himself
Latest score: Judd Trump 3-1 Luca Brecel
15:58 , Luke BakerOn the other side of the wall, two free-flowing, attacking former world champions are going head to head and Judd Trump leads Luca Brecel 3-1.
Trump needed a snooker in frame three, which he got and came back to pinch the frame, before making a break of 106 in frame four.
Brecel made a break of 92 to win the second frame and it has been entertaining stuff in the early going
WATCH: Si Jiahui makes his century
15:53 , Luke BakerIn the only frame he’s won so far, Si Jiahui made a century break
A 🔟th Crucible century for Si Jiahui!#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/heqCTVoChF
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) April 29, 2025
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-1 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME FOUR
15:47 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan surprisingly misses frame-ball again. A glimmer of hope for Si but he’ll need a total clearance from here.
Hmmm, he pots a red but then promptly misses the pink. Not great. And he immediately concedes the frame.
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame four and leads 3-1 at the mid-session interval
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-1 Si Jiahui
15:40 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan moving the cueball around nicely, mainly being forced to work with the blue as the black is tied up. Judging the pace of each shot really nicely.
The lead builds past 30 points, then 40. Good work so far by the Rocket here.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-1 Si Jiahui
15:36 , Luke BakerHead in hands from O’Sullivan who, despite his lead, doesn’t seem happy out there. He misses a very makeable red along the bottom cushion as it hits cushion first.
Laaves Si in among the balls but he can only pot one red before missing a thin cut on the black. He needs to start punishing the Rocket’s mistakes while he’s under pressure
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-1 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME THREE
15:33 , Luke BakerGood split of the remaining reds from the Rocket. They’re all there for the taking now.
He moves ahead of Si’s score with one red remaining and the only real obstacle left is the brown on the top cushion. Leaves a relatively thin cut on the brown but drops it into the pocket and lands nicely on the blue, clearing the remaining colours for a 71 break.
Nicely done by Ronnie O’Sullivan to win frame three and lead 2-1 but Si Jiahui was in control of that frame and let it slip.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-1 Si Jiahui
15:27 , Luke BakerThe cueball is wandering a bit for Si during this break but he keeps potting the balls to stay at the table. Until he doesn’t...
With his break at 30 he misses a red to left corner, overcutting it. Big opportunity missed.
Si leads 44-12 but O’Sullivan back at the table, in the balls.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-1 Si Jiahui
15:24 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan hasn’t settled properly here. Switches to play left-handed for a red down the cushion but it’s a deceleration and he misses it. Hangs his head in frustration. Leaves Si right in among the balls.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-1 Si Jiahui
15:23 , Luke BakerGood break-off by O’Sullivan and it forces a safety mistake from Si, so the Rocket is in first with a long red. But soon breaks down on just 6 points, giving Si a chance.
The Chinese star will hope to get a few points here with four or five loose reds but soon runs out of position. Takes on a thin snick to the corner but misses it by a distance. Leads 14-6 but he’s stuck the red up for Ronnie
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-1 Si Jiahui - SI WINS FRAME TWO
15:17 , Luke BakerNice cannon on the reds after potting a black and the frame is at Si’s mercy as he passes 50 points. Just need to keep his composure for a few more pots.
Tough pot on a red when he’s on 60. Good recovery shot, goes up for the green.
He’s rolling now and gets over the line in the frame. Can he complete the century? He does. The final green takes him to 100 and although he then misses the brown, it doesn’t matter.
Si Jiahui wins frame two to get on the board at 1-1.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-0 Si Jiahui
15:08 , Luke BakerMaybe Si is starting to find his long game in frame two. Digs out a nice long pot to the left corner, dropped in.
The black follows and this is a good scoring chance. He has to let O’Sullivan know he’s in this match.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-0 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME ONE
14:58 , Luke BakerA fun safety exchange with fluked snookers and the cueball rebounding off the jaws of pockets brings oohs and ahs from the Crucible crowd.
Eventually O’Sullivan pulls out a long pot on the red and then pots the pink to leave Si needing snookers. Clears up to the blue for good measure and Ronnie O’Sullivan wins a very scrappy opening frame to lead 1-0
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-0 Si Jiahui
14:53 , Luke BakerNot great control of the cueball by Si and he’s forced to go round the angles of the table to try and land on the final red. Cannons into the brown so doesn’t manage it.
Si trails 59-29 with one red left but O’Sullivan is snookered and misses the red, hitting the pink instead. 59-35 now. Hits it next time and the red is safe. Frame still very much alive though.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-0 Si Jiahui
14:51 , Luke BakerSi gets a look-in with a red to the yellow pocket to start but he breaks down on 16 when he misses a very makeable pot. Frustrating for the youngster.
This time, O’Sullivan punishes him. Makes 31 and just needs one more red to get over the line and win the frame. But then a miss! Wow, didn’t see that coming.
The red rattles the jaws of the right corner and Si comes back to the table trailing 59-16 - 43 points behind and 51 points remaining.
If Si could somehow steal this frame that would be massive... Big test for the Chinese cueman.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-0 Si Jiahui
14:43 , Luke BakerSi goes close with another attempted long pot but it does miss and leaves O’Sullivan right in among the balls.
It goes slightly wrong when he tries to split the pack, tricky pot to right middle and it drifts to the near jaw. O’Sullivan leads 28-4 but that’s two early chances he’s let slip by.
Meanwhile, Si has a third long pot attempt of the match and for a third time he rattles the jaws. Scrappy start
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-0 Si Jiahui
14:38 , Luke BakerBad omen for Ronnie straight away? He takes the opening break-off and the cueball ends up in the top corner pocket. Not how he drew it up...
No damage done though. Si has a look at a long red but it rattles out. Leaves O’Sullivan an easy starter and he pots a black to follow but immediately runs out of position and doesn’t have a pot ona red. Just eight points.
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Si Jiahui
14:36 , Luke BakerMC Rob Walker has brought all four players out on to the baize. A rejuvenated Luca Brecel v Judd Trump on the other side of the wall which should be VERY fun but we’ll be focused on the Rocket, Ronnie O’Sullivan facing Si Jiahui.
Let’s get going.
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and schedule in full
14:20 , Luke BakerThe World Snooker Championship rolls on with the action at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield heating up as the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage.
A number of top contenders have already fallen, including defending champion Kyren Wilson - pipped by Lei Peifan in the first round - and four-time winner Mark Selby, who was knocked out by training partner Ben Woollaston.
There have been no such problems so far, though, for a returning Ronnie O’Sullivan. The seven-time champion made a mockery of his recent period of inactivity by reeling off three centuries in five frames as he completed a 10-4 win over Ali Carter to reach the second round, and backed it up with a routine win over Pang Junxu to reach a record-extending 23rd quarter-final.
Here’s everything you need to know:
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and schedule in full
Latest score: Chris Wakelin 2-6 Zhao Xintong
13:51 , Luke BakerOn the other side of the wall from Williams and Higgins this morning, two qualifiers were in quarter-final action.
Zhao Xintong, still technically an amateur but who is a former UK Championship winner will be back on the main tour next season after the end of his ban for match-fixing and world No 20 Chris Wakelin.
Zhao is one of the most talented player around and his potting was sublime this morning as he built a big lead but Wakelin managed to snatch the final frame of the session to limit the damage to 6-2. Still a long way back for the Englishman though.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel seal quarter-final places with quick-fire wins
13:40 , Luke BakerRonnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel wrapped up one of the quickest Crucible sessions in history as they took just over a quarter of an hour to seal their respective places in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals.
The two former winners returned on Monday evening, each requiring a single frame to complete wins over Pang Junxu and Ding Junhui respectively.
Brecel won the sprint to the dressing room as he summoned a break of 71 to see off the 2016 finalist 13-4, and he was swiftly followed by O’Sullivan, who rifled in a break of 95 to complete his victory over Pang by the same score.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel seal quarter-final places with quick-fire wins
John Higgins leads Mark Williams 5-3 at the end of the first session
13:20 , Luke BakerA really good session of snooker, that. They’ll resume at 7-pm this evening for session two.
John Higgins 5-3 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME EIGHT
13:10 , Luke BakerWilliams lines up a long red to right corner and crunches it into the pocket! Superb pot and that should get him over the line. 60 points ahead with 59 remaining.
He’ll want a couple more pots just to stop Higgins returning to the table and he does exactly that.
Mark Williams wins frame eight to narrow the gap to 5-3 at the end of the session.
John Higgins 5-2 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME SEVEN
12:53 , Luke BakerWilliams in again. Taking his time, considering every shot and he gets toward his half-century.
This is classy from the Welshman and it’s a clean victory in the frame as he moves beyond 70 points. Can he even make a century here? No reason why he shouldn’t.
Black to yellow is the key shot as ever. Black is potted and he’s nicely on the yellow! Rolls it in and that means he passes the 100 mark. Huge ovation for that. Goes on to make 104 before missing the brown going for an exhibition shot.
Mark Williams wins frame seven to close the gap to 5-2.
WATCH: Williams misses brown in key moment
12:40 , Luke BakerThere’s been a few little moment that have determined the course of this match so far. This eventual missed brown after Williams had done the hard work in frame four, just before the mid-session interval, was one.
Seemed to change the trajectory of things as the Welshman fell 3-1 behind. It’s now 5-1, of course
He won't have been happy to lose this one...#HaloWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/hVMXEahiOZ
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 29, 2025
John Higgins 5-1 Mark Williams - HIGGINS WINS FRAME SIX
12:38 , Luke BakerRuthless. John Higgins wins frame six at one visit with a big break and he’s now in complete control of this quarter-final at 5-1.
It’s all about damage limitation for Mark Williams now. He needs to find a way to somehow win the final two frames of this session or as a bare, bare minimum split them. Even then, at 6-2 behind, it’s a mighty hill to climb.
John Higgins 4-1 Mark Williams - HIGGINS WINS FRAME FIVE
12:19 , Luke BakerA significant moment as John Higgins wins frame five and extends his lead to 4-1.
It means that Higgins can’t trail going into this evening’s second session. Can Williams win the remaining three frames to force it back to 4-4 or will the Scotsman have a lead this evening?
John Higgins 3-1 Mark Williams - HIGGINS WINS FRAME FOUR
11:46 , Luke BakerNo mistake from John Higgins. Pots brown, blue and pink to win a back and forth frame four.
Really compelling frame, both men could have won it and Higgins will lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval. A good start for the Scot in the race to 13
John Higgins 2-1 Mark Williams - WILLIAMS WINS FRAME THREE
11:10 , Luke BakerNo century break for Williams as he tries to pot a red to the middle on 72 but it jaws out.
Higgins decides to play on, needing four snookers, but it feels a forlorn hope. He quickly misses the pink and concedes the frame
Mark Williams wins frame three to get his first one on the board
John Higgins 2-0 Mark Williams - HIGGINS WINS FRAME TWO
10:52 , Luke BakerThat could be huge in the context of this match. Higgins has made a career out of winning frames from well behind and he’s done it again here.
A simply sublime total clearance to pinch it 65-61. John Higgins wins frame two in vintage Higgins fashion.
That one will hurt Mark Williams.
John Higgins 1-0 Mark Williams - HIGGINS WINS FRAME ONE
10:34 , Luke BakerHiggins wins the safety battle and he’s able to get back in amongst the ball and pick off the remaining reds.
This time there are no mistakes and Higgins clears the table with a break of 69 and John Higgins wins frame one.
Perfect start for the four-time world champion, both men had chances but he prevails
