Category Sports News

Kyren Wilson will compete for the title to be won at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Saturday for the 2025 World Snooker Championship.

The Englishman will face Lei Peifan from China on the opening day of the championship game at 10:00 BST after Jak Jones lost to him 18-14 in the 2024 final.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, a seven-time champion and sufferer from health issues, has not yet decided whether or not he will play in the 33rd consecutive tournament.

The 49-year-old is scheduled to face Ali Carter, a two-time champion, in his opening contest on Tuesday at 14:30 BST.

Judd Trump, the world’s number one, kicks off his campaign against Zhou Yuelong at 19:00 on Tuesday.

Every match will be fully aired on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app, along with comprehensive live coverage of the championship on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, and Red Button.

Wilson has the distinction of being the top seed as the reigning champion.

With Mark Selby and John Higgins, who have won four times, third and fourth, respectively, as well as Trump, who moves into second place.

In the Tour Championship final earlier in April, Higgins defeated Selby to lead the rankings.

O’Sullivan is in contention for eighth place, a record he and Stephen Hendry both hold.

The 49-year-old will face Zhang Anda, Selby, Selby, and Wilson in the semi-finals.

Full seedings:

1) Mark Selby, 2) Judd Trump, 3) John Higgins, and 4) Kyren Wilson

5) Mark Allen, 6) Ronnie O’Sullivan, 7) Luca Brecel, 8) Mark Williams

9) Zhang Anda, 10) Ding Junhui, 10) Barry Hawkins, and 10) Neil Robertson

The qualifying competition, which took place at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport from April 7 through April 16, saw the participation of 144 players.

Ali Carter, a two-time champion of the Crucible, and Zhao Xintong, a 2021 UK champion, are just two of the 16 players who made their Crucible debuts.

Following a 20-month suspension for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal, China’s Zhao made his professional debut in September.

The number of Chinese players in the first round has now reached ten with the addition of five of Zhao’s fellow countrymen.

Missing from the list were Jackson Page, Gary Wilson, and Jack Lisowski, who won in 2015, Stuart Bingham, and Gary Wilson, the world number 17!

Page, the Welshman’s first qualifier, earned a £147, 000 bonus and placed him in line for the £15, 000 World Championship highest break prize in the third qualifying round, making him the first player to record two maximum breaks in the same match.

However, in the fourth and final qualifying round, Page was denied entry to the Crucible, falling to Englishman Joe O’Connor 10-7.

Since 1977’s relocation to the Crucible Theatre, no first-time champion has been able to keep the title.

The winner will receive £500, 000 and there is total prize fund of £2, 395, 000.

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

The best of 19 frames is when a match comes first.

Over a maximum of 25 matches are played in the second round and quarter-final.

The best of 33 frames are semi-final matches.

Watch live broadcasts on BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC Four, or download the games from iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Audiences can watch Snooker Extra on BBC Two and iPlayer every night for more coverage of the day’s early games.

Throughout the tournament, Radio 5 Live will have regular updates and features on its programming.

Hazel Irvine, Seema Jaswal, and Rishi Persad will serve as the BBC’s presenters, with Abigail Davis and Shabnam Younus-Jewell reporting.

First round

10:00

Lei Peifan vs. Kyren Wilson (1)

Matthew Selt vs. Xiao Guodong (14)

14:30

Chris Wakelin vs. Neil Robertson (9 / 9)

Wu Yize (6) vs. Mark Williams

19:00

Lei Peifan vs. Kyren Wilson (1)

Hossein Vafaei and Barry Hawkins (11),

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 00 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 15-16: 30 – BBC One (15: 00-16: 30 on BBC One Scotland and 13: 15-16: 30 on BBC Two Wales)

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

16: 30-18: 00 – Red Button

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

First round

10:00

Zhao Xintong vs. Jak Jones (16)

Matthew Selt vs. Xiao Guodong (14)

14:30

Fan Zhengyi vs. Mark Allen (8)

Wu Yize (6) vs. Mark Williams

19:00

Chris Wakelin vs. Neil Robertson (9 / 9)

Hossein Vafaei and Barry Hawkins (11),

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 15 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-17: 40 – BBC Two (13: 00-16: 50 on BBC Two Wales)

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

First round

10:00

Joe O’Connor vs. John Higgins (3)

Zhao Xintong vs. Jak Jones (16)

14:30

Zak Surety vs. Ding Junhui (8)

Fan Zhengyi vs. Mark Allen (8)

19:00

David Gilbert vs. Si Jiahui (13)

Joe O’Connor vs. John Higgins (3)

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 00 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

First round

10:00

Pang Junxu (12) and Zhang Anda (12)

Daniel Wells vs. Shaun Murphy (15)

14:30

Ali Carter (5) vs. Ronnie O’Sullivan

Zak Surety vs. Ding Junhui (8)

19:00

Zhou Yuelong v. Judd Trump (2)

David Gilbert vs. Si Jiahui (13)

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 15 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

First round

10:00

Pang Junxu (12) and Zhang Anda (12)

Daniel Wells vs. Shaun Murphy (15)

14:30

Ali Carter (5) vs. Ronnie O’Sullivan

Ryan Day (7) versus Luca Brecel

19:00

Ben Woollaston versus Mark Selby (4)

Zhou Yuelong v. Judd Trump (2)

Live coverage

10: 00-11: 15 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

First round

Ben Woollaston versus Mark Selby (4)

Second round

Schedule TBC

Live coverage

13: 00-17: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

Second round

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 00 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Highlights

Second round

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 00 – BBC Two & Red Button

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

13: 45-16: 30 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

16: 25-18: 00 – Red Button

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

Highlights

Second round

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 25 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app (Red Button 10:00-12:15)

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app (Red Button 14:40-18:00)

15: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

Highlights

Second round

Live coverage

13: 00-17: 00 – BBC Two

13: 00-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

Highlights

Quarter-finals

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 15 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

20: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

Highlights

Quarter-finals

Live coverage

10: 00-11: 15 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

20: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

Highlights

Semi-finals

Live coverage

13: 00-16: 00 – BBC Two

13: 00-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

20: 00-22: 00 – BBC Four

Highlights

Semi-finals

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 00 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

14: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

19: 00-20: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Semi-finals

Live coverage

10: 00-12: 00 – BBC Two

10: 00-14: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

13: 15-16: 30 – BBC One

14: 30-18: 00 – iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app

16: 30-17: 30 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 00 – BBC Two

19: 00-22: 30 – iPlayer, Red Button, BBC Sport website and app

Final

Live coverage

13: 00-18: 00 – BBC Two

Final

Live coverage

13: 00-16: 00 – BBC Two

The Afghanistan Cricket Board will not see any of its funding from the International Cricket Council cut or diverted to its exiled women’s cricketers.

An initiative to support the displaced Afghan players was announced by the ICC following its board meeting in Zimbabwe last weekend.

However, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo, cricket’s global governing body will not reduce or siphon off money earmarked for the ACB, even though part of the criteria for full membership of the ICC is to support women’s cricket.

The ICC will support the Afghan women through a separate funding mechanism, while the ACB will continue to receive a payment believed to be in the region of £13m per year.

All of that funding will go towards men’s cricket in Afghanistan, with women’s sport outlawed in the country since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The ACB is the only full ICC member not to field a women’s team.

Instead, Afghanistan’s women’s cricketers will be funded by the ICC in conjunction with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

An Afghanistan Women’s XI played an exhibition match in Melbourne in January and want to be recognised as a refugee team.

But the ICC is understood to have acknowledged that the prospect of Afghanistan’s women playing official international matches in the near future is a distant one as it would need to be sanctioned by the ACB.

Afghanistan’s women have been promised a robust high-performance programme offering “advanced coaching, world-class facilities and tailored mentorship” which the ICC hopes will “help them reach their full potential”.

Afghanistan’s men’s team have retained their Test status, reached the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup and participated in the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board will not see any of its funding from the International Cricket Council cut or diverted to its exiled women’s cricketers.

An initiative to support the displaced Afghan players was announced by the ICC following its board meeting in Zimbabwe last weekend.

However, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo, cricket’s global governing body will not reduce or siphon off money earmarked for the ACB, even though part of the criteria for full membership of the ICC is to support women’s cricket.

The ICC will support the Afghan women through a separate funding mechanism, while the ACB will continue to receive a payment believed to be in the region of £13m per year.

All of that funding will go towards men’s cricket in Afghanistan, with women’s sport outlawed in the country since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The ACB is the only full ICC member not to field a women’s team.

Instead, Afghanistan’s women’s cricketers will be funded by the ICC in conjunction with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

An Afghanistan Women’s XI played an exhibition match in Melbourne in January and want to be recognised as a refugee team.

But the ICC is understood to have acknowledged that the prospect of Afghanistan’s women playing official international matches in the near future is a distant one as it would need to be sanctioned by the ACB.

Afghanistan’s women have been promised a robust high-performance programme offering “advanced coaching, world-class facilities and tailored mentorship” which the ICC hopes will “help them reach their full potential”.

Afghanistan’s men’s team have retained their Test status, reached the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup and participated in the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Johnny Sexton, a former Ireland international, will coach for Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions during their summer tour of Australia.

Sexton retired from the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and participated in two Lions tours in 2013 and 2017.

The Irish Rugby Football Union will start the new year with a full-time position starting on August 1, after the five-time Six Nations champion worked with Ireland in a casual coaching capacity since last November’s Autumn Nations Series.

He will work with a variety of men’s and women’s age-grade teams while also coaching the senior men’s team.

Sexton expressed his excitement at the prospect of continuing my coaching career with the British and Irish Lions.

“I’m looking forward to an exciting tour to Australia, and I already know what challenges lie ahead.”

My greatest wish for my entire professional career was to play for the Lions, and I will always have fond memories of those Tours.

Before traveling to Australia, the British and Irish Lions will face Argentina in a send-off game in Dublin on June 20.

Sexton, 39, was omitted from 2021 after starting in the Lions’ 2013 series win over Australia and two more in the drawn series with New Zealand in 2017.

The 2018 world player of the year won 118 caps for Ireland and led the team to a series victory over the All Blacks in 2022 and the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

The love Johnny had for the British and Irish Lions was reflected in how he operated on a daily basis during his first coaching session with the Irish Lions in 2013, according to Farrell, who also coached Sexton for Ireland.

His impact on that Lions team and that Series victory, our only victory in the previous 24 years, cannot be understated.

Richard Wigglesworth, Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman, and John Fogarty were all added to Farrell’s coaching roster last month.

Sexton was referred to as a “significant coup” by Farrell.

Working with him during the most recent Autumn Nations Series made it abundantly clear that he has the talent and skillset to join our Irish coaching staff, and I know how eager to add him to the Lions, first this summer, and then later this year, on a full-time basis with Ireland, Farrell said.

David Humphreys, the director of IRFU performance, expressed his satisfaction with the long-term partnership with Sexton.

He will have an important role to play in educating both male and female players from the age-grade system through to the Irish national teams, Humphreys said.

“I want to formally welcome Johnny to the Irish Lions and the British andamp; Irish Lions,” he continued.

Former Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton will join Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching team for this summer’s tour of Australia.

Sexton, who retired after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, played on two Lions tours in 2013 and 2017.

The five-time Six Nations winner has been working with Ireland in a casual coaching capacity since last November’s Autumn Nations Series and will take up a full-time position with the Irish Rugby Football Union from 1 August.

His new role with the IRFU will involve coaching the senior men’s team, while he will also work with various men’s and women’s age-grade sides.

“I am hugely excited to continue the next chapter in my coaching journey with the British and Irish Lions and I would like to thank Andy for this incredible opportunity,” said Sexton.

“It promises to be an exciting tour to Australia and I know from experience the challenges that awaits us.

“Playing for the Lions was a huge ambition of mine during my playing career and my memories of those Tours to Australia and New Zealand will stay with me forever.”

The British and Irish Lions will face Argentina in a send-off game in Dublin on 20 June before travelling to Australia.

Sexton, 39, started all three Tests of the Lions’ 2013 series win over Australia and a further two in the drawn series with New Zealand in 2017, but was overlooked for selection in 2021.

The 2018 world player of the year earned 118 Ireland caps and captained the team to a series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2022 and the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

“I coached Johnny for the very first time during the 2013 tour to Australia and the love that he had for the British and Irish Lions was reflected in how he operated on a daily basis,” said Farrell, who also coached Sexton with Ireland.

“His influence on that Lions team and that Series win, our only win in the last 24 years, cannot be underestimated.

Last month, Farrell added Richard Wigglesworth, Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty to his coaching ticket.

Farrell described adding Sexton as a “significant coup”.

“It was clear from working together during the recent Autumn Nations Series that he has the talent and skillset to add to our coaching team with Ireland and I know how driven he is to add to the Lions, firstly this summer, and then on a full-time basis with Ireland later this year,” added Farrell.

IRFU performance director David Humphreys said he is “delighted” to have secured Sexton’s services on a long-term basis.

“I believe that he will play an important role in sharing his coaching insights with male and female players from the Age Grade system right up to the Ireland national teams,” said Humphreys.

“In formally welcoming Johnny to the IRFU I would also like to congratulate him on his selection with the British & Irish Lions.

Former Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton will join Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions coaching team for this summer’s tour of Australia.

Sexton, who retired after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, played on two Lions tours in 2013 and 2017.

The five-time Six Nations winner has been working with Ireland in a casual coaching capacity since last November’s Autumn Nations Series and will take up a full-time position with the Irish Rugby Football Union from 1 August.

His new role with the IRFU will involve coaching the senior men’s team, while he will also work with various men’s and women’s age-grade sides.

“I am hugely excited to continue the next chapter in my coaching journey with the British and Irish Lions and I would like to thank Andy for this incredible opportunity,” said Sexton.

“It promises to be an exciting tour to Australia and I know from experience the challenges that awaits us.

“Playing for the Lions was a huge ambition of mine during my playing career and my memories of those Tours to Australia and New Zealand will stay with me forever.”

The British and Irish Lions will face Argentina in a send-off game in Dublin on 20 June before travelling to Australia.

Sexton, 39, started all three Tests of the Lions’ 2013 series win over Australia and a further two in the drawn series with New Zealand in 2017, but was overlooked for selection in 2021.

The 2018 world player of the year earned 118 Ireland caps and captained the team to a series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2022 and the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.

“I coached Johnny for the very first time during the 2013 tour to Australia and the love that he had for the British and Irish Lions was reflected in how he operated on a daily basis,” said Farrell, who also coached Sexton with Ireland.

“His influence on that Lions team and that Series win, our only win in the last 24 years, cannot be underestimated.

Last month, Farrell added Richard Wigglesworth, Simon Easterby, John Dalziel, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty to his coaching ticket.

Farrell described adding Sexton as a “significant coup”.

“It was clear from working together during the recent Autumn Nations Series that he has the talent and skillset to add to our coaching team with Ireland and I know how driven he is to add to the Lions, firstly this summer, and then on a full-time basis with Ireland later this year,” added Farrell.

IRFU performance director David Humphreys said he is “delighted” to have secured Sexton’s services on a long-term basis.

“I believe that he will play an important role in sharing his coaching insights with male and female players from the Age Grade system right up to the Ireland national teams,” said Humphreys.

“In formally welcoming Johnny to the IRFU I would also like to congratulate him on his selection with the British & Irish Lions.