World Snooker Championship 2025 - Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel breeze into quarter-finals at the Crucible

Welcome back to our live updates from the 2025 World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield. Judd Trump clinched victory over Shaun Murphy on Monday, backing up a devastating passage of play the previous day, which saw him reach 100 tons for the season. Snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan will return in the evening session as he seeks a win over Pang Junxu.

O'Sullivan wraps up 'comprehensive' win over Pang

Video credit: TNT Sports

One of the shortest Crucible sessions ended when Ronnie O'Sullivan secured a 13-4 victory against Pang Junxu to set up a quarter-final meeting with Si Jiahui.

Both players were rapturously received by a crowd eager to enjoy as much snooker as possible, but though Pang was in first, he could not make anything substantial, and when he missed badly to right corner, the balls were nicely set for O'Sullivan to clinch frame and match.

On the other table, Luca Brecel beat Ding Junhui by the same margin, a sensational day-one performance breaking the back of the match. To secure the decisive frame, he needed a barely believable fluke on the pink, but no one could deny how richly he deserved his last-eight meeting with Judd Trump in what could be a classic for the ages.

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'A ridiculous fluke' - Brecel makes outrageous pink as he races to win over Ding

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Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Pang Junxu 13-4

A fantastic performance from the greatest of all time. Next for him it's Si Jiahui, who'll have to play a lot, lot better than he did against Ben Woollaston to get anywhere near.

O'Sullivan 12-4 Pang (86-17)

Ronnie makes it safe. This competition is shaping up beautifully, it's last eight a terrific combination of old masters, young tyros and surprise arrivals.

Luca Brecel beats Ding Junhui 13-4

An amazing performance from Luca, who's found his best form at exactly the right time. His first-session effort was as good as you'll ever see, and if he delivers similar between now and next Monday, he could well be world champion for the second time in three years.

O'Sullivan 12-4 Pang (48-17)

Luca makes his match safe, setting up a potential jazzier against Judd, and Ronnie's only a few shots behind. Both have played superbly here.

Crucible crowd gives O'Sullivan a rapturous welcome

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O'Sullivan 12-4 Pang (23-17)

The reds are nicely spread now, such that you'd expect whoever pots first to do some damage; the same is so on the other table where, as I type, Luca gets in. Anyroad, Pang misses a longun to right corner by a fortnight, allowing Ronnie to get going, and you'd back him to finish the match from here – likewise Luca, who's just fluke the most amazing pink.

O'Sullivan 12-4 Pang (0-12)

A nice start from Pang, who sends one long to the green bag, but he soon undercuts to right-middle; meantime, in our other match, Philip Studd notes that the best anyone's ever done from 12-4 down is 13-7 defeat.

'It's going to be entertaining' - Trump looking forward to Brecel clash

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Aaaaand off we go!

Here come our players

And doesn't Pang enjoy the welcome! He'll be getting plenty of support tonight, because the crowd want as much snook as they can get.

Ronnie

He didn't start all that well, but in the second session of his first-round match he looked more like his old self and he's been excellent throughout this one. If he maintains his level, it'll take something decent to stop him.

On the face of things

This'll be a quick night. With Ronnie O'Sullivan and Luca Brecel each 12-4 up in a race to 13, against Pang Junxu and Ding Junhui respectively, it's hard to see anything but a quick kill for both. But snooker is a funny thing, so you never know...

We go again...

Judd Trump survived a thrilling fightback from Shaun Murphy to record a 13-10 win and set up a likely quarter-final with Luca Brecel, who leads Ding Junhui 12-4.

Trump looked to have taken control of the match last evening, winning the final three frames in devastating style to lead 10-6 overnight. And when he won the first three frames of the afternoon session in short order, the match looked as good over. Murphy, though, a brilliant competitor and flowing potter, then found some of his best snooker, reeling off four frames in a row to roar back into contention.

Trump, though, is no 1 in the world for a reason, and no sooner was he offered a chance to seal the match than the match was sealed; the touch he's in, it will take something very special to stop him.

Meantime, Si Jiahui found his best form just when he needed it, beating Ben Woollaston by the same score to book a last-eight meeting with Ronnie O'Sullivan or Pang Junxu.

'That's amazing' - Woollaston fouls three times in a row to the same pocket

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Si Jiahui beats Ben Woollaston 13-10

A magnificent effort from Si, who produced his best when he really needed it. Next for him it's Ronnie O'Sullivan or Pang Junxu – the former leads 12-4 – while Ben, who looks devastated, will reflect on the best 10 days of his career.

Si 12-10 Woollaston (40-36)

It won't be easy for Si to respond – he might be able to get one of white or brown safe, but both? Shonuff, he leaves a pot to the green bag ... and Ben gets close but not close enough. Still, the tidy-up isn't easy ... yet Si gives it everything, unloading the suitcase to smoke home a beauty! Blue and pink to end a monumental struggle....

Si 12-10 Woollaston (36-36)

Si opts to smash a double ... and it goes down ... then pops up again! You can't get closer to pot than that and Ben will now try to force into the green bag, a huge shot ... that he can't pull off! The brown, though, is safe.

Si 12-10 Woollaston (36-36)

...and though, in the process, he develops the black neither of them need, he must now get the brown safe ... and does. This is so tense and neither player looks to be enjoying the battle. Lovely stuff!

Si 12-10 Woollaston (36-31)

Ben slides the penultimate red to right corner, and off two cushions promotes the ultimate! Great shot! Next, a blue, but will it block the next ball when it replaces? It looks like it will ... but it won't, so down it goes, but green to brown, sat just above black cush, will not be easy...

Si 12-10 Woollaston (36-18)

Si wants to get this over and done with here and now but can he chip into corner with the rest? He can, but the cut on the yellow is a thin one ... and he gives it too much, getting lucky to cover everything. You could cut the atmosphere with an atmosphere cutter.

Si 12-10 Woollaston (23-18)

Third go hits ... but the white goes in-off again, a better result; Si clips from centre to left corner, then goes in behind the yellow again, this time not as deftly, and that's not a snooker. So Ben plays safe, gets a good cue-ball ... only to leave a pot to left-middle. Si, though, can't slide it down, and it threatens to drop into left corner only to stay out. That allows Ben to tidy, but a missed black has him shaking his head. Could this be curtains? There are pots available, but at this stage, no gimmes.

Si 12-10 Woollaston (8-8)

Or not; I refer you to the post below. So he plays safe and is Si looking at an opener to left corner? Oh my goodness me, I think he is ... and can you believe it? He batters it into the leather and, though, he's on nowt, it matters little because he snuggles up to the yellow leaving Ben in all sorts; shonuff the escape misses, going in-off; back the white goes, for the same thing to happen again.

Si 12-10 Woollaston (8-8)

Si refuses a red, Ben takes it on ... and misses by a way. He's had a great run, but he's run out of form at the worst possible time and there's a mid-ranger to right corner available ... and Si flows it home ... only to miss a regulation blue! Chance for Ben to take control of the frame...

Si 12-10 Woollaston (7-0)

Is Si seriously looking at a plant to left corner? He is you know, and spanks it home ... to get on nowt. Safety follows, then, left in an invidious position, Ben misses a thin contact ... hitting second go. The way the reds are, though, one error by either player could mean the frame.

'Very special player' - Trump holds off Murphy fightback to wrap up victory

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Si 12-10 Woollaston (1-0)

This match hasn't been of the highest standard and earlier on it looked like Ben's solidity would carry the day. But needing to force something, he opts to go at a long one, knowing the white will career into the pack ... and he misses. Can Si, though, get on to a colour if he pots to right corner? He cannot, so it's back to baulk and that's a lucky escape for Ben, who coujldn't have complained if his last shot was his last in this competition.

Murphy picks off his 93rd Crucible century to keep hopes alive against Trump

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Si 12-10 Woollaston

A total clearance of 127 and has Si found his natural potting game right when he needs it most? Fantastic behaviour and Ben now needs three straight.

Off to Si v Woollaston we go!

Judd Trump beats Shaun Murphy 13-10

An iffy start from both players matured into a belter that showcased the best of both. Judd is the favourite for a reason – he's the best player in the world, in great nick – but Shaun showed that he's not impregnable.

Trump 12-10 Murphy (68-6)

Judd secures the match and, almost definitely, a carnally exciting quarter-final with Luca Brecel. What a player he is – without that outrageous display last evening, who knows; that's what it took to beat Shaun, who will, I'm sure, be very proud of his performance and season.

Trump 12-10 Murphy (60-6)

...and it's die! He misses, leaves, and this is surely curtains.

Trump 12-10 Murphy (59-6)

A cut-back to right corner goes down ... but Judd's been lax with the positional side and, as a left, he'll need the rest to send pink to left. He does, and will need the rest again for the next ball ... knucked home. He's straight on the pink, but Shaun is running out of road. But what a fightback; we said wehen the match was set that it was good enough to be a final and nothing we've seen during it disputes that. Meantime, Judd's got a red to right corner, on the stretch AND HE HITS THE JAWS! Can Shaun slot a munter to middle? This is do or die...

Trump 12-10 Murphy (22-6)

But you can only keep a genius off the table for so long, and Shaun offers a brute to left corner. Judd knows if he misses he's leaving loads, but goes hard at it anyway, trying to do the right thing by playing the right shot ... AND IT'S THERE! This is his second serious go at getting the match won, but dare he break the pack? He's got the angle and again, he plays the right shot ... but not especially well. He does, though, have another stinker there to attempt, this time to middle ... and down it goes! This could – and should – be curtains. Maximum concentration time...

Trump 12-10 Murphy (1-6)

Judd dangles a tempter to right corner ... and Shaun creams it home! He's on a helluva buzz here ... but of course, as I type, he misses a much easier red to the same bag! This game! He's not missed anything significant in quite some time – there's been a touch of Brecel v O'Sullivan in the 2023 quarter about this hot streak – and he leaves nothing easy ... but is there a plant? There is you know, and it's rattled home ... only to yield no position. This is intense now, Judd playing safe to slow things down.

On table one

Si 10-10 Woollaston

Trump 12-10 Murphy

Now then! Shaun misses red to left corner on 99, so no ton, but he's another frame closer; I can't wait to see it!

Trump 12-9 Murphy (0-83)

Shaun secures the frame, then sends a tremendous red long to the yellow bag. This is thrilling, affirming stuff, and this should be another century...

Trump 12-9 Murphy (0-51)

A nudge releases another red and the frame is at Murphy's mercy. Judd will still feel he can win one before Shaun wins three – assuming he closes out – but he'll be feeling the proximity.

Trump 12-9 Murphy (0-27)

Judd refuses a red to left corner, trying to do theright thing; Shaun strokes it home! He's playing beautifully now, staying down on the shots as Peter Ebdon advised, but the more he opens out the frame, the more he daren't miss a ball. And, as I type, he breaks the pack, slots an unpleasant blue to the green bag, and this is the highest level he's hoit in the match.

Trump 12-9 Murphy

A break of 112 and Shaun is still in dis ting. The way he's playing now, Judd daren't leave him a chance

Trump 12-8 Murphy (1-101)

Lovely work from Shaun, who records a century; Judd knows he'll not be handed this.

'It wasn't played for' - Murphy flukes four-ball plant against Trump

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Trump 12-8 Murphy (1-70)

A ball with the rest, then it's into the pack off the black, and that's two frames in a row seized in one visit.

Trump 12-8 Murphy (1-33)

Shaun accumulates. If he can close this one out and win the next, Judd will begin to wonder/

Trump 12-8 Murphy (1-9)

Judd bags a starter then it's in behind the green; Shaun's escape leaves one, but it goes unsunk, he's the one with the scoring opportunity.

We go again

And we're at the interval in our other match; they're locked at 10-10.

On table one

Si 10-9 Woollaston

Trump 12-8 Murphy

Judd soon concedes. He should be home – that missed red cost him a really early finish – but he's played well. When they return in 15 minutes, Shaun'll need five on the bike.

Trump 12-7 Murphy (1-72)

A lax positional shot forces Shaun to take on a plant to left corner that's no gimme ... but he sends it home nicely. He can't, though, cut into right corner, so Judd returns to the table with two snookers required.

Trump 12-7 Murphy (0-50)

And he does, but there's still work to do in closing out the frame.

'It looks superb' - Trump gets lucky with snooker of Murphy

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Trump 12-7 Murphy (0-4)

Shaun flukes a four-ball plant - you can't believe it – and a kiss on the green gives him the angle he needs to return to the business end. With reds splayed, he should wade right in here.

On table one

Si 9-9 Woollaston

Si leads 52-12 but there are plenty points left.

Trump 12-7 Murphy

Well done Shaun Murphy. Admittedly, Judd ought really to have finished this match instead of missing a sitter, but still, a good break under big pressure to sty in the match.

Trump 12-6 Murphy (24-66)

Shaun knows any mistake and he's toast, but he holds it down well to secure his first frame of the day. Can he win the next to make it past the last interval?

Trump 12-6 Murphy (24-19)

Judd misses a red, leaving a cut-back; Shaun can't send it down, and this really could be curtains. But have a look! He misses an dolly to middle, perhaps thinking ahead, and what can The Magician conjure? In 2007, he was 12-7 down to Matthew Stevens and won seven on the spin to edge the match, but this is not that...

Trump 12-6 Murphy (18-6)

Brilliant red to left corner from Shaun, but he's on nowt so plays safe; Judd then goes in-off and the crowd like it because they want a contest and as much snooker as possible; rightly so. But all he can manage is an opener, playing safe off the black to bring it into play. Problen being he leaves a longun, Judd duly sorts it, and this is his first go at finishing the match. But he gets the wrong side of the blue which makes opening the reds harder; he misses the pack entirely and opts to ignore a thin cut-back – with good reason. Young him for sure takes it on, but current him doesn't take the game or his opponent for granted, along with which he now has the safety chops to win any exchange. So it's back to baulk we go, reds opened en route.

On table one

Si 9-9 Woollaston

A ton from Ben levels the match, and this is on a rolling boil now.

Trump 12-6 Murphy

A brilliant shot to get on to the yellow ... only to miss the pot. Judd leaves the arena to let Shaun stew, and he looks equal parrts poorly and pensive.

Trump 11-6 Murphy (86-20)

Judd duly secures the frame. Shaun needs seven on the spin, else he's going home; but before he even attempts to, his opponent is chasing century 101.

Trump 11-6 Murphy (34-20)

A generous kiss on the pink gives Judd a choice of reds, and Shaun knows, I'm afraid. The frame – and with it, the match – are at his mercy.

'Timed that so well' - Trump drains superb long red

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Trump 11-6 Murphy (16-20)

Judd misses to right corner and by a way; Shaun slots nicely to left-middle and must make something of this opportunity. But he cannot, running out of position, and his safety leaves an opener to middle, and if he can cut down a taxing black, he'll be in the balls. Really, Shaun isn't even playing to win now, he's playing to avert a hiding.

On table one

Si 9-8 Woollaston

Ben takes the first frame of the afternoon and this one has all the makings of an arse-nipper.

Trump 11-6 Murphy

Shaun leaves the brown and when Judd sends it down, he moves to within two.

Trump 10-6 Murphy (68-38)

A hit and hope ... a kiss on the brown ... and a return fluked snooker! And then a return return fluked snooker! White is behind black, yellow on the bottom rail ... and he hits ... for a second it looks like yet another fluked snooker ... but I think he's left a cut to middle. Shonuff Judd sends it down, meaning Shaun now needs a snooker, and adds the green. It's almost 11-6.

How is a snooker table re-covered? Watch the fitters in action

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Trump 10-6 Murphy (63-38)

Shaun doesn't even attempt to get on to the yellow so plays the side-to-side ... but has he left it? No he hasn't, he's instead fluked a snooker ... so Judd flukes a better one, white tight behind green and yellow away up the table! It'll take some hitting, never mind getting it safe.

Trump 10-6 Murphy (62-22)

Oh, but Judd then can't send a tricky red into left corner and, playing for another ton – the record in a season is Neil Robertson's 103 – he doesn't take the white back to the baulk cushion. So Shaun returns to the table still in the frame – there are 67 points left – sends down a starter, but must soon cut a pink long to the yellow bag knowing if he misses it's frame over ... and that's a beautiful pot! The yellow's marooned in the middle of the baulk cushion, but the dish is on...

Trump 10-6 Murphy (44-1)

Judd has won the last seven meetings between these two and was majestic in handing out a 6-0 kicking at the Players Championship. He's in gorgeous, glorious nick here, and if he maintains this level or something close, I'm not sure anyone but Ronnie has a prayer of beating him.

Trump 10-6 Murphy (20-1)

Last evening might've taken something out of Judd – the emotional dump of playing that well to make his hundredth hundred of the season, in the process earning himself a mid-frame standing ovation – must be significant. And he starts poorly, leaving an opener off the break; Shaun sends it down but lands on nowt. And shortly afterwards, he catches the middle jaw playing safe, allowing Judd to address a longun of his own; he delivers a beauty. The tables, which played slowly yesterday, have been recovered overnight, and you can see the action on the while there; a lovely shot follows, a red taking him into the pack gently, mainly so he can dispatch the pink, but he also releases a couple more balls. This looks ominous for The Magician.

Our boyz baize

And off we go!

Work to do for Shaun

He did all he could last evening, but every time he closed to within a frame, Judd found enough to restore his lead of two, then stomped on the gas in the closing stages to make what feels like a decisive move. To have a realistic chance of progressing, Shaun must win the first mini-session.