The 2025 Snooker World Championships are here, and for many within the game, it’s the most hotly anticipated edition of the tournament for years.

For starters, the sport’s biggest attraction, Ronnie O’Sullivan, has confirmed he is going to return to Sheffield to chase a record-breaking eighth world title after a four-month break from the sport. The Rocket has been drawn to play Ali Carter in the pick of the first round ties (more on that later).

But another reason why the tournament is being tipped to be a memorable one is the number of Chinese players that have qualified.

Despite the emergence of China as a snooker powerhouse over the past couple of decades, we are still awaiting the first Chinese world champion, but this could be the year, with 10 of 32 players in the tournament hailing from the country.

Here, we look at the 10 Chinese hopefuls for the crown, grading the value their pre-tournament odds have to the bettor.

The true contenders

Zhao Xintong – 14/1 (Value rating: B)

There is some controversy about the return of Zhao Xintong after the talented 28-year-old was implicated in a major match-fixing scandal in 2023. While Zhao wasn’t involved in fixing games himself, he was banned for 20 months for being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

However, if we can get past that – and perhaps we should, considering that he has now served his punishment – then there is no escaping that he is one of the most talented players in the world.

He already has the prestige of being a triple crown winner after winning the UK Championship in 2021 and has returned from his ban in fine form. He was impressive in qualifying for the Worlds, knocking in breaks of 134, 127 and 103 in his final qualifying match against Elliott Slessor.

Many punters were able to back a far higher price just a few weeks ago when qualifying began, but I still believe 14/1 is excellent value given his talent, form and history of winning big tournaments.

Ding Junhui – 25/1 (Value rating: A)

Ding Junhui is the most famous Chinese snooker of all time and the man responsible for the boom of the sport in his home country. There was a time during the 2010s when it felt almost inevitable that he would win the World Championships, but has his window of opportunity now gone?

Ding isn’t the player he was 10 years ago, with his cue ball control no longer magnet-like. His long potting has never been the best either, but he does at least have some form coming into the tournament.

His 10-3 demolition of Mark Williams in the recent Tour Championship was eye-catching, and his 25/1 price is a very decent one, as he is expected to benefit from an easy start (vs Zak Surety) and see those odds shorten as a result of progressing.

The dark horses

Si Jiahui – 40/1 (Value rating: D)

Si Jiahui burst onto the scene as a 100/1 shot in the 2023 World Championships and made it all the way to the semi-finals in a memorable Sheffield run.

Although his career hasn’t taken off in the way that many people expected, he is 11th on the one-year list for the 2024/25 season. That shows he has played well in the majority of tournaments, but his best form came at the beginning of the season.

He has lost his last eight matches, which isn’t the type of form that anyone would want coming into Sheffield, and even at 40/1, he is one to avoid.

Xiao Guodong – 40/1 (Value rating: B)

Xiao Guodong has had a brilliant season, where he has officially been the sixth-best player in the world in terms of prize money won.

No Chinese player ranks higher than him in terms of centuries made this season (51), and over a long format like at the Worlds, he could be a threat. At 40/1, he is the same price as Si Jiahui but a far more likely winner.

Wu Yize – 40/1 (Value rating: D)

Wu Yize is another Chinese player who has had a breakthrough season. He ranks fourth for the season in terms of points difference (the number of points scored minus the number of points conceded).

He was the runner-up at both the Scottish Open and English Open, but his failure to get over the line in both is a red flag ahead of the World Championships. Again, him being priced the same as Xiao feels like an error.

Zhang Anda – 66/1 (Value rating: C)

Zhang Anda is one of several Chinese players who have come through the ranks over the past ten years and been tipped for big things, but consistency has always plagued his game.

So far, he hasn’t had a great season in 2024/25 and finished 22nd in the one-year list, meaning he was forced to go through qualifying to make it to Sheffield.

At 66/1, he could be worth a punt because the talent is undoubtedly there. It would be a huge shock if he went deep this time around, though.

Making up the numbers

• Pang Junxu – 80/1
• Zhou Yuelong – 100/1
• Fan Zhengyi – 150/1
• Lei Peifan – 250/1

None of the remaining four Chinese players are being given much hope of going far at the World’s and rightly so. Youelong and Peifan have been drawn against Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson respectively in the first round.

They were the two players everyone wanted to avoid.

Meanwhile, Pang Junxu and Fan Zhengyi may fancy their chances of winning their opening ties against Zhang Anda and the out-of-form Mark Allen respectively.

Bet Builder Tip: Chinese treble for Round One

Wu Yize, Zhao Xintong and Si Jiahui to win (5/1 @Bet65)

Zhao Xintong feels like a lock to beat Jak Jones with the former UK Championship winner taking on the ‘worst’ of the top 16. Wu Yize will fancy his chances of overcoming Mark Williams, who is struggling badly with new contact lenses and at 6/5, he is phenomenal value.

Meanwhile, Si Jiahhui is very comfortable at the Crucible and he takes on David Gilbert who has been knocked out in the first round in three of his last five visits to Sheffield.

Conclusion

Will there be a Chinese winner at the Crucible this season? If there is, then you feel as if it has to be Zhao Xintong at 14/1 or perhaps Xiao Guodong, who has been underestimated massively by the bookies at 40/1. You’d be foolish to write off Ding, too, given his experience, but all in all, the chances are relatively slim. 

It seems for all the world that we are going to end up with a Kyren Wilson vs Judd Trump final, and if it’s anything like their recent clash in the final of the Players Championship, then snooker fans are in for a treat.