World Snooker Championship 2025: Semi-final analysis and betting tips

Written by: Adam Drury

The World Snooker Championship hits the final straight from Thursday as one table is moved into the centre of the arena and the four semi-finalists have the entire Crucible to themselves.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has scratched his way into the final four and takes on Zhao Xintong in an intriguing clash, while toournament favourite Judd Trump takes on Mark Williams.

Our man Adam Drury – fresh off landing a 17/1 full house of quarter final selections – offers up 19/20 and 7/1 doubles to cheer on as two epic matches play out over the next three days.

World Snooker Championship 2025 semi-final betting tips

Back against centuries in Xintong v O’Sullivan

O’Sullivan may have reached this stage via 10-4, 13-4 and 13-9 wins, but those scorelines, by his own admission, flatter him.

The seven-time champion has claimed throughout the tournament that he is playing poorly and while we’re reluctant to buy into his schtick too much, the evidence is there that he’s correct.

All three wins have been littered with countless errors that have gone unpunished, with his aura seemingly gaining him an advantage that his actual play does not merit.

He played his best stuff against Ali Carter in the first round but seems to have regressed since, making just two centuries against Lei Peifan in round two and one against Si Jiahui in the quarter-final.

Assuming there is no huge improvement, I’m happy to take the under 3.5 O’Sullivan centuries in the first leg of the shorter price bet.

For the long shot, we’ll add under 4.5 match centuries.

Xintong flew out the traps against Jak Jones in round one but hasn’t made a single century across the 26 frames he’s won since.

These two aren’t giving us much reason to have faith in their scoring, so we’ll back against big breaks.

Trump has the beating of Williams

Mark Williams admitted he was knackered after coming through a Crucible classic 13-12 against John Higgins on Wednesday and he could hardly ask for a more difficult opponent next up.

While I’m sure the Welshman won’t fold completely, there has to be some concern about his stamina, which I don’t think can be said for Trump.

The 2019 champion has looked extremely solid in wins against Shaun Murphy and Luca Brecel, notably withstanding a Brecel barrage in the middle of their quarter-final to lose the second session just 5-3 and set up a 13-8 win.

There is a strong sense of inevitability about Trump now and, considering how much stronger he looks than the rest of the field, a second world title is very much in his hands.

I’m bumping up the O’Sullivan centuries pick with a Trump win, while we’ll take him to win this one 17-11 or better for the long shot.

He beat Gary Wilson by that exact scoreline in the semi-finals when he won the title in 2019 and will surely sense this is his time again.

Adam Drury's best bets for the World Snooker Championship semi-finals

1pt - Ronnie O’Sullivan under 3.5 centuries & Judd Trump to beat Mark Williams - 19/20 (Bet365)

0.5pt - Under 4.5 centuries in Xintong v O’Sullivan and Trump (-5.5) v Williams - 11/2 (Coral)

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