Ahead of the 2025 World Championship we will highlight some of the key contenders for victory, let’s start with the current favourite, Judd Trump.
What are the World Championship odds for Judd Trump?
As the world number one Judd Trump is the favourite for victory at the 2025 World Championships. He can currently be backed at odds of 7/2.
Just trailing him in the betting are the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Selby and Kyren Wilson.
What is Judd Trump’s record at the World Championships?
Ever since Trump burst onto the professional snooker scene he looked like a star in the making, with many believing that he had the game, temperament and talent to win multiple World Championships.
Having risen to the very top of the game in some instances, those early premonitions have been validated as Trump is a former World Champion with his sole victory coming back in 2019.
Since winning the ultimate title in the game, Trump has been frustrated at the Crucible and with the exception of 2022 where he was able to reach the final, he has often fallen way short of expectations.
Having been a top of the world standings for several seasons, it is in the last two years in particular where Trump has flattered to deceive.
Despite looking like a force in the early rounds in 2024, he was stunned by eventual finalist Jak Jones in the quarterfinals.
That comes off an effort in 2023 where he suffered a first round defeat to Anthony McGill.
After two successive defeats where Trump has failed to live up to his billing of being the best player in the world, the pressure is on this time for Trump to deliver.
What is Trump’s form like heading into the World Championships?
Having successfully defeated all before him on numerous occasions last season, 2025 has been a different beast altogether for Trump.
The winner of the UK Championship, Saudi Arabia Masters and Shanghai Masters, thanks to his consistent performances, Trump became the first professional to earn over £1 million in a single year in prize money.
With many expecting to continue where he left off in 2025, those plans haven’t yet come to fruition and he will arrive at the Crucible with plenty of questions to answer.
Above is the form that Trump is bringing into this week and despite some bright spots, a lack of a regular season title could be weighing heavily on his shoulders.
This is how his 2025 has shaped up to this point.
Masters - Semifinals
German Masters - 3rd round exit
World Open - 2nd round exit
World Grand Prix - Semifinals
Players Championship - Final
World Tour Championship - First round exit
As you can see there have been occasions where Trump has had an opportunity to get over the line but he has fallen short of expectations. A first round defeat at the World Tour Championships against Barry Hawkins is less than ideal preparation and was a sign that he was pushing too hard in an attempt to capture that first title of the season.
Fans of Trump will be hoping that the two week break he has been able to enjoy would have left him fresh and recharged for the battle ahead.
A player of his quality should be winning more than just the solitary world title, there are huge hopes that he will be able to double his tally here.
2025 World Championship in focus
Due to his position as the best player in the game, you can never write off Trump and his chances but ideally you would want to see him coming into snooker’s showpiece in much better form.
Whereas through 2024 Trump seemed to have the cue ball under his spell, it’s fair to say that this year, the world number one doesn’t quite have the same command at the table.
For so long Trump had to overhaul Ronnie O’Sullivan at the top of the world rankings but with O’Sullivan now struggling with his own game, there seems to have been a new rival to have emerged from the shadows who has given Trump plenty to think about. That man is Kyren Wilson.
Wilson will be heading into the World Championship looking to defend the title in 2024 and become the first man since Mark Selby to successfully win the World Championships in successive years.
Due to his position as being the defending champion, Wilson will start the tournament as the top seed with Trump taking up the second seed position - the two are on a collision course to meet in the final. However, if both men reach the final, Trump has a head-to-head record to overturn.
Above are the last six matches between the pair and you can see that Wilson leads the series 4-2. However, most tellingly some of Wilson’s victories have come on the biggest stages.
Wilson has already defeated Trump in the final of the 2024 Northern Irish Open, but since that victory he has also defeated Trump in the semifinals of the Masters and recently defeated him in the final of the Players Championship.
The two are developing a rivalry that looks like it could dominate the sport for years to come. Currently the rivalry looks like it could be in danger of becoming one sided, Trump will quickly want to stop his losing run and beat his great rival when it matters most.
It isn’t just Wilson that Trump needs to be mindful of. John Higgins, Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan could all give the world number one plenty to think about.
However, if Trump can play his best he is still the man to beat. The longer format of the World Championships should suit him and allow him time to rediscover his best game.
Trump has often blinked when the World Championship lights have been at their brightest, he will be determined to amend that this time around and finally become a multiple World Champion that his talents clearly deserve.
Andrew Blakely
At 35, Andrew Blakely stands as a seasoned expert in both snooker and its betting intricacies. A dedicated player and analyst, he offers keen insights derived from years in the field. Through his writings, Andrew aspires to guide enthusiasts navigating the captivating world of snooker betting.
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