2025 World Open Snooker Preview - Who are the favourites to win in Yushan?

The 2025 World Open begins on Sunday 23rd February, with players heading to China’s Yushan - the event’s select location for the sixth consecutive occasion. Judd Trump arrives at the tournament as defending champion, after brushing aside Ding Junhui 10-4 in the previous edition.

• For the draw, results, format, schedule, prize money and how to watch, please visit our 2025 World Open tournament information centre here

Despite most of the qualifying happening in December in England, a few held-over matches are yet to be resolved - ties including Judd Trump, Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson, which will all take place on Sunday.

The event has already seen notable withdrawals from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Luca Brecel, Jak Jones and Ricky Walden. Former World Champions Mark Williams and Stuart Bingham also miss out after losing in qualifying, with Neil Robertson absent after failing to turn up for his qualifier against Michael Holt due to mixing up his days over the festive period.

The 2025 World Open holds a substantial prize fund of £825,000, including a £175,000 winner’s share, providing players with an opportunity to get themselves into the remaining Players’ Series events - next month’s Players Championship and Tour Championship.

Who will boost their ranking just ahead of time, and who will fall short of the mark just before the most important part of the season?

Who are the favourites to win the 2025 World Open?

Although the event has already seen several high-profile omissions, some of the tour’s best players are set to battle it out at the Yushan Sport Centre.

To nobody’s surprise, Judd Trump retains his position as the bookies' favourite to win the tournament and complete a third consecutive World Open victory. Hot on his heels as the bookies’ second favourite is Mark Selby, who will fancy his chances in Yushan fresh off the back of Welsh Open glory in Llandudno.

Selby however, lands himself on the same side of the draw as reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson - with a potential semi-final clash looming.

World number two Wilson has had an excellent season following his Crucible victory last May, and will want to stay on top of his game across the Asian double-header. ‘The Warrior’ has claimed silverware at the Xi’an Grand Prix, Northern Ireland Open and German Masters, along with reaching the Masters final last month, losing out to Shaun Murphy.

Outside favourites for the World Open crown are Mark Allen, Shaun Murphy and Ding Junhui, all previous winners of the event.

Ding enters Yushan as the home favourite, with compatriots Xiao Guodong and Zhang Anda also strong contenders for going far in the tournament. Xiao in particular has had an excellent 2024-25 campaign, placing third on the one-year list, and will be looking to become the second Chinese player to win the event after Ding in 2017.

List of World Open winners (since its Chinese rebrand):

• 2012: Mark Allen 10-1 Stephen Lee
• 2013: Mark Allen 10-4 Matthew Stevens
• 2014: Shaun Murphy 10-6 Mark Selby
• 2016: Ali Carter 10-8 Joe Perry
• 2017: Ding Junhui 10-3 Kyren Wilson
• 2018: Mark Williams 10-9 David Gilbert
• 2019: Judd Trump 10-5 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
• 2024: Judd Trump 10-4 Ding Junhui