World Snooker Grand Prix 2025: Draw, Schedule and Preview
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Grand Prix Title Open as O’Sullivan Misses Out
The inaugural World Grand Prix at the brand-new Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong will accommodate up to 5,000 fans, all watching the 32 top players from around the globe battle it out for the coveted prize. After last year’s event in Leicester, the move to Hong Kong has seen a significant increase in the prize pool, with the total fund almost doubling from £380,000 to an impressive £700,000.
The winner of the tournament will walk away with a cool £180,000, and we are guaranteed a new champion, owing to Ronnie O'Sullivan’s withdrawal. The Rocket had been expected to return from his playing hiatus in Hong Kong, but his comeback has now been delayed until the World Championship later this year due to medical reasons. As a result, Hossein Vafaei, ranked 33rd in the one-year standings, steps into take O’Sullivan’s spot and will face Si Jiahui in the opening round of the competition.
While O’Sullivan’s absence has made much of the headlines, huge names are set to grace the tournament in Hong Kong, including the likes of world number one Judd Trump, Hyren Wilson, and Shaun Murphy, among others. Trump, who finished as the runner-up in the past two editions of this event, will be eager to go one better this year, especially after recently relocating to Hong Kong, while Welsh Open champion Mark Selby and World Open winner John Higgins will add even more star power to what promises to be an exhilarating event.
Snooker World Grand Prix Format
The first round of the 2025 World Grand Prix will get underway on March 4 and will be played over two days, while the tournament will culminate with the grand final on March 9. The first round and last 16 games will be played on a best-of-seven basis, while the quarter-final will be best-of-nine.
The semi-finals will be contested in a best-of-11, and the final will feature the best-of-19 frames.
Order of Play:
- Round of 32
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-finals
- Final
Snooker World Grand Prix Schedule
All times in GMT
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| March 4 | 5:00 | Jack Lisowski vs Zhang Anda |
| March 4 | 5:00 | Mark Williams vs Stuart Bingham |
| March 4 | 7:00 | Chris Wakelin vs David Gilbert |
| March 4 | 7:00 | Shaun Murphy vs Stephen Maguire |
| March 4 | 11:30 | Judd Trump vs Gary Wilson |
| March 4 | 11:30 | John Higgins vs Ali Carter |
| March 4 | 13:30 | Wu Yize vs Pang Junxu |
| March 4 | 13:30 | Kyren Wilson vs Matt Selt |
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| March 5 | 5:00 | Mark Selby vs Jackson Page |
| March 5 | 5:00 | Xiao Guodong vs Jak Jones |
| March 5 | 7:00 | Lei Peifan vs Elliot Slessor |
| March 5 | 7:00 | Neil Robertson vs Yuan Sijun |
| March 5 | 11:30 | Si Jiahui vs Hossein Vafaei |
| March 5 | 11:30 | Barry Hawkins vs Tom Ford |
| March 5 | 13:30 | Ding Junhui vs Xu Si |
| March 5 | 13:30 | Mark Allen vs Jimmy Robertson |
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| March 6 | TBC | Round of 16 |
| March 7 | TBC | Quarter-finals |
| March 8 | TBC | Semi-finals |
| March 9 | TBC | Final |
Snooker World Grand Prix Odds
The seeded event pairs the top-ranked players against the lowest seeds, with the number one player facing number 32, number 2 playing number 31, and so on. Trump has been inserted as the bookmaker's favourite, and he has a favourable path to attack, with his opponent Gary Wilson struggling for form at present. If Trump gets through, he is likely to face Zhang Anda in the second round, and most would expect the world number one to come out on top in that encounter.
Odds taken from Bet365
- Judd Trump - 3.30
- Mark Selby - 7.00
- Kyren Wilson - 7.00
- Mark Allen - 9.00
- Neil Robertson - 10.00
- Shaun Murphy - 10.00
- Ding Junhui - 12.00
- John Higgins - 12.00
- Mark Williams - 12.00
