Snooker fans in the UK can watch live coverage of key games from the 2025 World Championship on free-to-air broadcaster the BBC, with coverage spanning BBC One, BBC Four and the BBC Red Button service. This also means viewers in the UK will be able to stream live action from The Crucible for free on BBC iPlayer.

The Chinese sensation produced an equally brilliant performance to dispatch the 50-year-old Williams, who was bidding to become snooker’s oldest world champion. Zhao, nicknamed ‘The Cyclone’, was blowing at full force as he won four of the first five frames to move 15-7 ahead in Monday’s afternoon session.