The 2025 Players Championship takes place between the 17th and 23rd March. A 16-player field is decided by the one-year rankings. It might be a small tournament, but the standard couldn’t be higher for the week of action in Telford.
The first round features a matchup between Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham a matter of days after Robertson whitewashed Bingham in the final of the World Grand Prix.
Despite defeat to Bingham in the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, world number one Judd Trump is inevitably among the favourites for this competition in the snooker betting markets.
Trump faces Chinese younger Lei Peifan in the opening round – anything other than a routine win for Trump would be a huge shock in William Hill’s live betting odds.
Bingham Searching For Revenge
After a drubbing in Hong Kong, Bingham is inevitably searching for revenge when he faces Robertson. A humiliating defeat in the World Grand Prix final shouldn’t distract from his good performances in the tournament, including wins over Mark Selby, Trump, and Mark Williams.
Notably, Bingham still holds the edge over Robertson all-time with a 7-6 record.
When the draw was announced, the Basildon native said, “You’ve got to take the positives.
“I’ll be in Telford in a week or so. I’ve got that to look forward to now.
“I want Neil in the draw. He isn’t going to beat me 10-0 then.”
Watch For Leicester’s Jester
Selby might have lost to Bingham in Hong Kong, but his form in general is excellent. He won the Welsh Open and the Championship League. The first round in Telford should be a routine win for the Jester From Leicester, as he takes on Si Jiahui.
Twenty-two years of age and 14th in the world rankings, Si has lost four matches in a row since beating Ken Doherty in the German Masters in January.
Unfavourable draws can’t really be blamed for Si’s struggles either. All of those losses have come against players below him in the rankings.
Selby beat John Higgins, Luca Brecel, and Stephen Maguire in the Welsh Open last month. Don’t be surprised if he wins the Players Championship for the first time in his decorated career.
Wilson Searches For Consistency
Since winning the German Masters, world number two Kyren Wilson has been up and down. Losses to Joe O’Connor, Higgins, and Zhou Yuelong have left him disappointed in each of his last three tournaments.
In Telford, Wilson opens the competition against Mark Allen. Allen has won three of the last four meetings, but has lost three of his last four matches, with his form eluding him since reaching the semis of the Masters in January.
Both players are searching for consistency. It’s arguably the tie of the first round beyond the revenge potential between Bingham and Robertson.
Neither have shown us enough of late to be tipped to win this competition, but a strong first-round performance could quickly change that given the high-quality snooker both players are capable of playing across a short tournament like this.
Former Players Championship Winners
- 2024 – Mark Allen
- 2023 – Shaun Murphy
- 2022 – Neil Robertson
- 2021 – John Higgins
- 2020 – Judd Trump
- 2019 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2018 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2017 – Judd Trump
- 2016 – Mark Allen
- 2015 – Joe Perry
- 2014 – Barry Hawkins
- 2013 – Ding Junhui
- 2012 – Stephen Lee
- 2011 – Shaun Murphy
Players Championship 2025 Prize Money
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £70,000
- Semi-finals: £35,000
- Quarter-finals: £20,000
- Last 16: £15,000
- High break: £10,000
- Total: £500,000
