On April 28 local time, during the 2025 Snooker World Championship held in Sheffield, UK, Chinese star Ding Junhui was defeated 4–13 by Belgian player Luca Brecel and failed to reach the quarterfinals. Young Chinese talent Si Jiahui, however, advanced by defeating England’s Ben Woollaston. With this, all quarterfinal spots in the tournament have now been decided, and in addition to Si Jiahui, China’s Zhao Xintong had already secured a place in the final eight.

Ding Junhui, who had suffered first-round exits at the World Championship since 2021, broke the "curse" this year by advancing to the second round. However, in the first two sessions of his match against Brecel, he only managed to win four frames. Brecel maintained solid form, taking a commanding 12–4 lead heading into the third session. In the opening frame of that session, Brecel quickly fired a break of over 50 points, giving Ding no opportunity to turn the tide and securing the match. Ding ultimately lost 4–13 and exited in the second round.

The 22-year-old Si Jiahui had previously defeated veteran Englishman David Gilbert in the first round. In the second round, he faced England’s Ben Woollaston, ranked 44th in the world, who had pulled off an upset by eliminating world No. 4 Mark Selby. After the first two sessions, Si led 9–7. In the third session, Woollaston opened by winning two straight frames, including a 110-point break, leveling the score. Si responded under pressure by taking one frame, but Woollaston again equalized. At the crucial stage, Si delivered consecutive breaks of 63 and 126 to reach match point, and with calm composure, won another frame to claim a 13–10 victory.

On April 29 local time, the World Championship will enter the quarterfinal stage. Si Jiahui will face England's snooker legend Ronnie "The Rocket" O’Sullivan. Zhao Xintong will meet another English player, Chris Wakelin. World No. 1 Judd Trump will take on Luca Brecel, while Scottish veteran John Higgins, who eliminated China’s Xiao Guodong in the second round, will play Welsh star Mark Williams.

First held in 1927, the Snooker World Championship is the most prestigious and highest-level event in the sport.