Favourites Have Fared Well in Snooker’s English Open

by Roy Brindley, 18 September 2025

Kyren Wilson’s shock elimination apart, Snooker’s 2025 English Open has so far gone to form.

Judd Trump must overcome the in-form Elliot Slessor to reach the ‘last 16’ stage of the English Open. ©Getty Images

Key Facts:

• Kyren Wilson was a shock early elimination from Snooker’s English Open.
• Judd Trump will meet the in-form Elliot Slessor in the competition’s fifth round.
• Aaron Hill registered a 147 break in the competition’s second round.
• TNT Sports and Discovery+ will broadcast the remainder of the English Open.

Snooker’s English Open, the fourth ranking event of the 2025 season, has entered its ‘last 32’ stage. Having suffered a 4-2 defeat to Robbie Williams, Kyren Wilson, the 2024 World Champion and winner of the Shanghai Masters in August, is no longer in contention.

So far, the world number two’s exit has been the competition’s only major shock. Neil Robertson, the defending champion and 2025 Saudi Arabia Masters winner, progressed to the last 32 stage with a 4-1 victory over Sunny Akani.

Reigning World Champion, Zhao Xintong, dispatched Ishpreet Singh Chadha 4-0, and Judd Trump also whitewashed his opening round opponent, Michael Holt. Mark Williams, seeded 5, Xiao Guodong (7) and Shaun Murphy (15) are other players who did not drop a frame in their first match.

Hot Hill Posts a Maximum

So far, the outstanding performance of the competition has been a 147 maximum break produced by Aaron Hill in the second round, when players ranked 65 and below met players seeded 33‍–‍64, a group that included the Irishman.

Hill’s maximum break was not a flash-in-the-pan. In the Wuhan Open three weeks before, the 23-year-old claimed the scalp of Kyren Wilson, winning by an impressive 5-2 scoreline. He also recorded a 137 during his time in the competition.

Hill is still in 2025 BetVictor English Open contention following a 4-2 third-round victory over Stephen Maguire, a rival sat 19 players above him on the world rankings. Ali Carter will be Hill’s next opponent.

Who Do the Bookies Like in the English Open?

Ahead of the ‘last 32’ stage, the UK’s online betting sites marginally preferred Judd Trump, making the 30-time ranking tournament winner their 7/2 favourite. Trump will meet the in-form Elliot Slessor in the fifth round.

Death, taxes and Judd Trump banging in centuries! 😎#EnglishOpen | @BetVictor pic.twitter.com/bNcDSxWEL5

— WST (@WeAreWST) September 17, 2025

Reigning World Champion, Zhao Xintong, who posted three century breaks when winning his opening match, was one point bigger. His next opponent is Jack Lisowski.

Neil Robertson followed in the betting at 6/1 odds. The Australian has won this competition twice before. Last season, he collected £150,000 as a reward for being the most successful player across the Home Nations Series of events: The English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Opens.

How to Watch the BetVictor English Open

For the remainder of the week, the English Open, played at the Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, Essex, will be broadcast live in the UK and Ireland on TNT Sports and via Discovery+. Online betting sites will also stream live action of games played on the feature table.

‘Last 32’ and ‘last 16’ BetVictor English Open matches are the best-of-seven-frame games. The quarter-finals are best of nine frames, semi-final matches are best of 11, and the final is a best-of-17-frame showdown. It will be played over two sessions on Sunday, September 21.

As a result of the prize money increases announced in June, the tournament has a prize fund of £550,400. The winner will earn £100,000 and receive the Steve Davis Trophy. £45,000 is set aside for the runner-up, and semi-finalists will receive £21,000.