Ding Junhui vs Zak Surety Preview & Prediction | 2025 World Snooker Championship | First Round

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Former runner-up Ding Junhui seeks to win a Crucible match for the first time since 2020 when he takes on qualifier Zak Surety in the first round.

Start date/time: Monday 21st April, 2025: UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am

How to watch on TV: UK – BBC & TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & discovery+ / US – Cannot be streamed

Tickets: Visit here for the latest ticket information

Ding Junhui vs Zak Surety prediction

Having won the International Championship in November, his first ranking event title in five years, Ding Junhui also reached the semi-finals of the recent Tour Championship to give rise to the belief that he can have a positive showing in Sheffield.

The former world number one has a torrid record at the Crucible in recent years, losing in the first round in each of his last four participations, while you have to go back to 2018 to find the last time he reached the quarter-finals.

The Dragon will face 33-year-old Zak Surety, who impressed during qualifying to make it to the World Championship for the first time in his career.

The world number 73 enjoyed by far his best run on tour by reaching the semi-finals of the World Open earlier this year, losing narrowly to eventual champion John Higgins in the last four.

That recent showing will have been a huge confidence booster for Surety, who will fancy his chances against an opponent who has underperformed here in recent years.

15-time ranking event winner Ding is the natural favourite, but don’t be surprised if Surety makes this competitive.

Ding Junhui vs Zak Surety tip: Over 15 frames