The 2025 Halo World Championship captivated audiences with the tournament being streamed a record-breaking 29 million times across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app, an increase of 25% on 2024.
The overall TV reach across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four over the tournament was 12.6m (15 minutes or more) - with a peak of 3 million on BBC Two during the final.
The tournament at the Crucible came to a dramatic end on Monday night as Zhao Xintong scored an 18-12 win against Mark Williams to become the first player from China to lift the coveted trophy.
Live sessions on the BBC had an average audience of 807,000, an increase of 6.5% against last year. The live cumulative audience increased by 8% compared to 2024. And during the first session of the final on Sunday, an audience share of 22.5% was achieved.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport said: “This year’s World Championship has been gripping, with a phenomenal response from fans. The matches have had drama, legends clashing and rising stars showcasing the brilliance of the sport's next generation of players. This tremendous championship culminated as 'The Cyclone' Zhao Xintong won the title of World Champion against an icon of the sport, Mark Williams. It’s been an unforgettable final weekend at the Crucible with BBC Sport bringing audiences every moment across TV, Radio and online.”
WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “This has been one of the best World Championships in memory, packed with thrilling moments, fabulous matches and a remarkable standard of play. So we’re delighted to see that reflected in the BBC viewing figures. To set a new record for iPlayer streams shows that we have a growing audience of new fans who are tuning in to snooker’s unique capacity for drama. The quality of production this year on BBC was outstanding, and we look forward to working with their team on more world class events next season.”
Earlier this year, BBC Sport and World Snooker Tour agreed an extension to their broadcast agreement to 2032. The five-year extension to the previous agreement ensures the Triple Crown, and the stories of success that come from these iconic competitions, remain free-to-air for many millions of snooker fans across the UK.
BBC Sport’s extensive rights portfolio includes this summer's Wimbledon Championships, Women’s UEFA Euros 2025, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, as well as the Olympic Games, FA Cup, men’s UEFA Euro 2028, men’s FIFA World Cups and Match of the Day (Premier League and Champions League highlights), Six Nations, Rugby Super League, and comprehensive cricket coverage including highlights of men's and women's red and white ball internationals, The Hundred, County cricket, and Test Match Special.