Shaun Murphy vs Daniel Wells Preview & Prediction | 2025 World Snooker Championship | First Round

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2005 world champion Shaun Murphy begins his 2025 World Snooker Championship campaign against Welsh debutant Daniel Wells. 

Start date/time: Tuesday 22nd April, 2025: UK – 10:00am / US ET – 5:00am / US PT – 2:00am

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

Shaun Murphy vs Daniel Wells prediction

It’s been another consistent season for Shaun Murphy, the highlight of which was undoubtedly his Masters success in January where he defeated reigning world champion Kyren Wilson in the final to record his fourth Triple Crown success.

The Magician has reached four Crucibles finals, winning the first of those all the way back in 2005, although he has only won one match in Sheffield since his last runner-up finish in 2021.

At the age of 36, Daniel Wells has made it to the World Snooker Championship for the first time in his career, with retiring compatriot Dominic Dale one of his victims during the qualifying event last week. The Welshman, at a career high of 49 in the world, notably reached the semi-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix this season.

Wells’ only two wins over Murphy came in 2017, with the former world champion winning their other seven meetings. Given his decades of experience at the Crucible, we’re expecting Murphy to ease to a relatively comfortable win here.

Shaun Murphy vs Daniel Wells tip: Shaun Murphy to win with -3.5 frames handicap