If you’re a snooker fan wondering how to catch the English Open on television (or via streaming) — this guide has you covered. I will explain what the English Open is, how it’s broadcast in 2025, give tips on how to follow it (especially if you live outside the UK), highlight recent trends, and answer common questions.
What is the English Open?
The English Open is a ranking tournament on the World Snooker Tour (WST) calendar. It forms part of the “Home Nations Series,” a group of four tournaments held in the UK. The event has grown in prestige since its inception.
In 2025, the tournament was held at the Brentwood Centre in Essex, with matches played between 11 and 21 September. The format: early rounds through best-of-seven frames, quarterfinals as best-of-nine, semifinals as best-of-11, and the final over two sessions as best-of-17 frames.
Prize money remains substantial: the winner earned £100,000, while the total prize fund exceeded £550,000. There is also a bonus for the highest break of the tournament.
The English Open is known for featuring top players from the global snooker elite — even if some big names occasionally choose to skip it, making room for lesser-known or rising stars.
How to Watch English Open on TV / Streaming (2025)
In the United Kingdom and Ireland
In 2025, there are two primary ways to watch the English Open:
TNT Sports — Live coverage from mid-tournament onwards.
discovery+ — Streaming coverage, including early rounds.
If you prefer free-to-air or a simpler service, checking local TV listings is wise — sometimes alternative channels may carry coverage. For example, depending on session scheduling, some matches might also be shown on other affiliated channels in the TNT/Discovery group.
In Europe and Other Regions
For viewers in mainland Europe, coverage may involve:
Eurosport — Especially for latter rounds.
For early rounds and certain regions: discovery+ (in some countries), or WST Play where no broadcast agreement exists.
In some territories (Asia, for example, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan), local streaming platforms or sports channels carry the event — such as Huya, Migu, Now TV, Astro SuperSport, TrueSports, Sportcast, or TAP Sports.
Why It Matters
Broadcasting arrangements vary over years and regions, so knowing where to check — especially close to the tournament dates — is crucial. Also, streaming services like discovery+ or WST Play offer flexibility for viewers who don’t have access to traditional TV channels.
Practical Tips for Watching from India or Outside UK
If you’re in India (as you are) or elsewhere outside the UK/EU, here’s what you can do to watch the English Open:
Check WST’s official “How to Watch” page shortly before the event — broadcasting partners often differ by region.
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access UK-based platforms — but only if legally permissible. This helps if TNT Sports or discovery+ are geo-blocked where you are.
Try WST Play — many regions without local broadcast deals are covered by WST’s own streaming platform.
Plan around time zones — matches are scheduled in UK time (BST/BST+ depending), so converting to your local time (e.g. IST) helps avoid missing live action.
Check for highlights — if live viewing isn’t possible, many platforms provide on-demand replays or highlight packages, allowing you to follow the tournament with delays but still catch the major moments.
Recent Trends (2024–2025) in English Open Broadcasting & Tournament Dynamics
Consolidation of Broadcasting with TNT Sports / discovery+
As of 2025, TNT Sports and discovery+ have become the primary broadcasters/streamers for the English Open in the UK — a shift from the earlier wide distribution across various free-to-air and pay-channels.
This consolidation streamlines the viewing experience for many fans but may make access harder for those accustomed to free channels.
Variation in Player Participation
Not all top players participate every year. For instance, despite being one of the biggest names, Ronnie O’Sullivan opted out of the 2025 edition — even when the tournament was in Brentwood, near his home.
This creates opportunity: rising stars and mid-tier professionals may find a chance to make deeper runs, offering unpredictable drama and fresh faces on the scoreboard.
Increased Global Streaming Coverage
The 2025 tournament has expanded its streaming footprint. In addition to traditional European coverage (Eurosport), the reach includes services across Asia (China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia), and WST Play as a fallback globally.
For fans in nontraditional snooker markets (like India), this trend is particularly positive: access no longer strictly depends on pay-TV or cable agreements in their country.
Prize Money and Incentives Remain Strong
A prize fund exceeding £550,000 — with £100,000 for the winner, and additional prize for highest break — maintains the English Open’s stability as a high-stakes, competitive tournament.
The financial incentive ensures that even if some stars skip, the draw remains strong, and matches remain intense and high quality.
Real-Life Example: 2025 English Open
In 2025, the final at Brentwood saw Mark Allen triumph over Zhou Yuelong to claim the title. The tournament had its share of surprise upsets — defending champion Neil Robertson was eliminated earlier than expected, and top-seeded players like world No. 1 Judd Trump also exited before the final.
From a broadcasting point of view: accessible streaming on discovery+ ensured that even those not in the UK could follow the tournament, provided they had the right access or used a VPN. As such, fans in many regions could watch the matches live or on-demand.
That mix of unpredictability and accessible global broadcasting makes the English Open in 2025 a good example of how snooker is evolving — more inclusive, more global, and more dynamic.
Why Following Snooker on TV Still Matters (Even in the Streaming Era)
Watching live on TV or official streaming platforms offers several advantages:
Real-time broadcast with commentary, analysis, and expert insight — something that recorded highlights can’t match.
The atmosphere: coverage often includes crowd reactions, walk-ons, and the drama of live competition.
For fans learning the sport: watching match pacing, shot selection, player behavior, and situational strategy helps build understanding.
Supporting the sport: viewership numbers influence future broadcast deals and sponsorship; regular viewers help ensure snooker remains well-covered internationally.
FAQs
What channels show the English Open in 2025?
In the UK and Ireland, the main broadcasters are TNT Sports (live TV) and discovery+ (streaming). In many European countries, coverage may include Eurosport, and in others, WST Play is used for streaming.
I live outside Europe — can I still watch the English Open?
Yes. The global broadcast plan for 2025 includes streaming platforms such as WST Play for regions without local broadcast partners. In some countries — especially in Asia — local streaming or sports channels may also carry the event.
The broadcast rights change every year — how to keep track?
The best approach is to check the official “How to Watch” page on the WST website near the start of each tournament. Broadcasting deals evolve, and WST updates the list of partners by region. This ensures you get correct info for your location.
What if I miss a live match — can I watch highlights or replays?
Yes. discovery+ and some other services often offer on-demand replays and highlight packages. This is helpful if you can’t catch matches live due to time zone differences.
Does the English Open always feature top players?
Usually — but not always. Some prominent players may skip a year for scheduling or personal reasons (as happened in 2025). Still, the high prize money and ranking points ensure a competitive field, often giving room for upcoming talents to make a mark.
To Conclude
The English Open remains one of snooker’s major ranking events — combining competitive intensity, substantial prize money, and globally relevant broadcasting. As of 2025, the consolidation of coverage through TNT Sports, discovery+, and WST Play makes it easier than ever for fans worldwide to follow every frame, regardless of where they live. With the sport growing in popularity globally and broadcast accessibility improving, the English Open represents a great balance of tradition and modern reach.
Whether you’re a longtime snooker enthusiast or a newcomer curious about the sport, tuning in to live matches gives you the full experience: tension, skill, dramatic swings, and the communal buzz of a shared sporting moment.
For further reading, you may find these articles interesting:
Alan Hansen: https://londonbreak.co.uk/alan-hansen/
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2025: https://londoncity.news/hyde-park-winter-wonderland-2025/
Adam Henson: https://birminghamjournal.co.uk/adam-henson/
To read more; Londonbreak
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