The 2026 World Snooker Championship: A New Chapter Begins
The 2026 World Snooker Championship has officially kicked off, with the 17-day event taking place at the iconic Crucible Theatre. This prestigious tournament is set to deliver the usual mix of high-stakes drama as the world’s top snooker players compete for the coveted title.
Zhao Xintong, the defending champion, is making his way to Sheffield with a sense of history behind him. He made headlines last year by becoming the first Chinese player to win the tournament. Now, he is the favorite to retain his crown, but he faces a unique challenge: breaking the so-called ‘Crucible Curse.’ No player has ever successfully defended their title in this venue, adding an extra layer of intrigue to his campaign.
Alongside Zhao, there are several other strong contenders who will be eager to end his reign. Among them is Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has recently found form and is looking to add an eighth world title to his already impressive resume. He begins his journey against He Guoqiang, a Crucible debutant.
Four-time champions Mark Selby and John Higgins are also in the mix, each facing former finalists Jak Jones and Ali Carter respectively in the opening round. Judd Trump, the world number one, will have a tough opener against Gary Wilson, while Kyren Wilson, the 2024 champion, takes on teenage sensation Stan Moody. Neil Robertson, who has been showing signs of a resurgence, will face Pang Junxu in his first match.
How to Watch the World Snooker Championship
Fans across the globe can catch every session of the 2026 World Snooker Championship through live broadcasts. In the UK, the BBC offers comprehensive coverage, with matches available on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website. For those in the US, TNT Sports provides the broadcast, and subscribers can stream the action via HBO Max.
Full Schedule of the World Snooker Championship
Here is the full schedule of the 2026 World Snooker Championship, with all times in British Summer Time (BST):
Saturday 18 April
– First Round
– 10am: Zhao Xintong (1) vs Liam Highfield
– 2.30pm: Xiao Guodong (9) vs Zhou Yuelong
– 7pm: Zhao Xintong (1) vs Liam Highfield*
– Barry Hawkins (11) vs Matthew Stevens
Sunday 19 April
– First Round
– 10am: Ding Junhui (16) vs David Gilbert
– 2.30pm: John Higgins (5) vs Ali Carter
– 7pm: Xiao Guodong (9) vs Zhou Yuelong
– Mark Williams (6) vs Antoni Kowalski
Monday 20 April
– First Round
– 10am: Ding Junhui (16) vs David Gilbert
– 2.30pm: John Higgins (5) vs Ali Carter
– 7pm: Shaun Murphy (8) vs Fan Zhengyi
– Kyren Wilson (3) vs Stan Moody*
Tuesday 21 April
– First Round
– 10am: Chris Wakelin (13) vs Liam Pullen
– 2.30pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan (12) vs He Guoqiang
– 7pm: Shaun Murphy (8) vs Fan Zhengyi
– Judd Trump (2) vs Gary Wilson
Wednesday 22 April
– First Round
– 10am: Chris Wakelin (13) vs Liam Pullen
– 2.30pm: Ronnie O’Sullivan (12) vs He Guoqiang
– 7pm: Neil Robertson (4) vs Pang Junxu
– Mark Selby (7) vs Jak Jones*
Thursday 23 April
– First Round
– 1pm: Si Jiahui (15) vs Hossein Vafaei
– 7pm: Neil Robertson (4) vs Pang Junxu
Second Round
– 1pm: Xiao Guodong/Zhou Yuelong vs Shaun Murphy/Fan Zhengyi
– 7pm: Kyren Wilson/Stan Moody vs Mark Allen/Zhang Anda
Friday 24 April
– Second Round
– 10am: Xiao Guodong/Zhou Yuelong vs Shaun Murphy/Fan Zhengyi
– 2.30pm: Zhao Xintong/Liam Highfield vs Ding Junhui/David Gilbert
– 7pm: Xiao Guodong/Zhou Yuelong vs Shaun Murphy/Fan Zhengyi*
– Barry Hawkins/Matthew Stevens vs Mark Williams/Antoni Kowalski
Saturday 25 April
– Second Round
– 10am: Chris Wakelin/Liam Pullen vs Neil Robertson/Pang Junxu
– 2.30pm: Zhao Xintong/Liam Highfield vs Ding Junhui/David Gilbert
– 7pm: John Higgins/Ali Carter vs Ronnie O’Sullivan/He Guoqiang
– Barry Hawkins/Matthew Stevens vs Mark Williams/Antoni Kowalski*
Sunday 26 April
– Second Round
– 10am: Zhao Xintong/Liam Highfield vs Ding Junhui/David Gilbert*
– 2.30pm: Chris Wakelin/Liam Pullen vs Neil Robertson/Pang Junxu
– 7pm: John Higgins/Ali Carter vs Ronnie O’Sullivan/He Guoqiang
– Mark Selby /Jak Jones vs Wu Yize/Lei Peifan
Monday 27 April
– Second Round
– 1pm: John Higgins/Ali Carter vs Ronnie O’Sullivan/He Guoqiang
– 7pm: Chris Wakelin/Liam Pullen vs Neil Robertson/Pang Junxu
– Si Jiahui/Hossein Vafaei vs Judd Trump/Gary Wilson*
Tuesday 28 April
– Quarter-Finals
– 10am: QF 1 – session 1
– 2.30pm: QF 2 – session 1
– 7pm: QF 1 – session 2
– QF 3 – session 2
Wednesday 29 April
– Quarter-Finals
– 10am: QF 3 – session 3
– 2.30pm: QF 2 – session 2
– 7pm: QF 1 – session 3
– QF 4 – session 2
Thursday 30 April
– Semi-Finals
– 1pm: SF 1 – session 1
– 7pm: SF 2 – session 1
Friday 1 May
– Semi-Finals
– 10am: SF 1 – session 2
– 2.30pm: SF 2 – session 2
– 7pm: SF 1 – session 3
Saturday 2 May
– Semi-Finals
– 10am: SF 2 – session 3
– 2.30pm: SF 1 – session 4
– 7pm: SF 2 – session 4
Sunday 3 May
– Final
– 1pm: Session 1
– 7pm: Session 2
Monday 4 May
– Final
– 1pm: Session 3
– 7pm: Session 4*
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