World Snooker Championship 2026: Results, schedule and how to watch every match

Ronnie O’Sullivan, Zhao Xintong, Judd Trump and more are battling to lift the trophy at Sheffield’s iconic Crucible Theatre
The 2026 World Snooker Championship has arrived, with the 17-day marathon at the Crucible Theatre set to provide the usual array of sporting drama as the best players on the planet vie to lift the famous trophy.

Zhao Xintong heads to Sheffield as defending champion after making history as the first Chinese winner of the tournament 12 months ago and he is the bookies’ favourite to retain his crown, although he will have to break the legendary ‘Crucible Curse’ to do so – with no first-time winner having successfully defended the title.

He overcame compatriot Ding Junhui to reach the last eight.

Plenty of other contenders will fancy their chances of stopping Zhao, including Ronnie O’Sullivan , who has found some form in recent weeks .

He is battling fellow “Class of 92” member John Higgins in a mouthwatering last-16 clash.

Four-time winner Mark Selby and world No 1 Judd Trump remain in the mix, too – but 2024 champion Kyren Wilson is out after defeat to Mark Allen.

Here’s everything you need to know:
How to watch the World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship results
Shaun Murphy (8) 13-3 Xiao Guodong (9)
Zhao Xintong (4) 13-9 Ding Junhui (16)
Mark Allen (14) 13-9 Kyren Wilson (2)
Barry Hawkins (11) 13-9 Mark Williams (6)
Zhao Xintong (1) 10-7 Liam Highfield
Mark Allen (14) 10-6 Zhang Anda
Barry Hawkins (11) 10-4 Matthew Stevens
Xiao Guodong (9) 10-6 Zhou Yuelong
Mark Williams (6) 10-4 Antoni Kowalski
Ding Junhui (16) 10-5 David Gilbert
John Higgins (5) 10-7 Ali Carter
Kyren Wilson (3) 10-7 Stan Moody
Judd Trump (2) 10-5 Gary Wilson
Shaun Murphy (8) 10-9 Fan Zhengyi
Chris Wakelin (13) 10-6 Liam Pullen
Ronnie O’Sullivan (12) 10-2 He Guoqiang
Hossein Vafaei 10-3 Si Jiahui (15)
Neil Robertson (4) 10-6 Pang Junxu
Mark Allen (14) 13-9 Kyren Wilson (3)
World Snooker Championship schedule in full
John Higgins (5) 7-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan (12)*
Mark Selby (7) 7-9 Wu Yize (10)*
Chris Wakelin (13) 6-10 Neil Robertson (4)*
Hossein Vafaei 7-9 Judd Trump (2)*
Zhao Xintong (1) v Shaun Murphy (8)
Mark Allen (14) v Barry Hawkins (11)
John Higgins (5)/Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v Chris Wakelin (13)/Neil Robertson (4)
Mark Selby (7)/Wu Yize (10) v Hossein Vafaei/Judd Trump (2)
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