The 2026 World Snooker Championship Preview
Zhao Xintong will be back to try and become the first first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship to successfully defend their title at the Crucible Theatre. Standing in his way will be 31 other players that reached the first round of the tournament, 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers from a lengthy, four-round qualifying process that started on the 6th April 2026.
The current champion faces a real battle to hold on to his title but comes into the tournament in good form having completed the Players Championship slam with victory in the Tour Championship at the weekend.
Let’s take a look at the 16 top seeded players who have earned themselves a place in the First Round proper of the tournament.
World Snooker Championship Seeds
- Zhao Xintong (CHN)
- Judd Trump (ENG)
- Kyren Wilson (ENG)
- Neil Robertson (AUS)
- John Higgins (SCO)
- Mark Williams (WAL)
- Mark Selby (ENG)
- Shaun Murphy (ENG)
- Xiao Guodong (CHN)
- Wi Yie (CHN)
- Barry Hawkins (ENG)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan (ENG)
- Chris Wakelin (ENG)
- Mark Allen (NIR)
- Si Jiahui (CHN)
- Ding Junhui (CHN)
Sixteen other players that come through the pre-tournament qualifiers starting on the 6th April will be drawn against one of the 16 top seeds.
There are some big names competing in the pre-tournament qualifiers including Jack Lisowski, Anthony McGill, Ali Carter, Stephen Maguire, Stuart Bingham, Luca Brecel, Matthew Stevens, Marco Fu, Ricky Walden, Ken Doherty and Jimmy White.
Prize Money
A total of £2,395,000 is up for grabs across the tournament with the amount won increasing the further a player gets in the tournament.
- Last 112 – £5,000
- Last 80 – £10,000
- Last 48 – £15,000
- Last 32 – £20,000
- Last 16 – £30,000
- Quarterfinals – £50,000
- Semi-Finals – £100,000
- Runner Up – £200,000
- Winner – £500,000
Highest Break Prize Money
- Highest Break – £15,000 (includes Qualifying stage)
- 147 in Qualifying – £10,000
- 147 From Round 1 Onwards – £40,000
- £147,000 is available to any player who makes two maximums across the Triple Crown (Masters, World Snooker Championship and UK Championship) events and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. Ronnie O’Sullivan has already banked this bonus this season and three other players could achieve that feat with a maximum in this tournament, Liam Pullen, Chang Bingyu and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Latest Betting Odds
- Zhao Xintong – 9/4
- Judd Trump – 9/2
- Ronnie O’Sullivan – 5/1
- Mark Selby – 13/2
- Kyren Wilson – 11/1
- Wu Yize, Shaun Murphy – 12/1
- John Higgins, Neil Robertson – 16/1
- Mark Allen – 22/1
- Mark Williams – 28/1
- Barry Hawkins, Jack Lisowski, Chang Bingyu, Xiao Guodong – 33/1
- 40/1 bar.
Who Is In Form?
Zhao Xintong has been in great form this season. After winning the world title as an Amateur and turning professional, he has landed four wins on tour, including the Players Championship slam (Riyadh Season Championship, Players Championship and Tour Championship) plus he also landed the World Grand Prix.
Three of Xintong wins this season have come since the World Grand Prix on the 8th February. He has won three of the last six tournaments on tour.
Others to win multiple times on tour include Mark Selby (Champion of Champions, Champions league Invitational and UK Championship) and Kyren Wilson (Masters and Shanghai Masters). Judd Trump has reached five finals this season, but lost four of them, winning just the one (German Masters).
Our Tips for the Final
It is difficult to look outside the top 16 for a spot in the final and with the way the draw is split gives us an insight into a potential route to the final for any of the top 16.
The top half of the draw looks stacked with talent with Zhao Xintong, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson all in that half of the draw. The bottom half features Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Mark Selby, Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen.
Despite this, we like the look of a Xintong vs. Selby final, which should provide purists with a game that features the best of both attacking and defensive snooker.
