Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to compete for a significant payday at the inaugural Global Snooker 900 Championship, where a prize fund of £100,000 is up for grabs. The event, featuring a unique 15-minute frame format, will take place at the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Reading from May 12 to May 17, 2026.
Star-Studded Lineup
O'Sullivan, fresh from his World Seniors Snooker Championship victory, will be joined by Shaun Murphy, who recently contested his fifth world final at the Crucible Theatre. Other notable participants include former world champions Kyren Wilson and Luca Brecel, as well as seasoned professionals like Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, and Stuart Bingham.
Fast-Paced Format
The Snooker 900 format, devised by Jason Francis, restricts each frame to 900 seconds (15 minutes) and enforces a 20-second shot clock, similar to the Snooker Shoot Out. This rapid style contrasts sharply with the marathon frames seen at the World Championship, such as the record-breaking 100-minute frame between Wu Yize and Mark Allen.
Matches begin as best-of-nine frames, increasing to best-of-11 from the semi-finals onward. O'Sullivan and Murphy enter the competition at the quarter-final stage on Friday, May 15.
Prize and Broadcast
The £100,000 prize fund marks a significant increase for the event, which creator Jason Francis describes as a serious competition rather than an exhibition. Fans can watch all matches for free on Pluto TV.
O'Sullivan, who earned at least £30,000 from his seniors title win, expressed a desire to finish his career strongly, citing recent confidence issues. He stated, "If I can get my confidence going, I would like to finish my career on a strong note."
