The 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield continues to deliver gripping sporting drama as the world's top players compete for the prestigious trophy.
Shock Exits and Surprise Performances
Ronnie O'Sullivan's quest for a record eighth title ended in a thrilling last-16 clash against fellow 'Class of '92' member John Higgins. Higgins triumphed 13-12 in a deciding frame, having rallied from 9-4 down. This victory came 30 years after their first meeting in Sheffield.
Defending champion Zhao Xintong, the first Chinese winner of the tournament, fell victim to the 'Crucible Curse' as 2005 champion Shaun Murphy defeated him 13-10 in the quarter-finals. Zhao had been the bookmakers' favourite to retain his crown.
Other top seeds to exit include four-time champion Mark Selby, world number one Judd Trump, and 2024 champion Kyren Wilson. Iran's Hossein Vafaei was the only qualifier to reach the second round, but he was beaten 13-8 in the quarter-finals by rising Chinese talent Wu Yize.
How to Watch
Every session of the 2026 World Snooker Championship is broadcast live on the BBC across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website. In the UK, TNT Sports also covers the tournament, with all sessions available to subscribers via HBO Max.
Results
Quarter-Finals
- Mark Allen (14) 13-11 Barry Hawkins (11)
- Shaun Murphy (8) 13-10 Zhao Xintong (1)
- Wu Yize (10) 13-8 Hossein Vafaei
Round 2
- Neil Robertson (4) 13-7 Chris Wakelin (13)
- Hossein Vafaei 13-12 Judd Trump (2)
- Wu Yize (10) 13-11 Mark Selby (7)
- John Higgins (5) 13-12 Ronnie O'Sullivan (12)
- 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)
Round 1
- 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
- Wu Yize (10) 10-2 Lei Peifan
- 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
- Mark Selby (7) 10-2 Jak Jones
- Hossein Vafaei 10-3 Si Jiahui (15)
- Neil Robertson (4) 10-6 Pang Junxu
Full Schedule (All times BST)
Wednesday 29 April
Quarter-finals: John Higgins (5) 7-9 Neil Robertson (4)*; Wu Yize (10) 13-8 Hossein Vafaei*
Thursday 30 April
Semi-finals: 1pm Shaun Murphy (8) v John Higgins (5)/Neil Robertson (4); 7pm Mark Allen (14) v Wu Yize (10)
Friday 1 May
Semi-finals: 10am, 2.30pm, 7pm
Saturday 2 May
Semi-finals: 10am, 2.30pm*, 7pm*
Sunday 3 May
Final: 1pm Session 1, 7pm Session 2
Monday 4 May
Final: 1pm Session 3, 7pm Session 4*
*denotes final session
