The 2026 World Snooker Championship is set to captivate audiences as 32 competitors vie for the sport's most prestigious title at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Alongside the honour of being crowned world champion, there is substantial financial reward on offer.
Prize Money Breakdown
Every player who makes it into the main draw is guaranteed at least £20,000. The eventual winner will pocket a handsome £500,000 cheque for their efforts over the fortnight. The total prize fund for this year's tournament stands at £2,395,000.
In addition to the base prizes for finishing positions, there are bonuses for the highest break and any maximum 147 break achieved during the championship. However, one of those bonuses already has a likely recipient: China's Chang Bingyu compiled a 147 break during qualifying. He stands to win £172,000 for that feat, even though he did not qualify for the main event. That prize will be shared if another player also makes a maximum break in the tournament proper.
Payouts by Stage
- Winner: £500,000
- Runner-up: £200,000
- Semi-finals: £100,000
- Quarter-finals: £50,000
- Last 16: £30,000
- Last 32: £20,000
- Last 48: £15,000
- Last 80: £10,000
- Last 112: £5,000
Bonus Prizes
Highest break: £15,000. Maximum break: £40,000 (paid in addition to the highest break prize). If two players achieve the same break, the bonuses are shared equally.
All-Time Prize Money Leader
Ronnie O'Sullivan leads the all-time earnings list in snooker, with career winnings exceeding £15 million. The 50-year-old's return to Sheffield this year ended in a second-round classic defeat to old rival John Higgins.
List of Crucible Era Winners
1977 – John Spencer
1978 – Ray Reardon
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins
1983 – Steve Davis
1984 – Steve Davis
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis
1988 – Steve Davis
1989 – Steve Davis
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry
1993 – Stephen Hendry
1994 – Stephen Hendry
1995 – Stephen Hendry
1996 – Stephen Hendry
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams
2004 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins
2008 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2009 – John Higgins
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins
2012 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2013 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby
2017 – Mark Selby
2018 – Mark Williams
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2021 – Mark Selby
2022 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
2023 – Luca Brecel
