2026 World Snooker Championship: Draw, Schedule, Matches & Tournament Bracket

Zhao Xintong is hoping to banish the fabled Crucible Curse and become the first player in modern day history to make a successful defence of their maiden World Championship title.

The Chinese sensation became the first Asian player to capture the World Championship silverware courtesy of an 18-12 victory over Mark Williams 12 months ago and kicked off his latest quest in South Yorkshire against Stoke-on-Trent's Liam Highfield.

However, despite being the pre-event favourite to reign supreme for a second time, the 29-year-old will be wary of a stacked 32-player field that includes the likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, John Higgins and Mark Selby.

The action takes place from Saturday 18th April until Monday 4th May, and we've got all the details you need below including the full draw, tournament bracket and daily match schedule.

2026 World Snooker Championship - Draw & Tournament Bracket

Top Half

(1) Zhao Xintong v Liam Highfield
(16) Ding Junhui v David Gilbert
(9) Xiao Guodong v Zhou Yuelong
(8) Shaun Murphy v Fan Zhengyi
(5) John Higgins v Ali Carter
(12) Ronnie O'Sullivan v He Guoqiang
(13) Chris Wakelin v Liam Pullen
(4) Neil Robertson v Pang Junxu

Bottom Half

(3) Kyren Wilson v Stan Moody
(14) Mark Allen v Zhang Anda
(11) Barry Hawkins v Matthew Stevens
(6) Mark Williams v Antoni Kowalski
(7) Mark Selby v Jak Jones
(10) Wu Yize v Lei Peifan
(15) Si Jiahui v Hossein Vafaei
(2) Judd Trump v Gary Wilson

2026 World Snooker Championship - Daily Schedule

All times BST and subject to late changes, while session times could finish earlier or later than listed below. *denotes final session

Saturday 18th April

10:00
Zhao Xintong (1) v Liam Highfield
Mark Allen (14) v Zhang Anda

14:30
Xiao Guodong (9) v Zhou Yuelong
Mark Williams (6) v Antoni Kowalski

19:00
Zhao Xintong (1) v Liam Highfield
Barry Hawkins (11) v Matthew Stevens

Sunday 19th April

10:00
Ding Junhui (16) v David Gilbert
Mark Allen (14) v Zhang Anda

14:30
John Higgins (5) v Ali Carter
Barry Hawkins (11) v Matthew Stevens

19:00
Xiao Guodong (9) v Zhou Yuelong
Mark Williams (6) v Antoni Kowalski

Monday 20th April

10:00
Ding Junhui (16) v David Gilbert
Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody

14:30
John Higgins (5) v Ali Carter
Wu Yize (10) v Lei Peifan

19:00
Shaun Murphy (8) v Fan Zhengyi
Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody

Tuesday 21st April

10:00
Chris Wakelin (13) v Liam Pullen
Judd Trump (2) v Gary Wilson

14:30
Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v He Guoqiang
Wu Yize (10) v Lei Peifan

19:00
Shaun Murphy (8) v Fan Zhengyi
Judd Trump (2) v Gary Wilson

Wednesday 22nd April

10:00
Chris Wakelin (13) v Liam Pullen
Mark Selby (7) v Jak Jones

14:30
Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v He Guoqiang
Si Jiahui (15) v Hossein Vafaei

19:00
Neil Robertson (4) v Pang Junxu
Mark Selby (7) v Jak Jones

Thursday 23rd April

13:00
Xiao Guodong v Shaun Murphy
Si Jiahui (15) v Hossein Vafaei

19:00
Neil Robertson (4) v Pang Junxu
Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen

Friday 24th April

10:00
Xiao Guodong v Shaun Murphy
Barry Hawkins v Mark Williams

14:30
Zhao Xintong v Ding Junhui
Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen

19:00
Xiao Guodong v Shaun Murphy
Barry Hawkins v Mark Williams

Saturday 25th April

10:00
Chris Wakelin v Neil Robertson
Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen

14:30
Zhao Xintong v Ding Junhui
Hossein Vafaei v Judd Trump

19:00
John Higgins v Ronnie O'Sullivan
Barry Hawkins v Mark Williams

Sunday 26th April

10:00
Zhao Xintong v Ding Junhui
Mark Selby v Wu Yize

14:30
Chris Wakelin v Neil Robertson
Hossein Vafaei v Judd Trump

19:00
John Higgins v Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Selby v Wu Yize

Monday 27th April

13:00
John Higgins v Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Selby v Wu Yize

19:00
Chris Wakelin v Neil Robertson
Hossein Vafaei v Judd Trump

Tuesday 28th April

10:00
Zhao Xintong v Shaun Murphy
Mark Allen v Barry Hawkins

14:30
John Higgins v Neil Robertson
Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei

19:00
Zhao Xintong v Shaun Murphy
Mark Allen v Barry Hawkins

Wednesday 29th April

10:00
John Higgins v Neil Robertson
Mark Allen v Barry Hawkins

14:30
Zhao Xintong v Shaun Murphy
Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei

19:00
John Higgins v Neil Robertson
Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei

Thursday 30th April

13:00
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy

19:00
Wu Yize v Mark Allen

Friday 1st May

10:00
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy

14:30
Wu Yize v Mark Allen

19:00
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy

Saturday 2nd May

10:00
Wu Yize v Mark Allen

14:30
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy

19:00
Wu Yize v Mark Allen

Sunday 3rd May

13:00
Final

19:00
Final

Monday 4th May

13:00
Final

19:00
Final