The World Snooker Championship returns to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 18 April to 4 May 2026, marking the 50th consecutive year that snooker’s most prestigious event has been held at this iconic venue. Officially titled the Halo World Championship after its headline sponsor, the tournament brings together the world’s top 32 players to compete for the sport’s ultimate prize and a winner’s cheque of £500,000 from a total prize fund of £2,395,000.
What is the World Snooker Championship?
The World Snooker Championship is the oldest, most prestigious, and highest-paying tournament in professional snooker. First held in 1927, it is the final and most important ranking event of the snooker season, determining the sport’s world champion each year. Victory at the Crucible is considered the pinnacle of any snooker player’s career.
The tournament is organised by the World Snooker Tour (WST) and sanctioned by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). The top 16 players from the world rankings, as they stand after the Tour Championship, receive seeded places in the main draw. They are joined by 16 qualifiers who emerge from a separate qualifying competition held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
World Snooker Championship 2026 Schedule
The 2026 tournament runs across three weeks, beginning with qualifying rounds and building to the final.
Qualifying rounds: 6 to 15 April 2026, English Institute of Sport, Sheffield. A total of 128 professional and invited amateur players compete for 16 places in the main draw.
Main draw, Round 1 (Last 32): 18 to 22 April. Best of 19 frames, played over two sessions.
Round 2 (Last 16): 23 to 26 April. Best of 25 frames, played over three sessions.
Quarter-finals: 27 to 29 April. Best of 25 frames, played over three sessions.
Semi-finals: 30 April to 2 May. Best of 33 frames, played over four sessions.
Final: 3 to 4 May. Best of 35 frames, played over four sessions across two days.
A Green Carpet Ceremony takes place in Tudor Square on Friday 17 April, the day before the main draw begins. This event is free and open to all fans.
How the World Snooker Championship Works
The main draw is a straight knockout tournament featuring 32 players. The 16 seeds are drawn against the 16 qualifiers in the first round. Matches increase in length as the tournament progresses, from best of 19 frames in Round 1 to best of 35 frames in the final, ensuring that the longer format rewards consistency, tactical skill, and mental endurance.
All main-draw matches are played on one of two tables at the Crucible Theatre. In the first round and last 16, both tables are in use simultaneously, with a dividing partition separating them. From the quarter-finals onwards, the partition is removed and the remaining matches are played one at a time on a single table, creating the iconic one-table setup that defines the climax of the championship.
Each session typically consists of eight or nine frames, with morning sessions beginning at 10:00 BST and evening sessions at 19:00 BST. The final follows a slightly different schedule, usually starting at 14:00 and 19:00 BST.
Key Contenders
Zhao Xintong (defending champion): The Chinese player claimed his maiden world title in 2025 with a convincing 18-12 victory over Mark Williams in the final. Having returned to the tour after a betting-related suspension, Zhao’s form over the past season has been outstanding. He is joint favourite at 4/1 to retain his title and become the first back-to-back champion since Mark Selby in 2016 and 2017.
Judd Trump: Widely regarded as one of the most naturally talented players in the sport’s history, Trump won the world title in 2019 and has been a consistent presence at the business end of major tournaments. His aggressive, attacking style and matchplay temperament make him a constant threat at the Crucible, and he shares favouritism with Zhao at 4/1.
Ronnie O’Sullivan: The seven-time world champion remains a force at the age of 50. O’Sullivan reached the final of the 2026 World Open in March, demonstrating that his appetite for competition shows no sign of diminishing. His record at the Crucible is unmatched in the modern era, and he is also priced at 4/1 with bookmakers.
Mark Selby: A four-time world champion (2014, 2016, 2017, 2021), Selby’s tactical discipline and ability to grind out results over the longer format make him a perennial contender. He is priced at 6/1, reflecting his Crucible pedigree and big-match temperament.
Others to watch: Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen, Mark Williams, and John Higgins are all available at double-figure prices. Any of these experienced campaigners could mount a serious challenge with the right draw and form.
How to Watch the World Snooker Championship
United Kingdom: The BBC provides extensive free-to-air coverage across BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC Four, supplemented by the Red Button service. All sessions are available to stream live and on demand via BBC iPlayer. The BBC’s association with the World Snooker Championship is one of the longest-running partnerships in British sport.
Europe: Eurosport holds broadcast rights across most European territories. Live coverage is available on Eurosport channels and via the Discovery+ streaming platform (or Max, depending on region).
Rest of the world: WST Play, the official streaming platform of the World Snooker Tour, offers live coverage and on-demand replays via subscription at wst.tv. This is the primary option for viewers in regions without a dedicated broadcast partner.
Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sheffield provide radio commentary during key sessions, particularly the semi-finals and final.
Venue Guide: The Crucible Theatre
The Crucible Theatre has been the home of the World Snooker Championship since 1977. Located in Sheffield city centre on Tudor Square, the theatre was designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch and opened in 1971. Its name is a reference to crucible steel, which was developed in Sheffield in 1740 and played a central role in the city’s industrial heritage.
With a capacity of just 980, the Crucible’s intimate setting is a defining feature of the championship. No seat is more than 20 metres from the stage, creating an atmosphere unlike any other sporting venue. The Guardian has described the Crucible as the “spiritual home of snooker”, and the close proximity of the audience to the players adds a unique intensity to every frame.
The Crucible is well served by public transport. Sheffield railway station is a 10-minute walk away, with direct services from London St Pancras, Manchester, Leeds, and Birmingham. The Sheffield Supertram network stops at Cathedral, a short walk from Tudor Square. For those driving, the city centre has several multi-storey car parks within walking distance.
In March 2026, it was announced that the World Snooker Championship will remain at the Crucible until at least 2045, with a planned £45 million renovation after the 2028 tournament that will increase capacity to approximately 1,480 seats.
History and Records
The World Snooker Championship was first held in 1927, when Joe Davis won the inaugural edition. Davis went on to dominate the event completely, winning 15 consecutive titles between 1927 and 1946. The championship went through a period of relative obscurity before being revived in 1969, beginning the modern era of the competition.
The move to the Crucible Theatre in 1977 transformed the event. Mike Watterson, a local snooker promoter, brought the championship to Sheffield, and the combination of the intimate venue and growing television coverage turned the World Championship into one of the most-watched sporting events in the United Kingdom.
In the modern era, the most successful players are Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan, each with seven titles. Hendry dominated the 1990s, winning his first title in 1990 at the age of 21 years and 106 days, making him the youngest ever world champion, a record that still stands. O’Sullivan matched Hendry’s haul in 2022, at the age of 46, becoming the oldest world champion in the process.
Other players with multiple modern-era titles include Steve Davis (six), Ray Reardon (six, all pre-Crucible era except 1978), Mark Selby (four), John Higgins (four), and Mark Williams (three). The championship has produced countless memorable moments, from Dennis Taylor’s dramatic 18-17 victory over Steve Davis in 1985, watched by 18.5 million BBC viewers, to the emergence of international champions such as Luca Brecel (Belgium, 2023) and Zhao Xintong (China, 2025).
Past Winners (Last 10 Years)
2025: Zhao Xintong defeated Mark Williams 18-12
2024: Kyren Wilson defeated Jak Jones 18-14
2023: Luca Brecel defeated Mark Selby 18-15
2022: Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Judd Trump 18-13
2021: Mark Selby defeated Shaun Murphy 18-15
2020: Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Kyren Wilson 18-8
2019: Judd Trump defeated John Higgins 18-9
2018: Mark Williams defeated John Higgins 18-16
2017: Mark Selby defeated John Higgins 18-15
2016: Mark Selby defeated Ding Junhui 18-14
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the World Snooker Championship are among the most sought-after in snooker. Official tickets go on sale through the Crucible’s booking office at cruciblesnooker.com and typically sell out within hours. Bookings are limited to four tickets per session.
For the 2026 tournament, standard tickets (rows M, N, and P) and premium tickets (closer to the playing area) are available across all sessions. Prices vary by round, with first-round sessions at the lower end and the final commanding the highest prices. Hospitality packages and Century Club VIP experiences are also available through the official booking office.
If official tickets have sold out, returns occasionally become available closer to the event. Secondary market platforms such as See Tickets and Koobit list resale tickets, though prices on these platforms are typically significantly higher than face value.
For fans who cannot attend in person, the Green Carpet Ceremony on 17 April in Tudor Square is a free public event offering the chance to see all 32 players before the tournament begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the World Snooker Championship 2026 start?
The main draw begins on Saturday 18 April 2026, with qualifying rounds running from 6 to 15 April. The final takes place on 3 and 4 May.
Where is the World Snooker Championship held?
The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The championship has been held at the Crucible every year since 1977, and 2026 marks the 50th consecutive year at the venue.
How can I watch the World Snooker Championship?
In the UK, the BBC provides free-to-air coverage on BBC One, Two, and Four, plus BBC iPlayer. In Europe, coverage is on Eurosport and Discovery+. Worldwide streaming is available via WST Play at wst.tv.
Who won the World Snooker Championship last year?
Zhao Xintong won the 2025 World Snooker Championship, defeating Mark Williams 18-12 in the final to claim his first world title.
How much prize money does the winner receive?
The 2026 winner receives £500,000 from a total prize fund of £2,395,000.