World Snooker Championship 2026: Prize money, trophy, dates, format, players and how to watch
It’s a pretty lucrative business winning the World Snooker Championship.
First held in 1927, it is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in professional snooker, with a prize fund of nearly £2.4 million.
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Last year saw Zhao Xintong crowned the king of the snooker world after defeating three-time champion Mark Williams 18–12 in the final.
Here’s everything you need to know about what the cream of snooker talent will win this year.
When is the 2026 World Snooker Championship?
The tournament itself takes place from Saturday, April 18, to Monday, May 4 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England
What’s the prize money at the 2026 World Snooker Championship?
A total of £2.395 million in money is up for grabs at the World Snooker Championship, with the money allocated as follows:
£2,395,000. The breakdown of prize money is shown below:[9]
- Winner: £500,000
- Runner-up: £200,000
- Semi-finalists: £100,000
- Quarter-finalists: £50,000
- Last 16: £30,000
- Last 32: £20,000
- Last 48: £15,000
- Last 80: £10,000
- Last 112: £5,000
- Highest break: £15,000
What trophy is presented at the World Snooker Championships?
The instantly-recognisable World Championship trophy dates back to 1926 when it was bought by pioneering player Joe David for just £19.
It’s made of silver, weighs 46.5 troy ounces, and is topped by the figure of a Greek shepherdess - not a snooker player, as some people presume.
Who has qualified for the World Snooker Championship?
The top 16 players in the world have already qualified for the tournament, namely:
- Zhao Xintong
- Ding Junhui
- Xiao Guodong
- Shaun Murphy
- John Higgins
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Chris Wakelin
- Neil Robertson
- Kyren Wilson
- Mark Allen
- Barry Hawkins
- Mark Williams
- Mark Selby
- Wu Yize
- Si Jiahui
- Judd Trump
They will be joined by 16 players who come through the qualifying tournament. You can find out everything you need to know about the qualifiers here.
Who is favourite to win the World Snooker Championship 2026?
Zhao Xintong is the bookies’ favourite, with odds of 11/4, followed by Judd Trump (9/2), Ronnie O’Sullivan (13/2), Mark Selby (13/2), and Kyren Wilson (11/1). Sc otland’s John Higgins is a 20/1 outsider.
How can I watch the World Snooker Championship 2026?
As ever, full coverage of all matches will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC Two, and streamed on the Red Button and the BBC iPlayer,
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