World Snooker Championship 2026 Today: Thursday order of play, prize money, format and how to watch - what time is John Higgins v Shaun Murphy semi-final?
It’s the semi-finals at the World Snooker Championship
And then there were four. After another dramatic day at the Crucible Theatre, the line-up for the World Snooker Championship 2026 semi-finals is now complete, with Scotland’s John Higgins in with a real shout of winning his fifth world title.
The Wizard of Wishaw sealed his place in his 12th career semi-final after a hard-fought 13-10 victory over Australia’s Neil Robertson.
The 50-year-old Scot said afterwards: “It’s a great achievement to get back to that one table. I’m just proud that I’m still in there fighting.”
Higgins now faces England’s Shaun’s Murphy, who was in sensational form as he eliminated defending champion Zhao Xintong, who became the 21st player to fall victim to the so-called ‘Crucible curse’.
Read more: Snooker World Championship 2026: Best player nicknames including 'Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Allen beat Barry Hawkins to book his place in the last four for the second time in four years, and will now face Chinese rising star Wu Yize, who reached the semi-finals for the first time with a win over Hossein Vafaei.
First held in 1927, the World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in professional snooker, with a prize fund of nearly £2.4 million.
Last year saw China's Zhao Xintong crowned the king of the snooker world after he beat three-time champion Mark Williams 18–12 in the final.
Who is playing on Thursday, April 30
1pm session: Shaun Murphy v John Higgins
7pm session: Mark Allen v Wu Yize
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:
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.
What is the format of the Snooker World Championship?
All first-round matches are the best of 19 frames (first to 10 frames) played over two session.
Second-round matches and the quarter-finals are the best of 25 frames (first to 13 frames), played over three sessions.
The semi-finals are the best of 33 frames (first to 17 frames) played over four sessions.
The final is the best of 35 frames (first to 18 frames) played over four sessions.
Who is favourite to win the World Snooker Championship 2026?
Wu Yize is the bookies’ favourite, with odds of 2-1. Shaun Murphy is 9/4, followed by John Higgins at 3/1 and Mark Allen at 4/1.
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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