World Snooker Championship 2026 Today: Wednesday order of play, prize money, format and how to watch - when is John Higgins playing?
It’s day 12 at the biggest snooker tournament of the year
The action continues at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield - and things are really starting to heat up now.
It’s the quarter-finals, with world champion Zhao Xintong concluding his match against Shaun Murphy.
On Tuesday, Zhao battled back to draw level with Murphy in a thrilling evening at the Crucible. The session finished deadlocked at 8-8 – the same scoreline for the night’s other last-eight showdown between Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins.
Read more: Snooker World Championship 2026: Best player nicknames including 'Rocket' Ronnie O'Sullivan
In the day’s other quarter-finals, Neil Robertson ended a tense afternoon session with a 5-3 lead over Scotland’s John Higgins and Hossein Vafaei fought back to draw level 4-4 with Wu Yize.
All the quarter-final matches will be played to a finish on Wednesday, with the semi-fnals taking starting on Thursday.
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 Wednesday, April 22
10am session: John Higgins v Neil Robertson; Mark Allen v Barry Hawkins
2,30pm session: Zhao Xintong v Shaun Murphy; Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei
7pm session: John Higgins v Neil Robertson; Wu Yize v Hossein Vafaei
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?
Zhao Xintong is the bookies’ favourite, with odds of 13/8. Wu Yize of 9/2, John Higgins 13/2, Shaun Murphy 8/1, Mark Allen 9/1, Neil Robertson 9/1, Barry Hawkins 11/1 and Hossein Vafaei 12/1.
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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