2026 Shenzhen Open: Draw, Preview, Prize Money and How to Watch

Inaugural Shenzhen Open Launches China's Third Ranking Event of the Season

The 2026/27 World Snooker Tour calendar moves into its sixth ranking event next week as the inaugural Shenzhen Open gets under way at the Bao'an Sports Centre. Running from 28 September to 4 October, the tournament represents a significant addition to China's growing footprint on the professional circuit — it is the third ranking event staged in the country this season, following the China Open and the Wuhan Open. With a total prize fund of £850,000 and a winner's cheque worth £177,000, the Shenzhen Open carries the same financial weight expected of an established ranking event, despite being brand new to the calendar.

Replacing the Xi'an Grand Prix: Historical Context

The Shenzhen Open effectively steps into the slot vacated by the Xi'an Grand Prix, which featured on the tour in 2024 and 2025 before being replaced. Kyren Wilson claimed the inaugural Xi'an Grand Prix title in 2024, defeating Judd Trump in the final, while Mark Williams took the 2025 edition in memorable fashion — beating Shaun Murphy in the final to become the oldest ranking event champion in the sport's history. With no Shenzhen Open title yet in existence, Williams has been designated the reigning champion for this inaugural edition by virtue of his Xi'an success, and he carries the top seeding accordingly. It is a fitting recognition of a remarkable achievement from the three-time world champion, who continues to defy the ageing process at the highest level of the game.

Draw and Key First-Round Matches

The qualifying phase was completed in July at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, with a number of players already securing their places in the last 32 before the field travels to Shenzhen. The top 16 seeds had their opening-round matches — played at the last-64 stage — held over for the venue stages, meaning they will make their first appearances this week.

Williams opens his campaign against Fan Zhengyi on Monday 28 September (02:30 BST), while Zhao Xintong — currently ranked world number one — faces Scott Donaldson in what will be a closely watched first-round encounter given Zhao's status as the tour's dominant force. Several notable names have already progressed through qualifying, among them former world champion Stuart Bingham, former world number two Stephen Maguire, and Ali Carter, who arrives with confidence having recently claimed the English Open title.

The most prominent absentee from the draw is Mark Allen, who has withdrawn from the event. Allen's absence is notable given his ranking, but the field remains exceptionally strong, with the majority of the sport's leading players in attendance for what promises to be a competitive week in southern China.

Prize Money Breakdown

The full prize money structure for the 2026 Shenzhen Open is as follows:

How to Watch

The 2026 Shenzhen Open is a full-ranking event on the World Snooker Tour calendar. Coverage details for UK viewers should be confirmed via World Snooker's official channels and Eurosport, which holds broadcast rights for the majority of ranking events staged in China. Fans unable to access television coverage can follow live scoring and results through CueTracker and the official WST app throughout the week.

Verdict

The Shenzhen Open arrives with a strong field, a substantial prize fund, and the added intrigue of a first-ever champion being crowned. Whether Williams can extend his remarkable late-career run, or whether Zhao Xintong — playing on home soil — converts his world number one ranking into silverware, will be among the central narratives to track across the week. With China hosting three ranking events in a single season, the country's importance to the commercial and competitive structure of professional snooker has never been more pronounced.