2026 World Seniors Championship: Expanded 24-Player Field, Record Prize Fund and O'Sullivan Headlines Strong Draw

Tournament Overview

The 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship gets under way at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 6th–10th May, with the field expanded from 16 to 24 players and a record total prize fund of £80,000 on offer — a significant uplift from the £50,000 distributed in 2025. The winner will collect £30,000, the largest first prize in the event's history. Running just two days after the conclusion of the main World Snooker Championship at the same venue, the seniors edition once again utilises one of the sport's most recognisable stages.

Defending Champion and Seedings

Alfie Burden carries the top seed into the tournament as he defends the title he claimed in 2025. His opening match — should he progress through the bye afforded to the top eight seeds — will come against the winner of either Igor Figueiredo, the 2024 champion, or Mohamed Elkhayat. Second seed Joe Perry, who arrived in Sheffield as the reigning British Seniors Open champion, will face either Reanne Evans or Aaron Canavan in the last 16.

Mark Williams was originally included in the draw but has since withdrawn from the event. Nigel Bond has been confirmed as his replacement and will open his campaign against Craig Steadman or Neal Jones.

O'Sullivan Headlines a Decorated Entry List

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is unquestionably the most prominent name to have entered the seniors ranks in this edition. O'Sullivan, whose record on the main tour places him among the greatest players the sport has produced, is seeded directly into the last 16. His path to the quarter-finals will be determined by an intriguing first-round tie between Ken Doherty and Gerard Greene — an all-Ireland contest that carries considerable weight given Doherty's own status as a former world champion. The winner of that match will face O'Sullivan in what promises to be one of the most-watched matches of the week.

Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter — both six-time ranking event winners on the main tour — also make their seniors debuts at this year's championship and are seeded through to the last 16. Bingham will await the winner of a tie between Peter Lines and Anthony Hamilton, while Carter faces either Tony Drago or Roger Farebrother in what will be his maiden competitive seniors appearance.

Key First-Round Ties

Beyond the O'Sullivan section of the draw, there is no shortage of compelling opening-round action. Jimmy White, a record four-time world seniors champion, features against qualifier Daniel Ward as he bids to add to his unmatched tally in the competition. The winner of that match will face Robert Milkins, who was relegated from the main tour at the conclusion of the 2025–26 season. Matthew Stevens, meanwhile, is scheduled to face either Dominic Dale — a two-time ranking event winner — or Wayne Townsend.

Selected First-Round Matches

Context and Significance

The expansion of the field from 16 to 24 participants reflects the growing profile of the World Seniors Snooker Tour, which has steadily attracted more prominent names from the sport's recent history. The arrival of O'Sullivan in particular elevates the 2026 edition above its predecessors in terms of headline appeal, and the prize fund increase — 60 per cent up on last year's total — signals a tangible commitment to growing the competition's stature. With competitive action beginning on 6th May and the final scheduled for 10th May, the Crucible will host senior snooker for the first time on what is widely regarded as the sport's most storied stage immediately after the conclusion of the main championship. Whether Burden can retain his title against what is comfortably the strongest field the event has assembled to date remains the central question of the week.