2026 International Championship Qualifiers: Draw, Schedule and What's at Stake in Leicester

Qualifier Overview

The 2026 International Championship qualifiers get under way at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester this Thursday, with the bulk of the professional tour battling across three days for places at the main event in Nanjing, China. Running from 17–19 September, the Leicester leg forms the second instalment of a demanding three-tournament qualifying swing at the same venue, sandwiched between the recently concluded Northern Ireland Open qualifiers and the Scottish Open qualifiers, which commence on Sunday.

All qualifying matches are contested over the best of 11 frames, with most players entering at the Round of 128 stage. The main stages of the International Championship will then follow on 31 October to 7 November in Nanjing — a venue that has established itself as one of the most prestigious stops on the Asian leg of the ranking calendar.

Prize Fund

The total prize pot for the 2026 International Championship stands at £825,000, making it a significant ranking event for any player seeking to bolster their position on the one-year and two-year lists. The full breakdown, per snooker.org, is as follows:

Withdrawals and Held-Over Matches

Two of the tour's most recognisable names will not feature in this year's event. Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Allen have both withdrawn from the competition. Their absences open the draw for lower-ranked players and add further unpredictability to the qualifying rounds.

A number of high-profile matches have been held over to the venue stages rather than taking place in Leicester. World number one Zhao Xintong, Ding Junhui, and Judd Trump will all play their first qualifying ties in Nanjing, as will defending champion Wu Yize, who faces Hammad Miah. Wu claimed the title last season and will be keen to defend his ranking points in front of a home crowd.

Matches to Watch in Qualifying

Despite the elite-level absentees from the early rounds, there are several compelling ties scheduled across the three days in Leicester.

Stevens vs White — Two Former World Finalists

Perhaps the most evocative match of the qualifying draw sees Matthew Stevens take on Jimmy White — two former World Championship runners-up whose careers have followed very different trajectories in recent seasons. Stevens reached the Crucible final in both 1999 and 2005, while White's six final appearances between 1984 and 1994 remain one of the sport's most discussed near-misses. Both men are now fighting to remain competitive on the main tour, making this tie as much about professional survival as nostalgia.

Burden vs Bingham — Shoot Out Final Rematch

Alfie Burden faces Stuart Bingham in a rematch of last season's Shoot Out final — a tie that will carry residual competitive edge from that earlier encounter. Bingham, a consistent performer at ranking events, will be expected to advance, but Burden has demonstrated over a long career that he is rarely straightforward opposition.

Carter vs Kazakov

Recent English Open champion Ali Carter — who has returned to the top 16 in the latest rankings update (per snooker.org) — faces Anton Kazakov in what should be a compelling contrast of styles. Carter's form over the past few months has been notably sharp, and the world number 16 will be keen to maintain momentum heading into the autumn ranking swing.

Thursday's Early Schedule (Mattioli Arena, Leicester)

The following matches are among those scheduled for Thursday 17 September, with the morning session beginning at 09:30 and the afternoon session at 14:30 (all times BST, per snooker.org):

• Robbie Williams vs Gong Chenzhi — 09:30
• Stephen Maguire vs Mateusz Baranowski — 09:30
• Zhang Anda vs Artemijs Zizins — 09:30
• Jimmy Robertson vs Huang Jiahao — 09:30
• Jordan Brown vs Gao Yang — 14:30
• Ben Woollaston vs Sean O'Sullivan — 14:30
• Elliot Slessor vs Yao Pengcheng — 14:30

Coverage details for the qualifying rounds have not yet been confirmed at time of publication. The main event stages in Nanjing are expected to receive broadcast coverage; readers should check with their usual providers for updates as the event approaches.