2026 World Snooker Championship Draw, Schedule & Results: Everything You Need to Know
The 50th Crucible — And the Betting Is Already Heating Up
We're into the thick of it at the Crucible, and the 2026 World Snooker Championship — the 50th edition of snooker's most prestigious event — is already delivering the drama we've come to expect from Sheffield. World number one Judd Trump and seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan are both in action as the first round unfolds, and the results so far have given us a clear picture of who's moving smoothly and who's already being tested.
First Round Results: What's Happened So Far
The early scorelines have been largely decisive at the top of the draw. Zhao Xintong (1) made an authoritative start, defeating Liam Highfield 10-7, while Ding Junhui (16) was even more commanding in dispatching David Gilbert 10-5. That sets up a fascinating second-round clash between those two, with Zhao's seeding advantage offset by Ding's imperious recent form.
John Higgins (5) came through against Ali Carter 10-7 in what was a hard-fought contest, proving once again that Carter — despite his ranking — is never an easy first-round hurdle. Further down the draw, Kyren Wilson (3) was impressive in beating Stan Moody 10-7, and Mark Williams (6) put in a clinical display to see off Antoni Kowalski 10-4. Barry Hawkins (11) similarly impressed, beating Matthew Stevens 10-4 to advance with minimal fuss. Mark Allen (14) also progressed comfortably, defeating Zhang Anda 10-6.
One result that raised eyebrows was Wu Yize (10) racing into an 8-1 lead against Lei Peifan — that match is effectively over as a contest. Conversely, Shaun Murphy (8) leads Fan Zhengyi just 5-4 after the first session, meaning that one is far from settled heading into the evening.
Matches Still in Progress
Several headline ties are still being decided. Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) is into his first session against He Guoqiang, with the second session scheduled for Wednesday afternoon — O'Sullivan's matches are always worth watching regardless of the scoreline, but He has shown enough quality on the tour to make this uncomfortable if Ronnie isn't fully switched on. Neil Robertson (4) gets underway against Pang Junxu on Wednesday evening, and Judd Trump (2) — the pre-tournament favourite with most bookmakers — faces Gary Wilson in a tie that began Tuesday morning.
Mark Selby (7) faces Jak Jones, with sessions spread across Wednesday, and Si Jiahui (15) takes on Hossein Vafaei in what looks a genuinely open match — Vafaei has the Crucible pedigree to cause an upset here, and that match is one to monitor closely from a betting perspective.
The Second Round Draw
The route through to the quarter-finals is taking shape. Zhao Xintong will face Ding Junhui in what is arguably the standout second-round tie — two elite Chinese players with contrasting styles, and Ding's experience at the Crucible could be the decisive factor. That match begins Friday 25th April.
John Higgins will meet the winner of O'Sullivan vs He Guoqiang in a potential blockbuster last-16 encounter, while Xiao Guodong (9) faces the winner of Murphy vs Fan Zhengyi from Thursday onwards.
Schedule at a Glance
| Match | Players | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Zhao Xintong (1) v Liam Highfield | Zhao wins 10-7 |
| Match 2 | Ding Junhui (16) v David Gilbert | Ding wins 10-5 |
| Match 3 | Xiao Guodong (9) v Zhou Yuelong | Xiao wins 10-6 |
| Match 4 | Shaun Murphy (8) v Fan Zhengyi | Murphy leads 5-4 |
| Match 5 | John Higgins (5) v Ali Carter | Higgins wins 10-7 |
| Match 6 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (12) v He Guoqiang | In progress |
| Match 7 | Chris Wakelin (13) v Liam Pullen | In progress |
| Match 8 | Neil Robertson (4) v Pang Junxu | Wed 22 Apr 19:00 |
| Match 9 | Kyren Wilson (3) v Stan Moody | Wilson wins 10-7 |
| Match 10 | Mark Allen (14) v Zhang Anda | Allen wins 10-6 |
| Match 11 | Barry Hawkins (11) v Matthew Stevens | Hawkins wins 10-4 |
| Match 12 | Mark Williams (6) v Antoni Kowalski | Williams wins 10-4 |
| Match 13 | Mark Selby (7) v Jak Jones | Wed 22 Apr |
| Match 14 | Wu Yize (10) v Lei Peifan | Wu leads 8-1 |
| Match 15 | Si Jiahui (15) v Hossein Vafaei | Wed 22 Apr 14:30 |
| Match 16 | Judd Trump (2) v Gary Wilson | In progress |
Our Early Tournament Read
With the draw now fully visible, Trump and Wilson look to have the more favourable route to the later rounds compared to the top half, where Zhao, Ding, Higgins and O'Sullivan could all feasibly cancel each other out before the semi-finals. Robertson's match against Pang Junxu looks manageable on paper, but Pang is a serious player and the Crucible's unique pressures have a habit of flattening even the most clinical performers.
We'll be publishing dedicated match tips and tournament outright analysis throughout the event. Keep checking SnookerWins for updated odds, picks, and in-play angles as the 2026 World Championship unfolds.
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