Robertson, Trump, Higgins and Zhao Set Up Blockbuster Tour Championship Semi-Finals
The Last Four Takes Shape in Manchester
The 2026 Tour Championship has delivered two compelling semi-final pairings after a dramatic quarter-final stage at Manchester Central. With the top 12 players on the one-year rankings the only competitors eligible to participate, the field was always going to carry considerable weight — but the last four has produced matchups that would grace any final, let alone a semi-final. Neil Robertson faces Judd Trump, while John Higgins meets reigning world champion Zhao Xintong, with both ties spread across Friday 3rd April (13:00 and 19:00 BST).
Robertson vs Trump: A Rivalry Renewed at the Business End
Neil Robertson and Judd Trump have been two of the dominant forces in world snooker for well over a decade, and their semi-final collision here is one that needs little additional billing. Both players navigated tense quarter-finals to reach this stage. Trump edged out Shaun Murphy in a deciding frame — his first Tour Championship semi-final appearance since 2020 — whilst Robertson mounted a characteristically resilient comeback against Barry Hawkins, recovering from 8-6 down to win with four consecutive frames.
For Robertson, the prize is historic. The Australian has already claimed the Tour Championship title twice, in 2021 and 2022, and a third victory would make him the outright record holder for the event. No player has lifted the trophy more than twice since the tournament's relaunch in its current format, and Robertson's recent form — particularly his ability to close out matches under pressure — suggests he remains a serious contender to reach Sunday's final.
The head-to-head record between the two is well-documented. Trump, currently ranked world number one, holds the superior overall record across their career meetings, though Robertson has secured some of the most significant victories at the sharpest end of the sport's biggest occasions. Their most recent encounter came at the semi-final stage of the 2025 UK Championship in York, where Trump prevailed 6-3. Around 2019 and 2020, the pair met in a series of high-profile finals, several of which were decided by the narrowest of margins, underlining just how closely matched they have been at their respective peaks. Friday's encounter is unlikely to offer much separation either.
Higgins vs Zhao: Experience Meets the Reigning World Champion
The second semi-final presents an equally fascinating contest. John Higgins continued what has been a remarkable run of form at this event, defeating Mark Selby in the quarter-finals in a manner that mirrored his victory over the same opponent in last year's Tour Championship final. On both occasions, Higgins overturned a three-frame deficit to take five consecutive frames and seal the win — a feat that speaks to both his composure and his capacity to raise his game when it matters most.
Higgins, who will turn 51 shortly, remains a persistent presence at the conclusion of ranking events despite the silverware proving elusive so far this campaign. Several near-misses have characterised his season, and the Scot will be acutely aware that opportunities to add to his four world titles do not become more plentiful with time. That determination, however, will be tested severely by his semi-final opponent.
Zhao Xintong arrives in Manchester as reigning world champion and was, according to available data from CueTracker and snooker.org, the standout performer during the quarter-final stage of this event. The Chinese star's combination of break-building fluency and match temperament has established him as one of the most complete players on the circuit, and his world title credentials are beyond question. A clash between a four-time world champion operating at the top of his late-career form and a player who has already demonstrated he can win the sport's biggest prize makes for a semi-final of genuine intrigue.
What's at Stake
Beyond the prestige, the practical incentives remain significant. The Tour Championship champion collects £150,000 in prize money, with the event operating as the penultimate ranking tournament of the season. Ranking points on offer here will have implications for end-of-season standings, and with the World Championship at the Crucible to follow, form and confidence gathered in Manchester carry weight beyond the immediate result.
Both semi-finals offer the prospect of compelling, high-quality snooker from four players who have collectively won the sport's most prestigious titles on numerous occasions. Robertson's pursuit of a record third Tour Championship, Trump's bid to reach his first final here in six years, Higgins's relentless search for a first ranking title of the campaign, and Zhao's attempt to confirm his status as the sport's pre-eminent force — the stakes, individual and collective, could scarcely be higher.
