Taom UK Women's Championship 2026: Bai Yulu the One to Beat as WWS Tour Season Gets Underway
The Pick
Back Bai Yulu to win the Taom UK Women's Championship 2026 outright. The Chinese star arrives in Leeds as defending champion, two-time winner of this specific title, and — crucially — in the kind of form that suggests she is not done collecting silverware just yet. Until we see firm outright markets posted by the major UK bookmakers, keep this one on your radar and move quickly once prices are live — defending champions at prestigious events rarely go off at generous odds, and Bai's claims here are as strong as anyone's.
Tournament Overview
The 2026/27 World Women's Snooker Tour kicks off in style this Friday at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, as the iconic venue hosts the 39th staging of the Taom UK Women's Snooker Championship. First contested all the way back in 1982, this is one of the oldest and most coveted titles on the women's calendar — a genuine prestige event that attracts the very best in the world. Taom Billiards, makers of the widely used V10 chalk, sponsor the event for a fifth consecutive year, underscoring just how seriously the women's game is taken at the highest level.
The format sees 32 players split into eight groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to a last-16 knockout. Group matches are best of three frames, while the knockout rounds are provisionally set at best of five, five, seven and seven as the competition progresses. Players eliminated before the quarter-finals will have the consolation of the Challenge Cup on Sunday, and there are also separate knockout competitions for Under-21 and Seniors (over-40) players running alongside the main event throughout the weekend.
The Field
The entry list for 2026 is as strong as you will find anywhere on the WWS Tour, with all of the world's top 10 ranked players confirmed. That alone tells you everything about the prestige attached to this title. Leading the defending charge is Bai Yulu, who successfully retained her crown last year with a 4-2 victory over OnYee Ng in the final. Bai has now won this event twice, and the consistency she has shown at the Northern Snooker Centre makes her the standout selection.
The story of the entry list, however, might well be Panchaya Channoi. The Thai star arrives as the newly crowned world champion and will be desperate to add the UK title to her collection — making her the obvious market rival to Bai. Her compatriot Mink Nutcharut is another Thai in the mix, and intriguingly the UK Championship remains the one major title that has eluded Nutcharut throughout an otherwise decorated career. That narrative alone makes her an interesting each-way proposition if bookmakers price her generously.
The experienced former champions are also well worth monitoring. Reanne Evans — a quite remarkable 12-time winner of this event — is never someone you write off, even if her dominant era has given way to younger challengers. OnYee Ng, four-time champion and last year's beaten finalist, will be hungry to go one better, while Tessa Davidson, a three-time champion here and the defending Seniors title holder, is another seasoned operator. Rebecca Kenna has reached the final on two occasions without converting — a third final appearance could be the one where the Englishwoman finally breaks through.
Keep an eye on Narucha Phoemphul, who claimed the Under-21 title at this event last year and will be looking to make an impact in the main draw, alongside India's Anupama Ramachandran and Hong Kong China's So Man Yan — both players capable of a deep run at this level.
The Analysis
Backing the defending champion in a format with group stages is a sound strategy. Bai Yulu has already demonstrated she can handle the pressure of this specific venue and this specific draw structure. The group stage — best of three frames — is inherently unpredictable, but a top-10 ranked field means there are no soft groups, and Bai's consistency across frames is a genuine asset. The main threat comes from Channoi, whose world championship form demands respect, but Bai's familiarity with the occasion gives her a meaningful edge in my view.
If you are looking for an alternative at a bigger price, Mink Nutcharut each-way is the play. The hunger to finally land the one title missing from her CV is a powerful motivator, and she has the talent to go deep on any given weekend.
Key Details
Venue: Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds | Starts: Friday 4th September 2026 | Sponsor: Taom Billiards | Format: 8 groups of 4, top 2 progress to last 16, knockout to final
Odds are subject to change. Please shop around across William Hill, Bet365, Paddy Power and Betway for the best available prices once outright markets are published. Always gamble responsibly — visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
