World Open Snooker 2026: Preview, Odds, and Schedule

The 2026 World Open snooker tournament is set to take place from March 16 to 22 in Yushan, China. This ranking event boasts a total prize fund of £825,000, with the winner receiving £175,000. As of March 12, 2026, Zhao Xintong is the betting favorite, followed by Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Tournament Details

• Dates: March 16 – 22, 2026
• Venue: Yushan Sport Centre, Yushan, China
• Prize Fund: £825,000
• Winner’s Share: £175,000
• Broadcast: TNT Sports and Discovery+ (UK & Ireland), Eurosport (mainland Europe), local channels (Asia & Africa), WST Play (all other territories) [1]

Current Odds

Here’s a look at the current betting odds for the 2026 World Open, as of March 12, 2026:

• Zhao Xintong – 11/4
• Judd Trump – 3/1
• Ronnie O’Sullivan – 7/1
• Kyren Wilson – 8/1
• Shaun Murphy – 9/1
• John Higgins – 10/1
• Wu Yize – 10/1
• Mark Williams – 14/1

Recent Form and Key Players

Zhao Xintong enters the tournament as the form player, having recently won both the Players Championship and the World Grand Prix. He notably defeated Judd Trump in Riyadh in November 2025. [3]

Judd Trump, the world number one, remains a strong contender. Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins, despite being in the latter stages of their careers, continue to demonstrate their skill and experience. Kyren Wilson, currently ranked number two in the world, also presents a significant threat.

Barry Hawkins recently achieved success at the Welsh Open, defeating Jack Lisowski in the final, but is considered an outsider for the World Open. Wu Yize, a semi-finalist at the Welsh Open, has shown promise but has experienced inconsistent results.

Withdrawals and Walkovers

Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins, Stephen Maguire, David Gilbert, and Chris Wakelin have withdrawn from the tournament. Their scheduled opponents will receive walkovers to the round of 32. [1]

Prize Money Breakdown

• Winner: £175,000
• Runner-up: £75,000
• Semi-final: £33,000
• Quarter-final: £22,000
• Last 16: £14,000
• Last 32: £9,000
• Last 64: £5,000
• Highest break: £5,000

Past Winners

• 2024 – John Higgins
• 2023 – Judd Trump
• 2019 – Judd Trump
• 2018 – Mark Williams
• 2017 – Ding Junhui
• 2016 – Ali Carter
• 2014 – Shaun Murphy
• 2013 – Mark Allen
• 2012 – Mark Allen

Match Format

Matches up to and including the quarter-finals will be best of nine frames. Semi-finals will be best of eleven frames, and the final will be best of nineteen frames. [3]