Players Championship 2026: Preview, Schedule, and Broadcast Details

The Players Championship, a pivotal event in the snooker calendar, returns to Telford, UK, from February 17th to 22nd, 2026. This tournament marks the second of three bonus tournaments for the leading players of the season, serving as a crucial stepping stone towards the World Championships in Sheffield. However, the 2025 champion, Kyren Wilson, will not be defending his title, as he currently ranks 22nd and does not qualify for the event.

Tournament History and Qualification

Established in 2017, the Players Championship has seen a succession of champions, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump (twice each), alongside John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen, and Kyren Wilson (once each). Qualification is based on the one-year world rankings following the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, with the top 16 players earning a spot. Players receive a £15,000 (approximately $19,000 USD) entry bonus for reaching the round of 16.

Changes and Controversies: The Future of Ranking Systems

Ronnie O’Sullivan has opted not to participate in the 2026 Players Championship, with John Higgins taking his place as the 17th-ranked player. A significant debate surrounds the current money list ranking system, with the newly formed players’ union, the PSPA, advocating for a points-based system. Led by chairman John Higgins, the PSPA – which includes Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen, Allisteri Carter, Stuart Bingham, Stephen Maguire, and Jack Lisowski – aims to address perceived distortions in competition caused by the current system.

The PSPA is also pushing for players to be allowed to display an additional sponsor logo on their vests, potentially providing a much-needed financial boost, particularly for lower-ranked professionals. Discussions with the World Snooker Tour and the WPBSA have been described as constructive, with over 50% of professionals already joining the PSPA.

Tournament Format and Prize Money

Matches up to and including the semi-finals will be played as best-of-11 frames, while the final will be contested as best-of-19 frames over two sessions. The total prize fund for the 2026 Players Championship is £500,000 (approximately $635,000 USD), an increase from the £385,000 (approximately $490,000 USD) offered from 2017 to 2024. The winner will receive £150,000 (approximately $190,000 USD), with £70,000 (approximately $89,000 USD) awarded to the runner-up. Semi-finalists will earn £35,000 (approximately $44,500 USD), and quarter-finalists £20,000 (approximately $25,500 USD). A £10,000 (approximately $12,700 USD) bonus is awarded for the highest break.

Venue and Broadcast Information

The tournament will be held at the Telford Centre multi-complex in the West Midlands for the third consecutive year. Telford, a planned city established in the 1960s, has undergone significant economic development, reducing unemployment from over 22% in the 1990s to around 3% in the 2000s.

Fans can follow game statistics on the World Snooker Tour website and Snooker.org. Century break information and additional data are available on the Players Championship Wikipedia page. Highlights and analysis can be found on Eurosport.de/snooker.

Coverage will be available on HBO Max (formerly Discovery+), following the merger of the two platforms in January 2026. Warner Brothers Discovery has extended its broadcast rights with World Snooker until the 2030/31 season. Eurosport will broadcast the tournament in 20 languages, reaching an audience of over 88 million viewers in the 2024/25 season. All matches, including qualifying rounds from the start of the season (Shanghai Masters), will be available on the HBO Max/Discovery+ media library.

Players Championship Schedule

Round of 16

• Neil Robertson (1) vs. John Higgins (16) – February 17th, 2:00 PM
• Wu Yize (7) vs. Mark Allen (10) – February 17th, 2:00 PM
• Chris Wakelin (8) vs. Xiao Guodong (9) – February 17th, 8:00 PM
• Mark Selby (2) vs. Jack Lisowski (15) – February 17th, 8:00 PM
• Judd Trump (5) vs. Zhou Yuelong (12) – February 18th, 2:00 PM
• Shaun Murphy (3) vs. Zhang You (14) – February 18th, 2:00 PM
• Mark Williams (4) vs. Barry Hawkins (13) – February 18th, 8:00 PM
• Zhao Xintong (6) vs. Elliot Slessor (11) – February 18th, 8:00 PM

Quarterfinals

To be determined following the Round of 16.

Broadcast Times (Eurosport TV and HBO Max)

• Tuesday, February 17th: 2:00 PM – Complete of Session (HBO Max), 8:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Eurosport 2), 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Eurosport 2)
• Wednesday, February 18th: 2:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 8:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eurosport 2), 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Eurosport 2)
• Thursday, February 19th: 2:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 8:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eurosport 2), 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Eurosport 2)
• Friday, February 20th: 2:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 8:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eurosport 2), 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Eurosport 2)
• Saturday, February 21st: 2:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 8:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eurosport 2), 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Eurosport 2)
• Sunday, February 22nd: 2:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 8:00 PM – End of Session (HBO Max), 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eurosport 2), 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Eurosport 2)