The 2026 World Snooker Championship is underway at the Crucible in Sheffield. Ronnie O’Sullivan is bidding for a record-breaking eighth world title while Zhao Xintong defends the crown. Full scores and the schedule are being updated as the tournament progresses.
O’Sullivan opened his campaign amid mixed impressions. After a rare Crucible misstep in his first session, he recovered to lead China’s He Guoqiang comfortably, wrapping up a comprehensive 10-2 victory in the opening round. That win set up a high-profile second-round clash with old rival John Higgins, described as a blockbuster showdown.
Across the season, O’Sullivan has produced headline moments. He made snooker history with a 153 break at the World Open — the highest-ever professional break — and earlier suffered a notable defeat in the World Open final to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who compiled a 147 in the penultimate frame. O’Sullivan has also had setbacks, including a round-of-16 exit at the World Grand Prix to Xiao Guodong and criticism from fellow professional Shaun Murphy after skipping an official Crucible media day alongside Judd Trump.
Off-table developments include player news and broader sport updates. Michal Szubarczyk, 15, became the youngest winner of a World Championship match in qualifying. Mark Selby called for the World Championship to remain in the UK during planned Crucible refurbishment work, and organizers confirmed the event will remain at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre until 2045, with a major refurbishment scheduled after 2028.
The snooker calendar saw Kyren Wilson clinch his maiden Masters title at Alexandra Palace, beating John Higgins 10-6, while Mark Selby won the UK Championship in York, defeating Judd Trump. Medical issues forced O’Sullivan to withdraw from the Masters for the second consecutive year, and he is set to make his World Seniors Championship debut in May while still targeting an eighth world title.
The snooker community mourned the loss of former player and broadcaster John Virgo, who died at 79, with tributes paid by players and World Snooker.
Other season highlights: ongoing coverage of draws, schedules and results across ranking events; discussion around player participation decisions and tournament attendance; and continuing storylines as the Crucible tournament advances, with fans watching whether O’Sullivan can convert form and history into another world title.