World Snooker Championship Qualifying 2026: Draw, results, format in race to the Crucible

In total, 144 players are scheduled to take part in this year’s Championship. The top 16 from the world rankings - following the conclusion of the Tour Championship - all go straight through to the main draw at the Crucible and will be seed players.

The remaining 128 contestants must go to the qualifying rounds which take place elsewhere in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport between April 6-15.

How does qualifying for the World Championship work?

All current professional tour card holders are permitted to enter the World Championship. Only a handful of stars further down the rankings have elected not to play in it.

As has been the case in recent years, a group of amateur players are invited to the qualifiers due to their results over the past several months.

Last year, eventual champion Zhao Xintong was in this position having come top of the secondary circuit Q Tour rankings. The Chinese ace won four qualifying matches to reach the Crucible where he won a further five matches to become the first player from Asia to claim snooker’s blue riband title.

There are four qualifying rounds at the EIOS, with players entering at different stages depending on their world ranking positions.

The opening round features the lowest ranked entrants and amateur invites. The next batch of players higher up the global standings come in at qualifying round two, with those ranked 17 to 48 starting out in the penultimate round.

The final qualifying round consists of 16 matches. Eight ties will be played on Tuesday 14th April, the other eight on Wednesday 15th April. These two dramatic days are billed as ‘Judgement Days’.

All matches across all the qualifying rounds are the best of 19 frames, with two scheduled sessions for each match.

Who is playing at the qualifiers?

Basically, everyone who is not currently ranked inside the world’s top 16.

Three former world champions will need to attend these qualifiers in order to make the main draw: 1997 winner Ken Doherty, 2015 victor Stuart Bingham, and fewer than three years on since becoming continental Europe’s maiden triumphant, 2023 winner Luca Brecel.

Multiple-time runners-up Jimmy White, Matthew Stevens, Ali Carter, and a finalist from two years ago Jak Jones, are also set for action at the EIOS. Snooker legend White - a six-time finalist between 1984 to 1994 - will be competing in his 46th World Snooker Championship campaign.

A host of other well-known stars, ranking event winners, and upcoming talents are in the draw.

Jack Lisowski enjoyed his breakthrough earlier this season at the Northern Ireland Open, and recently crowned World Open champion Thepchaiya Un-Nooh will probably be feeling good about his chances to make the main stages.

On top of being the biggest tournament of the year, it’s also the last event of the season, and several experienced cueman are battling to avoid relegation from the professional ranks, including Robert Milkins and Mark Davis.

What happens after qualifying has finished?

The draw for the Crucible stages of the 2026 World Snooker Championship is expected to take place live on the morning of Thursday 16th April.

The top 16 are in fixed positions in the draw (number one seed Zhao at the top, number two seed Trump at the bottom etc.), but the first round draw will be random with the seeds facing the qualifiers.

After this, fans don’t need to wait long for the Crucible action to unfold, with the televised stages breaking off on the morning of Saturday 18th April. The two-day final is scheduled for Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th May.

2026 World Snooker Championship Qualifying Schedule:

• Qualifying Round 1: Monday 6th to Wednesday 8th
• Qualifying Round 2: Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th
• Qualifying Round 3: Saturday 11th to Monday 13th
• Final Qualifying Round: Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th

For a daily match schedule, visit the WST website here.

How to watch the qualifiers:

UK, Ireland and Mainland Europe: discovery+ in Germany, Italy and Austria and HBO Max in all other markets

China: Huya.com, Migu, CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel, CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin

All other territories: WST Play

The two ‘Judgement Days’ will be shown for free on the World Snooker Tour’s YouTube channel (with adverts), or through WST Play (without adverts).

The action will be free on WST Play, although a log-in account is require (free to set up an account).