The draw for the 2026 World Snooker Championship has thrown up a number of fascinating first-round encounters on the Crucible Theatre.
With established stars, harmful qualifiers, and rising skills all within the combine, there isn’t a scarcity of intrigue.
With the motion getting underneath means on Saturday in Sheffield, listed here are our predictions for the way every of the 16 matches will unfold.
Zhao Xintong vs Liam Highfield
Reigning champion Zhao Xintong returns to the Crucible Theatre as the highest seed and the person everybody has to beat.
The Chinese language star arrives in red-hot kind after claiming a hat-trick of rating titles in the course of the Gamers Collection and is broadly thought to be the pre-tournament favorite. The large query, in fact, is whether or not he can finish the long-standing Curse of the Crucible.
Liam Highfield has already accomplished nicely simply to be right here. The world quantity 92 got here by all 4 rounds of qualifying to safe a fourth Crucible look, however this represents an enormous step up in school.
Prediction: Zhao 10-4
Ding Junhui vs David Gilbert
Ding Junhui solely simply squeezed into the highest 16 because the lowest seed and arrives in Sheffield after a disappointing season. Regardless of ending runner-up in 2016, his general document on the venue has been patchy, with a number of early exits.
Opponent David Gilbert is a confirmed Crucible performer with two semi-final appearances to his title. He appeared sharp in qualifying – scoring closely – and this encounter has all of the substances of an in depth contest.
Prediction: Ding 10-9
Xiao Guodong vs Zhou Yuelong
Xiao Guodong has had one other good marketing campaign, efficiently defending his Wuhan Open title and incomes a maiden Masters look. He now seems firmly established among the many elite.
Zhou Yuelong, then again, continues to flatter to deceive. A four-time rating occasion runner-up, the expertise is simple, however he’s nonetheless ready to completely ship on that potential.
Prediction: Xiao 10-7
Shaun Murphy vs Fan Zhengyi
Shaun Murphy is a former world champion and four-time finalist, however his current Crucible document has been inconsistent. He has, nonetheless, put collectively a powerful 2025/26 marketing campaign, profitable the British Open and ending runner-up twice, placing himself firmly again within the dialog.
Fan Zhengyi has slipped down the rankings however stays a harmful opponent. That is his third Crucible look in 4 years, though he enters because the clear underdog.
Prediction: Murphy 10-6
John Higgins vs Ali Carter
John Higgins has produced a strong season with three ultimate appearances, albeit with out including to his title tally. A four-time world champion and eight-time finalist, his pedigree is unquestionable, however this can be a powerful opener.
Ali Carter is a two-time world runner-up and confirmed sturdy kind in reaching the Shanghai Masters ultimate earlier within the season. He additionally got here by a tough Judgement Day match and has a good document towards Higgins.
Prediction: Carter 10-8
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs He Guoqiang
No matter kind, Ronnie O’Sullivan is at all times among the many favourites in Sheffield. His schedule has been restricted this season, however he nonetheless managed to succeed in two finals and is chasing a document eighth world title.
He Guoqiang makes his Crucible debut at 25 after a formidable qualifying marketing campaign that included a win over Jack Lisowski. Nonetheless, that is about as daunting an introduction because it will get.
Prediction: O’Sullivan 10-5
Chris Wakelin vs Liam Pullen
Chris Wakelin has matured right into a top-16 participant and a rating occasion winner, having claimed the Scottish Open title this season. 1 / 4-finalist on the Crucible final 12 months, he’s able to going deep, though inconsistency can nonetheless be a problem.
Liam Pullen is without doubt one of the standout debutants. The 20-year-old impressed in qualifying and emerged from the very first spherical, beating two current rating occasion winners. He arrives together with his status and confidence rising.
Prediction: Pullen 10-9
Neil Robertson vs Pang Junxu
Neil Robertson stays one of many sport’s greatest names, however his Crucible document is surprisingly underwhelming, with no appearances on the single-table setup since 2014. That stated, he did declare the profitable Saudi Arabia Masters title this season.
Pang Junxu is a gradual competitor who has now certified for the Crucible 4 years in a row and reached the final 16 in 2025. He needs to be aggressive, however an upset would nonetheless be a shock.
Prediction: Robertson 10-6
Kyren Wilson vs Stan Moody
Kyren Wilson has had a blended season, profitable a brace of prestigious invitational titles however failing to make any deep runs in rating occasions. With vital rating factors to defend from his 2024 triumph, there’s added stress this time round.
Stan Moody is a extremely promising 19-year-old who grew to become the primary UK teenager to qualify since Judd Trump in 2007. He confirmed resilience on Judgement Day whereas affected by sickness, however this can be a large check on debut.
Prediction: Wilson 10-5
Mark Allen vs Zhang Anda
Mark Allen loved a strong marketing campaign that included an English Open victory, however his Crucible document stays underwhelming relative to his means. This represents one of many trickier opening matches.
Zhang Anda has rediscovered kind after dropping out of the highest 16, reaching the World Grand Prix ultimate and scoring closely in qualifying. He seems a real hazard and a possible darkish horse to go far within the occasion.
Prediction: Zhang 10-8
Barry Hawkins vs Matthew Stevens
Barry Hawkins arrives in Sheffield because the current Welsh Open champion, including a fifth rating title to his assortment. Regardless of some underwhelming current Crucible performances, his general document right here is powerful.
Matthew Stevens returns for his first Crucible look since 2022. A two-time finalist with in depth expertise, he stays able to high-quality snooker, albeit much less far much less constantly than throughout his heyday.
Prediction: Hawkins 10-6
Mark Williams vs Antoni Kowalski
Mark Williams continues to defy age, profitable the Xi’an Grand Prix at 50 and reaching final 12 months’s ultimate. Nonetheless, current considerations over the event of the yips have solid some doubt over his prospects.
Antoni Kowalski is a 22-year-old debutant and the primary Polish participant to compete on the Crucible. He arrives stuffed with confidence after securing his tour card by way of qualifying, however going through a three-time former champion represents a frightening prospect.
Prediction: Williams 10-5
Mark Selby vs Jak Jones
Mark Selby stays one of the vital harmful gamers within the draw having gained the UK Championship and the Champion of Champions this season. Nonetheless, back-to-back first-round exits in Sheffield shall be a priority.
Jak Jones reached the ultimate in 2024 and proved his Crucible credentials once more by qualifying with a win over Luca Brecel. He has not often replicated that degree elsewhere, however his Sheffield document instructions respect.
Prediction: Selby 10-7
Wu Yize vs Lei Peifan
Wu Yize has emerged as certainly one of China’s most promising skills, profitable his first rating title on the Worldwide Championship. He’s now delivering extra constantly and concentrating on a primary Crucible match win.
Lei Peifan famously inflicted the Curse of the Crucible on Kyren Wilson final 12 months and returns as a confirmed menace. That is certainly one of two all-Chinese language ties in a record-breaking 12 months for illustration.
Prediction: Wu 10-6
Si Jiahui vs Hossein Vafaei
Si Jiahui has struggled for kind this season however boasts a wonderful Crucible document, together with a semi-final and a quarter-final look.
Hossein Vafaei has endured harm points however has proven indicators of enchancment in current months. An unpredictable however harmful opponent, he’s unlikely to be fazed by the event.
Prediction: Vafaei 10-6
Judd Trump vs Gary Wilson
Judd Trump has loved a constant season, often reaching the latter levels of occasions regardless of solely claiming one title. The 2019 world champion shall be keen to guard his rating place with threats from Neil Robertson and Zhao Xintong behind him.
Gary Wilson has slipped down the rankings after shedding vital factors, and he endured a nervy qualifying marketing campaign. Nonetheless, as a former semi-finalist and a three-time rating occasion winner, he’s greater than able to posing issues.
Prediction: Trump 10-7
Featured picture credit score: WST
