The 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship will happen this week with an expanded subject and a bunch of high-profile names competing on the Crucible Theatre.
The favored occasion on the World Seniors Snooker Tour runs from Could sixth to tenth in Sheffield, starting simply two days after the conclusion of the 2026 World Snooker Championship on the identical iconic venue.
Defending champion Alfie Burden returns as the highest seed, however the 2026 version boasts one of many strongest line-ups within the event’s historical past with the sector elevated from 16 to 24 gamers.
Who’s within the 2026 World Seniors Championship draw?
There’s appreciable intrigue surrounding this 12 months’s draw with a number of embellished professionals becoming a member of the seniors ranks.
Seven-time world champion and all-time legend Ronnie O’Sullivan headlines the sector alongside six-time rating occasion winners Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter, all of whom are seeded via to the final 16.
Burden begins his title defence in opposition to both 2024 champion Igor Figueiredo or Mohamed Elkhayat, whereas Joe Perry – the reigning British Seniors Open champion and second seed – will face Reanne Evans or Aaron Canavan.
Mark Williams was due to participate however has withdrawn, with alternative Nigel Bond opening his marketing campaign in opposition to Craig Steadman or Neal Jones as a substitute.
Bingham is about to satisfy both Peter Traces or Anthony Hamilton, whereas Carter will make his maiden seniors bow in opposition to both Tony Drago or Roger Farebrother.
One of many standout ties within the opening spherical sees Ken Doherty tackle Gerard Greene in an all-Eire conflict, with the winner incomes a high-profile showdown in opposition to O’Sullivan.
Jimmy White, a document four-time world seniors champion and bidding to roll again the years as soon as once more in Sheffield, may also function within the first spherical in opposition to qualifier Daniel Ward.
Robert Milkins, this season relegated from the primary tour, awaits the winner of that tie, whereas Matthew Stevens will play both two-time rating occasion winner Dominic Dale or Wayne Townsend.
With the highest eight seeds receiving byes into the final 16, the opening couple of days promise loads of aggressive motion earlier than the event intensifies later within the week.
Gamers will compete for a complete prize fund of £80,000 – up from £50,000 final 12 months.
The winner is about to obtain £30,000, making it the most important prize within the historical past of the World Seniors Snooker Tour.
2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship Draw
Spherical 1 – Final 24 (bo7)
Igor Figueiredo vs Mohamed Elkhayat
(Could sixth, est: 20:00 BST)
Peter Traces vs Anthony Hamilton
(Could seventh, 12:00 BST)
Ken Doherty vs Gerard Greene
(Could seventh, 12:00 BST)
Craig Steadman vs Neal Jones
(Could sixth, 19:00 BST)
Jimmy White vs Daniel Ward
(Could seventh, est: 13:00 BST)
Tony Drago vs Roger Farebrother
(Could sixth, 19:00 BST)
Dominic Dale vs Wayne Townsend
(Could seventh, est: 13:00 BST)
Reanne Evans vs Aaron Canavan
(Could sixth, est: 20:00 BST)
Spherical 2 – Final 16 (bo7)
Alfie Burden vs Figueiredo/Elkhayat
(Could eighth, est: 20:00 BST)
Stuart Bingham vs Traces/Hamilton
(Could eighth, 12:00 BST)
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Doherty/Greene
(Could eighth, est: 13:00 BST)
Nigel Bond vs Steadman/Jones
(Could eighth, 12:00 BST)
Robert Milkins vs White/Ward
(Could seventh, 19:00 BST)
Ali Carter vs Drago/Farebrother
(Could eighth, est: 20:00 BST)
Matthew Stevens vs Dale/Townsend
(Could seventh, 19:00 BST)
Joe Perry vs Evans/Canavan
(Could eighth, est: 13:00 BST)
Quarter-Finals (bo7)
Could eighth: From 19:00 BST
Semi-Finals (bo13)
Could ninth: 12:00 and 19:00 BST
Remaining (bo19)
Could tenth: 12:00 and 19:00 BST
Who’re the betting favourites?
All-time nice and seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan heads the outright betting market because the clear favorite at 8/11.
Ali Carter (5/1) and Stuart Bingham (6/1) are additionally among the many main contenders this 12 months.
Defending champion Alfie Burden will probably be aiming to mount a robust defence of his crown and is priced at 25/1, whereas Joe Perry’s current success on the seniors circuit enhances his credentials at 16/1.
Additional down the market, Jimmy White is a 50/1 outsider however stays a harmful opponent given his pedigree on this competitors.
What’s the format?
The format has undergone some notable tweaks for the 2026 version, each when it comes to match size and the way tied matches are determined.
The primary spherical, final 16, and quarter-finals will probably be contested over the best-of-seven frames, with the semi-finals prolonged to best-of-13 and the ultimate performed over 19 frames.
Nonetheless, in a major departure from conventional guidelines, matches is not going to function a deciding body.
As a substitute, if gamers are tied at 3-3, 6-6, or 9-9 relying on the spherical, the competition will probably be settled by a black-ball shootout.
watch the World Seniors Snooker Championship?
Viewers in the UK and elements of Eire will be capable of watch the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship reside on 5.
Pluto TV may also present reside streaming protection within the UK and internationally, relying on location.
Various tickets are nonetheless out there for followers wishing to attend on the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
What occurred final 12 months?
In 2025, Alfie Burden received the World Seniors Snooker Championship title with an 8-4 victory over Aaron Canavan within the ultimate.
The Englishman produced a composed show on the Crucible Theatre to safe probably the most important titles of his profession.
Earlier World Seniors Snooker Championship Finals
1991: Cliff Wilson 5-4 Eddie Charlton
2010: Jimmy White 4-1 Steve Davis
2011: Darren Morgan 2-1 Steve Davis
2012: Nigel Bond 2-0 Tony Chappel
2013: Steve Davis 2-1 Nigel Bond
2015: Mark Williams 2-1 Fergal O’Brien
2016: Mark Davis 2-1 Darren Morgan
2017: Peter Traces 4-0 John Parrott
2018: Aaron Canavan 4-3 Patrick Wallace
2019: Jimmy White 5-3 Darren Morgan
2020: Jimmy White 5-4 Ken Doherty
2021: David Lilley 5-3 Jimmy White
2022: Lee Walker 5-4 Jimmy White
2023: Jimmy White 5-3 Alfie Burden
2024: Igor Figueiredo 5-2 Ken Doherty
2025: Alfie Burden 8-4 Aaron Canavan
Featured photograph credit score: WST
