World Championship Snooker Preview & Format

Updated: June 30, 2026 at 11:58 am GMT+1

The Snooker World Championship is here and we’re previewing the pinnacle of the snooker calendar!

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It’s the big one!

32 of the world’s best snooker players will be itching to get on the baize this weekend as the Snooker World Championship returns to the Crucible theatre.

The 16 top-ranked players in the world are joined in Sheffield by the 16 players that came through the 128-person qualifiers last week.

With former world champions Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy all in attendance, we are guaranteed a fortnight of drama in the Steel City.

We’ll be here at Free Bets for tips and previews throughout the fortnight of the World Snooker Championship, so stay tuned!

When is the World Snooker Championship?

The World Snooker Championship will take place inside Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre between April 15 – May 1,.

It will be the 47th consecutive year that the tournament has been held at this venue, following a move away from the Whythenshawe Forum, Manchester, in 1976.

Tournament Schedule

  • 15th April – 1st Round (Best of 19 frames)
  • 16th April – 1st Round (Best of 19 frames)
  • 17th April – 1st Round (Best of 19 frames)
  • 18th April – 1st Round (Best of 19 frames)
  • 19th April – 1st Round (Best of 19 frames)
  • 20th April – 1st Round (Best of 19 frames)
  • 21st April – 2nd Round (Best of 25 frames)
  • 22nd April – 2nd Round (Best of 25 frames)
  • 23rd April – 2nd Round (Best of 25 frames)
  • 24th April – 2nd Round (Best of 25 frames)
  • 25th April – Quarter-finals (Best of 25 frames)
  • 26th April – Quarter-finals (Best of 25 frames)
  • 27th April – Semi-finals (Best of 33 frames)
  • 28th April – Semi-finals (Best of 33 frames)
  • 29th April – Semi-finals (Best of 33 frames)
  • 30th April – Final (Best of 35 frames)
  • 1st May – Final (Best of 35 frames)

Who is the defending World Snooker Champion?

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending World Snooker Champion after scooping his seventh title at the 2022 events.

O’Sullivan wasn’t really run close last year with Judd Trump finishing the wrong end of an 18-13 scoreline in the final and the “Rocket” losing just 38 frames over the fortnight in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan returns to the Crucible as a 4/1 FAV once again with bet365.

When was the World Snooker Championship first held?

The first World Snooker Championship was played in 1927, as Joe Davis beat Tom Dennis 20-11 inside the Camkin’s Hall, Birmingham.

Joe Davis would go on to dominate the sport and win another 14 world titles, with his last coming in 1946.

The Snooker World Championship would move venues from 1927 until settling on Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1976.

World Championship Snooker Prize Money

The prize fund for the event is £2,395,000, with the winner receiving £500,000.

  • Winner – £500,000
  • Runner-up – £200,000
  • Semi-final – £100,000
  • Quarter-final – £50,000
  • Last 16 – £30,000
  • Last 32 – £20,000
  • Highest Break – £15,000

How to Watch the World Snooker Championship

Most major betting sites will have streams available for account holders as well as live coverage on Eurosport and BBC in the UK.

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Lewis Watson
Lewis Watson

He's been scribbling for Free Bets since 2019 and is the man in the know regarding any big boxing events across the globe, as well as the action from the darts oche and snooker baize. If it's worth watching, he'll be writing about it!

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