George Weyham previews the World Snooker Championship 2026 and provides his best bets for the tournament.
World Championship Snooker
It’s been a monumental 2025/26 snooker season - one of the greatest in memory.
16 different winners of events, 3 brand new ranking winners, 24 maximum 147 breaks, two of which came in the same match, a record breaking 153 break (both by who else but Ronnie O’Sullivan!) and maybe the biggest news of all, the World Championship is remaining in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre until at least 2045. Hallelujah!
To depart this place would be like Football leaving Wembley, Tennis leaving Wimbledon or Rugby leaving Twickenham. It’s Snooker’s Cathedral. There is nowhere like it and nowhere that could possibly replicate it. Unique, fabulous and it’s here to stay!
Zhao Xintong returns as World champion after a wonderful end to the season, becoming the first player to win the Player Series triple crown (that’s three ranking titles). He has the unenviable task of trying to break not just one curse but two.
The obvious one is here at the Crucible. That dastardly curse that’s lasted since the championship moved to Sheffield 49 years ago in 1977. No first-time world champion at this venue has ever retained the year after. Every modern day great in the game has failed. Kyren Wilson became casualty number 20 last year.
Zhao has also got a second curse to contend with, though, not as daunting: the Tour Championship one. No winner of that title since its inception in 2019 has won the Worlds afterwards. No has even gone close either.
Will Zhao care? Will he start trembling as he walks down those stairs to the Crucible on day 1? Knowing him, not a chance!
The ‘unflappable’ walks into the Worlds in mind blowing form and the best player on the planet, by a distance in fact. The way he demolished John Higgins and Judd Trump in Manchester was spellbinding.
For once, I felt there was actual fear from his opponents. Psychologically they were thinking inside “I just cannot afford to miss or Zhao will just mop up the table.” It didn’t seem to matter if you left Zhao in the ‘long grass’ either, his long potting was also off the Richters scale.
This is what everyone has to contend with in Sheffield and the defending champion opens on Saturday morning against Stokie, Liam Highfield - not a gimme by any means. Zhao is the biggest hot favourite since the days of Stephen Hendry back in the 1990s at 2/1.
Now, do I want Zhao on side to retain? Definitely not at that price! I am one who actually trusts this curse and I’m more than happy to look elsewhere.
So where exactly?
Trump has been arguably the most consistent player of the season though only won the solidarity title in Berlin. The Bristolian has an all-round game that can compete with any player, he’s usually there or thereabouts however it’s no win since 2019 here and his well documented triple crown record reads played 56, won 5. He has a nasty opener with the player he beat in the 2019 semi, Gary Wilson.
I would never discount Mark Selby. One of the greatest match players this sport has ever seen - he’s a four-time winner and a six-time finalist. He knows how to navigate through the draw like the back of his hand and has won three titles this season so there is little to be negative about the Jester. He’s actually reasonably priced too, maybe down to having a blockbuster opener with 2024 runner-up, Jak Jones, who was outstanding in qualifying.
I can’t get away from mentioning that man, O’Sullivan. The greatest of them all is going for 8-8-8 in triple crowns - 8 Masters, 8 UKs and 8 Worlds. Would that mean he’d be satisfied to retire?
As much as I want it to happen to complete his legacy and overtake Hendry in World wins, I just don’t believe he’ll be consistent enough. Ronnie has a knack of producing a really bad session or spell; that’s been proven in two of the last three years here against Luca Brecel in 2023, losing 7 frames on the spin and 10 in a row in last years semi against Zhao. He’s drawn for another semi showdown with the reigning champ.
Betfair Sportsbook
- Very strong sign up offer
- Flush and fast app available on both iOS and Android
- Extensive betting content site via betting.betfair
Kyren Wilson
My sole outright pick this year is a guy who’s been on my radar for this since Christmas and it’s 2024 champion, Kyren Wilson.
Wilson realised his boyhood dream two years ago capturing the title and his preparation/season then is not too dissimilar to this, especially in ranking events. In the 2023/24 season coming into Sheffield, he’d only made two ventures into the quarter-final or better. This season, it’s just three quarter-finals. Something to worry about? Not in my book.
You could argue he would probably prefer to be flying and bang in form though he comes here as fresh as a daisy again and it’s not like he’s underperformed this season. He’s captured two events of the highest prestige; the Shanghai Masters and Masters (both invitationals).
It’s like Kyren has had a meticulous plan all season to be prime for Sheffield, like a horse racing trainer putting their horses in the right race to protect a handicap mark or be fresh for the main day at a big meeting. Call it ‘plot jobs’ - well this is snooker’s version!
He has the draw to do some serious damage too. Mark Allen is a potential last 16 opponent - his record in the Worlds is a poor one. It wouldn’t be irrational to say it might be Zhang Anda who stormed through qualifying. Then last year’s runner-up, three-time champion Mark Williams or Barry Hawkins in the quarters, both won’t hold too many fears for the Warrior.
Wilson’s levels go up a notch at the Crucible - he just absolutely adores this tight venue. Bar last year’s first round loss to Lei Peifan, he’s made at least the quarters in 7 of his 10 previous trips. I can easily excuse that defeat last year - all the limelight and pressure was on him. This year he will relish being the forgotten man. No weight on his shoulders.
I might be alone, but I think had he won that opener he would have taken out Zhao in the last 16 who underperformed massively in that contest. We’ll never know I suppose.
I can’t quite believe Wilson is being offered at 12/1 for the title. I think it’s massively disrespectful personally. He should definitely be single figures for me and has at least as good a chance as O’Sullivan who is 7/1 top price. Time and time again Wilson has shown he is taylor made for the 17 day slog. Let’s not forget, he made the final in 2020.
Immensely fit, physically and mentally, scores as good as anyone on tour - it will take an awesome effort to beat him over three sessions providing he takes out the dangerous debutant Halifax’s teenager, Stan Moody in his opener. What is there not to like about Wilson doubling his Worlds tally?
I’m on board!
Kyren Wilson 12/1 Generally 1pt ew
Skybet
- 24/7 live chat support
- Some of the best price boosts in the market
- Intuitive user experience
The only other player who I fancy to go well, though only for the quarter, is Nuneaton’s Chris Wakelin.
The 34-year-old is grossly underrated and most won’t give him a hope in hell of winning a quarter containing three previous world champions; O’Sullivan, Higgins and Neil Robertson. That’s where I come in, because I do fancy his chances.
Going into last year, Wakelin as a qualifier, had never won a match at the Crucible in three previous visits. He turned that on it’s head making the quarters after beating potential round two opponent this year Neil Robertson in round one 10-8 then he battered Mark Allen 13-6 in the last 16. Wakelin felt the true wrath of Zhao in the last eight, losing fairly comfy 13-5 but all in all, very encouraging he’s tasted two victories at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ in two formats.
He’s a first time seed this year and deserves to be sitting at the top 16 top table after a terrific season. Two semis, three quarters and a ranking win at the Scottish Open in December.
He’s an all-round, solid tactician, where he’s probably only moderately weak in the scoring department, though 20 centuries this season says he’s no mug. He opens with regular practise partner, debutant, Liam Pullen. Not an ideal draw for either however, Wakelin will be fancied to open his account and press on.
Robertson holds many demons at the Crucible only going past the quarters once since he won it in 2010 so Wakelin will be bang up for repeating last year’s victory. Higgins and O’Sullivan understandably pose a bigger threat over best-of-25 but Wakelin will be undeterred. He goes about his business properly. No flash shots to please the Yorkshire crowd, he’s just a fully focused, proper player.
I guess Wakelin’s price would have been a bit bigger than 10/1 with say Ali Carter or Zhang Anda in round one however we are where we are and I can see him making the one table set up.
Quarter 2 Winner: Chris Wakelin 10/1 Betfred 0.50pt
