The China Open Snooker 2026 has officially returned to the World Snooker Tour calendar, and UK fans can catch the action live right now as qualifiers unfold at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. After a seven-year absence since 2019, this prestigious ranking event is making its comeback with a massive £1.2 million prize fund, marking one of the most lucrative tournaments outside the major events. snookerhq
The qualifying stage runs from Wednesday 10th June through Sunday 14th June 2026, with five days of intense action determining which 112 players will join the top 16 seeds at the venue stage in Taiyuan, China come August. Today, Thursday 11 June 2026, marks Day 2 of the qualifiers with matches starting at 2:30 PM UK time. wpbsa
UK viewers have multiple options to follow the China Open Snooker qualifiers with live commentary:
Broadcasters for UK & Europe:– discovery+ (UK, Germany, Italy, Austria) snookerfreaks
– HBO Max (other European territories) wpbsa
– WST Play (all territories if no local broadcast) wpbsa
– YouTube (live score updates, not video footage) youtube
Note: The YouTube streams provide real-time live score updates but do not show actual video footage due to copyright restrictions. youtube
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | China Open Snooker 2026 Qualifiers |
| Venue | Mattioli Arena, Leicester, England snookerhq |
| Main Event Venue | Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China (August 8-16) snookerhq |
| Dates | 10-14 June 2026 (Qualifiers) wpbsa |
| Main Event | 8-16 August 2026 snookerhq |
| Total Players | 144 (qualifiers), 32 (venue stage) Open2026_(Snooker” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>de.wikipedia) |
| Organiser | World Snooker Tour (WST) wst |
| Current Season | 2026-27 snooker season youtube |
The tournament is being held in Taiyuan for the first time, marking a new chapter for this historically prestigious event that was once staged in Shanghai (1999) and later Beijing. wst
The China Open Snooker 2026 qualifiers are underway with Day 2 action taking place today at the Mattioli Arena. The qualifying tournament features four rounds of elimination across five days, with 144 players competing for just 32 spots in the main draw. sohu
The qualifying stage is particularly significant this year as it marks the beginning of the new 2026/27 professional season on the World Snooker Tour. With every frame crucial, fans can expect drama, resilience, and impressive displays of cueing skill throughout this important opening chapter. instagram
While the top 16 seeds (including Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, and Zhao Xintong) will join later at the venue stage in Taiyuan, today’s qualifiers feature exciting contests between emerging talents and experienced professionals. snookerwins.co
Recent form from key players heading into this season:
– Zhao Xintong (China): Reigning world champion who won the 2026 Snooker Tour Championship beating Judd Trump en.people
– Judd Trump (England): World No. 1 who showed strong form at the World Snooker Open with a 5-2 victory over Jackson Page cricketnmore
– Ronnie O’Sullivan (England): Seven-time world champion who defeated Matthew Selt 5-0 at the World Snooker Open WuhanOpen_(snooker” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>en.wikipedia)
The return of the China Open comes at a time when Chinese snooker is enjoying a significant surge, with Zhao Xintong’s world championship victory last year culminating the movement. snookerhq
| Player | Country | Ranking | Recent Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhao Xintong | China | #3 | 2026 World Champion, 2026 Tour Championship Winner cricketnmore |
| Judd Trump | England | #1 | World Snooker Open Last 16 cricketnmore |
| Ronnie O’Sullivan | England | – | World Snooker Open Last 16 (5-0 vs Selt) cricketnmore |
| Wu Yize | China | #4 | 2026 World Snooker Championship Winner Open2026_(Snooker” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>de.wikipedia) |
Five players from China are currently ranked inside the top 16, and a record 11 Chinese players competed in the 2026 World Snooker Championship draw at the Crucible Theatre. This represents the biggest Chinese presence in the sport’s history at the Crucible. snookerhq
Local Wild Cards: Two local Taiyuan wild cards will face qualifiers for places in the main draw, giving Chinese prospects a chance to compete on home soil. snookerhqThe China Open is one of the sport’s most prestigious international tournaments with a rich history:
– 1999: First staged in Shanghai, won by Ronnie O’Sullivan snookerhq
– 2005: Moved to Beijing; 18-year-old Ding Junhui beat Stephen Hendry in a landmark moment for snooker’s growth in China snookerhq
– 2019: Last held before COVID-19 pandemic cancellation Open2026_(Snooker” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>de.wikipedia)
– 2026: Returns after 7-year absence, first time in Taiyuan facebook
– Multiple champions: Ding Junhui, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Peter Ebdon, Judd Trump facebook
The qualifiers run from Wednesday 10 June to Sunday 14 June 2026 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, England. wpbsa
The main event will be held in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China from August 8-16, 2026. This is the first time the tournament has been staged in Taiyuan. youtube
The tournament has a confirmed £1.2 million prize fund, making it one of the most lucrative tournaments outside the major events. wst
144 players total in the qualifiers, with 32 players advancing to the venue stage in Taiyuan. wstThe 2026/27 snooker season begins with the China Open qualifiers on Wednesday 10 June 2026, marking the first action of the new professional season. facebook
The top 16 seeds include Judd Trump (#1), Neil Robertson (#2), Zhao Xintong (#3), and Wu Yize (#4). They will join at the venue stage in Taiyuan, not the qualifiers. snooker
For continuous live updates, match stats, and key moments from the China Open Snooker 2026 qualifiers, follow our social media channels:
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2daymatchInfo
– X (Twitter): https://x.com/todaymatchinfo
Don’t miss any action from this historic return of the China Open to the World Snooker Tour! Click the button above to watch live now and join thousands of UK snooker fans following the qualifiers.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. All broadcast information is current as of June 11, 2026, but may be subject to change.
