The Crucible, snooker’s most iconic venue, opens its doors tomorrow for the start of one of the most historic events in sport - the Halo World Championship. Running from the 18th April - 4th May, the city of Sheffield is ready to welcome snooker fans from around the world.
The draw for the 2026 Halo World Championship has been confirmed. A record 11 Chinese players will compete, while four Crucible debutants - He Guoqiang, Antoni Kowalski, Stan Moody, and Liam Pullen, step onto the game’s biggest stage for the first time.
Defending champion Zhao Xintong begins his title defence against Liam Highfield in the opening session, chasing history as he looks to break the long-standing “Crucible Curse.”
Other huge clashes include former-champion Kyren Wilson facing teenage star Stan Moody in a battle of experience versus youth. Poland’s Antoni Kowalski makes history as his country’s first Crucible competitor, taking on Mark Williams. Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his pursuit of a record eighth world title against rising Chinese talent He Guoqiang.
Check out the full match schedule and draw below to see what promises to be an incredible 17 days ahead.
