The 2026 China Open is set to take place in Taiyuan, China, from August 8 to 16. It brings back one of the most financially rewarding events in the snooker world. The champion set to earn £250,000. It stands as the top-paying tournament of the season so far. This event is the second official ranking competition of the 2026/27 season. It follows the Championship League Snooker where Jak Jones emerged victorious. However, this event is the first to include most of the sport’s elite. Many high-profile players opted out of the initial tournament.
Neil Robertson and Zhao Xintong lead the competition
Neil Robertson, the defending champion who defeated Jack Lisowski in the final seven years ago, returns as the top seed. His title defense opens with a challenging match against the rising Chinese player Chang Bingyu. Zhao Xintong, the current home favorite, tops the outright betting market at odds of 3/1. The world number one and recent Shanghai Masters champion, Judd Trump, is just behind at 10/3.
Other notable players in the draw include Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Kyren Wilson, and Mark Selby. Mark Selby has a strong track record, having won the event three times in four years between 2015 and 2018. Wu Yize, the reigning world champion, will face Yao Pengcheng in the early rounds.
Competition structure and prize money
The tournament format includes matches up to the semi-finals played as the best of 11 frames. The final will be a best-of-19 frame showdown, increasing the level of intensity and endurance required from the players.
The prize money is distributed as follows: £250,000 for the winner, £100,000 for the runner-up, and £50,000 for each semi-finalist. In addition, a £15,000 bonus is available for the highest break achieved during the event. The total prize fund reaches £1,205,000, highlighting the tournament's value and prestige.
Viewing options and first-round matchups
Fans in the UK and Ireland can follow the tournament live via TNT Sports and HBO Max. For viewers in mainland Europe and certain other regions, the event will be available on Eurosport and HBO Max. In China, the action will be broadcast across multiple platforms, including CCTV5, SMG, Huya, Migu, and the CBSA-WPBSA Academy through the WeChat and Douyin channels.
The tournament begins with the wildcard round on August 8. Liu Linhao meets Hossein Vafaei. The main draw, including the round of 32, gets underway on August 9 and 10. Several high-profile matchups include Ronnie O’Sullivan against Jackson Page. Judd Trump faces Noppon Saengkham.
The draw has set up several intriguing battles, such as Higgins versus Bingham, Zhao Xintong against Zhang Anda, and Mark Allen taking on the winner of the wildcard match against Liu/Vafaei. These early matches promise intense action and excitement for snooker fans throughout the first week in Taiyuan.