The 2026 World Open is down to its last 16 runners with plenty to play for in Yushan as the season’s third-last ranking event nears its climax.
There are plenty of heavy hitters still involved as the remaining contenders continue their pursuit of the £175,000 top prize in China.
World number one Judd Trump and world champion Zhao Xintong headline the bottom half of the draw.
Trump, a two-time World Open champion, next takes on Robbie Williams while Zhao entertains Gary Wilson.
Between them, Trump and Zhao have won three out of the four ranking events that have been staged in 2026 so far, and they look to be on a collision course to clash in this week’s semi-finals.
The other four players in this section are dangerous too, however, with Zhang Anda up against Hossein Vafaei and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh set to face veteran Marco Fu.
A run to the final for Zhang would see him leapfrog his way into contention for the upcoming Tour Championship, where only the top 12 from the one-year list will be invited.
Ronnie O’Sullivan had done enough this season to safeguard his spot in Manchester, but the Rocket has decided against entering that event.
That leaves Xiao Guodong, who lost to Zhang in the last 32 on Wednesday, clinging on to the final Tour Championship ticket in 13th spot on the one-year list as things stand.
O’Sullivan, meanwhile, is involved in undoubtedly the tie of the last 16 of the 2026 World Open on Thursday when he meets old foe Shaun Murphy.
The 50 year-old hasn’t won a ranking title in over two years but has looked solid this week and a victory over the Magician could provide a significant boost in confidence.
Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen are also in the top half, with the pair in action next against Chinese duo Wu Yize and Zhou Yuelong respectively.
Like Zhang, Zhou could potentially secure a Tour Championship place by reaching the final, while world number two Wilson would need the title if he were to feature at the campaign’s penultimate tournament.
The remaining fixture pits Artemijs Zizins against Ryan Day, the former through to the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time in his career.
The £14,000 that Zizins has already earned could go a long way to ensuring his tour survival.
The Latvian is ranked outside the world’s top 64, but his boost in the one-year standings might be enough to gain one of the four tour cards that are annually available through that route at the end of each season.
2026 World Open Draw
Round of 16 (bo9)
Thursday, 6:00 GMT
Ryan Day vs Artemijs Zizins
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Shaun Murphy
Zhou Yuelong vs Mark Allen
Wu Yize vs Kyren Wilson
Thursday, 11:30 GMT
Judd Trump vs Robbie Williams
Zhang Anda vs Hossein Vafaei
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh vs Marco Fu
Gary Wilson vs Zhao Xintong
Featured photo credit: WST
