With the 2026 World Snooker Championship draw now set, the focus shifts to the players who will be expected to contend for the title in Sheffield.
As always, the seeds arrive at the Crucible Theatre in contrasting form. Some are brimming with confidence after strong seasons, while others are clinging to their positions and hoping to peak at the right time.
From defending champion Zhao Xintong to world number one Judd Trump and perennial contender Ronnie O’Sullivan, there are storylines everywhere.
Here’s a full breakdown of the 16 seeds, their recent form, and their prospects for this year’s tournament.
16th Seed: Ding Junhui
It has been a season to forget for Ding Junhui, who just about held on to the 16th and final seeding position for this year’s World Championship.
Ding must have experienced conflicting feelings a year ago when Zhao Xintong became the first player from China to win the world title at the Crucible Theatre.
For so long, that seemed likely to be Ding’s destiny. Now, however, it would be a pretty big surprise to see him lift the sport’s holy grail.
Ding, who reached the final in 2016, has only sporadically played during the 2025/26 season, and he has failed to reach the latter stages of any event when he has.
If he were to overcome David Gilbert in the last 32, a daunting prospect against countryman Zhao is likely to materialise in the second round.
Round 1 opponent: David Gilbert
World Championship best: Runner-up (2016)
Best result in 2025/26: Quarter-Final (Shanghai Masters, Xi’an Grand Prix, UK Championship)
Form rating: 1/5
15th Seed: Si Jiahui
The 2025/26 campaign for Si Jiahui hasn’t been much better, probably only enhanced by his involvement in more tournaments compared to Ding.
Si scraped into the World Grand Prix lineup where he reached the quarter-finals, but that’s about all that can be said for what has been a forgettable season up until now.
The 23 year-old does have pedigree in Sheffield, though, with runs to the semi-final and quarter-final on his CV from his last three visits.
In the first round this year, Si will play the ever-unpredictable Hossein Vafaei, who has hit a little bit of timely form after a period in doldrums.
Round 1 opponent: Hossein Vafaei
World Championship best: Semi-Final (2023)
Best result in 2025/26: Quarter-Final (Wuhan Open, World Grand Prix)
Form rating: 1.5/5
14th Seed: Mark Allen
Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen will make his 21st appearance at the Crucible Theatre as the 14th seed.
It has been a decent season for the Pistol, who has supported his English Open success from the start of the campaign with several other visits to the last four of competitions.
For whatever reason, though, Allen has often struggled to reproduce his best snooker in Sheffield and boasts just two semi-final appearances for his efforts.
A former UK and Masters champion, the 40 year-old has the pedigree to succeed on the most prestigious stages.
But time is starting to run out, and Allen was paired with Zhang Anda in what was arguably one of the worst draws he could have wished for considering the latter’s form on Judgement Day.
Round 1 opponent: Zhang Anda
World Championship best: Semi-Final (2009, 2023)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (English Open)
Form rating: 3/5
13th Seed: Chris Wakelin
The rise of Chris Wakelin over the course of the last three or so years has represented a remarkable story of what is possible with an injection of confidence.
The 34 year-old certainly isn’t lacking in that department and very much exudes the aura of someone who firmly believes he belongs at the top.
A quarter-finalist at the World Championship last year, Wakelin carried that form into this term – reaching the Saudi Arabia Masters semis and then winning his second ranking title at the Scottish Open.
Wakelin’s consistency is a little bit in and out, which could be cause for concern, and he finds himself in a difficult section of the draw alongside Neil Robertson, John Higgins, and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
But he will fancy his chances to emerge from his opening-round fixture with Liam Pullen, one of four players making their debuts in 2026.
Round 1 opponent: Liam Pullen
World Championship best: Quarter-Final (2025)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Scottish Open)
Form rating: 3.5/5
12th Seed: Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan may officially be down as the 12th seed, but everyone will be fully aware that he represents one of the favourites again in 2026.
The Rocket is without a title on the World Snooker Tour since March in 2024, an unusually long barren spell that almost ended at both the Saudi Arabia Masters and the World Open this season.
O’Sullivan hasn’t played much, but he proved by reaching the final at the recent World Open in Yushan that he can still produce top-notch displays.
His bid for a record eighth world title of the modern era begins against He Guoqiang, who stunned Jack Lisowski in the final round of the qualifiers.
Round 1 opponent: He Guoqiang
World Championship best: Champion (2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2022)
Best result in 2025/26: Runner-up (Saudi Arabia Masters, World Open)
Form rating: 3.5/5
11th Seed: Barry Hawkins
Barry Hawkins was having a consistent but unspectacular season before heading to Llandudno for the Welsh Open at the end of February.
A week later and the Hawk was raising his fifth career ranking trophy aloft following a 9-5 triumph over Jack Lisowski in the final.
Hawkins has experienced a somewhat strange love/hate relationship with the World Championship at the Crucible.
It took him six tries to get a first win under his belt, then from 2013 through to 2018 he was a constant force at the business end.
His Sheffield struggles have returned recently, however, and against fellow former finalist Matthew Stevens, he will be hoping to get beyond round one for the first time since 2021.
Round 1 opponent: Matthew Stevens
World Championship best: Final (2013)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Welsh Open)
Form rating: 3.5/5
10th Seed: Wu Yize
Wu Yize must definitely be considered as one of the dark horses for the 2026 World Snooker Championship title.
The 22 year-old has quickly risen up the ranks to become one of the most talented and dangerous competitors on the circuit.
Since landing a maiden ranking title at the International Championship in November, Wu has also reached the final of Championship League, the semis at the Masters, and he made two other last-four appearances in ranking events.
Wu meets Lei Peifan in one of two all-Chinese affairs in the first round, with a record 11 players from China in the 2026 World Championship draw in total.
Round 1 opponent: Lei Peifan
World Championship best: Last 32 (2023, 2025)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (International Championship)
Form rating: 4/5
9th Seed: Xiao Guodong
Although Xiao Guodong narrowly missed out on a spot at the Tour Championship through the one-year rankings, it has still been a positive season.
The 37 year-old doubled up in Wuhan and successfully defended the maiden ranking title that he won a year earlier.
Xiao made a debut appearance at the Masters and also reached the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix, albeit early exits in the last few events have halted his momentum.
Zhou Yuelong represents his opening challenge to overcome in Sheffield, with Zhou hoping to win a match at the Crucible for the first time in his career.
Round 1 opponent: Zhou Yuelong
World Championship best: Last 16 (2017, 2025)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Wuhan Open)
Form rating: 3/5
8th Seed: Shaun Murphy
Aside from a few tough early exits, Shaun Murphy has been one of the most consistent players during the 2025/26 campaign.
Indeed, the Magician will probably be disappointed to only have one title to show for his efforts – with losses in the Xi’an Grand Prix and German Masters finals coming after his victory at the British Open.
In the last decade, Murphy has only gone beyond the second round at the World Championship on one occasion.
But his four appearances in finals, including his breakthrough success all the way back in 2005, guarantees that he is a formidable name not to be dismissed when it comes to those in contention.
First up is Fan Zhengyi, who Murphy has beaten in three out of the four occasions they have crossed paths.
Round 1 opponent: Fan Zhengyi
World Championship best: Champion (2005)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (British Open)
Form rating: 3.5/5
7th Seed: Mark Selby
Mark Selby has been a frequent flyer at the quarter-final stage or later of events this season and enjoyed a special purple patch either side of the New Year.
Victories at the Champion of Champions, UK Championship, and Championship League Snooker had many believing a fifth world crown was on the cards.
That prophecy may yet come true, but Selby has undoubtedly gone off the boil again in the last couple of months.
First and foremost on the Englishman’s agenda will be to safely negotiate his first-round fixture in Sheffield, something he has failed to do in each of his last two visits.
Not helping Selby’s cause is the fact that he has been drawn to face a player with Crucible pedigree – 2024 runner-up Jak Jones.
Round 1 opponent: Jak Jones
World Championship best: Champion (2014, 2016, 2017, 2021)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Champion of Champions, UK Championship, Championship League Snooker)
Form rating: 3.5/5
6th Seed: Mark Williams
Having just turned 50, three-time winner Mark Williams reached the final in spectacular fashion last year and not long after became the oldest ranking event champion with his success at the Xi’an Grand Prix.
Since then, however, the Welshman’s form has been pretty dire and his lofty seeding position is definitely based on older results rather than anything recent.
With his kind of temperament and an ability over the course of the last few years to produce his better displays at the bigger events, that might not matter much.
Williams remains a threat and could grow into the tournament, with young Polish debutant Antoni Kowalski providing an interesting initial test to overcome.
Round 1 opponent: Antoni Kowalski
World Championship best: Champion (2000, 2003, 2018)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Xi’an Grand Prix)
Form rating: 2/5
5th Seed: John Higgins
It has been a highly respectable season for John Higgins, although someone of his class won’t be entirely content with having no silverware to show for it.
Higgins has been beaten in the finals of the International Championship, the Players Championship, and the Masters.
The Wizard of Wishaw will begin his bid to win a fifth world title against Ali Carter in what is undoubtedly one of the ties of the round.
Higgins and Carter have played almost 40 times in all competitions on the main tour, but this will mark their first-ever showdown at the Crucible Theatre.
Round 1 opponent: Ali Carter
World Championship best: Champion (1998, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Best result in 2025/26: Runner-up (International Championship, Masters, Players Championship)
Form rating: 4/5
4th Seed: Neil Robertson
It has been a solid season for Neil Robertson, whose early triumph at the lucrative Saudi Arabia Masters took the early pressure off.
Robertson was able to coast through the entire season knowing that his spot in all the major events was guaranteed, which in some ways might have hindered his focus and drive at times.
Still, the Australian could end the campaign by returning to the top of the world rankings. To do so, he would have to win his second world title and hope that Judd Trump exits in the first round.
Despite being a former champion, Robertson does not boast a particularly brilliant Crucible record, and he hasn’t reached the single-table setup since 2014.
Pang Junxu is up first, a player Robertson has already beaten three times during the 2025/26 campaign.
Round 1 opponent: Pang Junxu
World Championship best: Champion (2010)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Saudi Arabia Masters)
Form rating: 3.5/5
3rd Seed: Kyren Wilson
A season during which you pick up two prestigious invitational titles – one of them at the Masters – can never be counted as a failure.
But Kyren Wilson’s 2025/26 campaign has been a strange one having simultaneously not gone beyond the quarter-final point of any ranking event all term.
He has, in fact, only made three appearances at that stage, culminating in the disappointment of missing out at the Players and Tour Championships entirely.
Wilson has a lot of ranking points to defend between now and next March, so his performance in Sheffield could be important if he wants to maintain his status as a top-four player.
There is bound to be a cracking atmosphere when he faces rising young star Stan Moody from nearby Halifax.
Round 1 opponent: Stan Moody
World Championship best: Champion (2024)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Shanghai Masters, Masters)
Form rating: 2.5/5
2nd Seed: Judd Trump
Judd Trump has won just one title this season, but he has remained a constant force at the business end of tournaments despite sometimes not being able to produce his best.
Since reaching the Northern Ireland Open final in October, Trump has almost always been at the semi-final stage of events.
The 36 year-old has been the rightful runaway world number one, but forever lacking from his stellar CV is a second world crown.
Trump still has time on his side, but the longer his wait for another goes on, the more difficult his enduring bid to add to his 2019 title will become.
He certainly would have hoped for a kinder draw, with three-time ranking event winner Gary Wilson a tough opening prospect.
Round 1 opponent: Gary Wilson
World Championship best: Champion (2019)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (German Masters)
Form rating: 4.5/5
1st Seed: Zhao Xintong
If ever there was someone who could break the Curse of the Crucible, it’s Zhao Xintong – particularly at this moment in time.
No first-time world champion has ever returned to successfully defend the crown in Sheffield, but surely Zhao has as good of a chance as anyone who has tried before.
The 29 year-old enters his defence in a rich vein of form having tallied a hat-trick of titles on the Players Series in unprecedented fashion.
Starting against Liam Highfield, top seed and pre-tournament favourite Zhao will begin his quest to conquer the Crucible again against the lowest-ranked qualifier in this year’s draw.
Round 1 opponent: Liam Highfield
World Championship best: Champion (2025)
Best result in 2025/26: Champion (Riyadh Season Championship, World Grand Prix, Players Championship, Tour Championship)
Form rating: 5/5
Featured photo credit: WST
>Williams remains a threat and could grow into the tournament
It’s also my impression that the further into the tournament he gets, the more of a threat to win the title Mark Williams is — he has that aura; he always looks cool and composed, never or rarely appears rattled — John Higgins used to have the same aura to a much greater degree than today.