Who will be the next first-time ranking event winner in snooker?

The 2025/26 snooker season was a record-breaking one in that there were 15 different champions across the 18 ranking events that were staged.

Only Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize managed to get their hands on ranking silverware more than once, with the former picking up three titles to the latter’s two.

Such a vast span of champions has rarely if ever been seen before in the sport, with the first 13 ranking tournaments of the calendar won by different contenders.

It will be interesting to see if this trend continues into the upcoming 2026/27 campaign – the provisional schedule for which was confirmed by WST earlier this week.

Thoughts, then, may turn to who among the supporting cast of stars on the main tour might next be able to fulfill their ambitions of becoming a champion at ranking level.

There were three players last season who experienced that winning sensation for the first time in their careers.

Before taking the Crucible by storm to claim a maiden world title, Wu’s initial breakthrough materialised at the International Championship where he defeated John Higgins in the final.

A week before that in late October, it was finally the turn of Jack Lisowski who put years of misery and heartache at the last hurdle of competitions behind him by edging Judd Trump 9-8 to claim the Northern Ireland Open crown.

Then in December, Alfie Burden defied amateur status to emerge triumphantly at the Snooker Shoot Out – an amazing 31 years after he first joined the World Snooker Tour as a pro in 1994.

In no particular order, let’s take a rundown of five likely candidates to join the exclusive group of ranking event winners next season.

Chang Bingyu

Still only 23 years of age, Chang Bingyu enjoyed an excellent first season back on the World Snooker Tour after regaining his professional status in 2025.

The Chinese cueist, who was among the players caught up in the betting scandal that rocked the sport in 2022 and 2023, wasted little time in reminding everyone of his ability.

Chang notably reached the final of the Scottish Open, and he has already climbed to number 48 in the world rankings.

That rapid upward trajectory is likely to continue with no points to defend next season, and it would be no surprise to see him quickly emerge as a genuine title contender on a more regular basis.

Zhou Yuelong

Despite still being only 28, Zhou Yuelong is already one of the more experienced competitors on the professional circuit having first turned pro more than a decade ago.

The Chinese player has long been touted as a future ranking event winner, but several painful near misses have continued to stand in his way.

Zhou suffered a fourth defeat in a ranking final at last season’s English Open where he lost out to Mark Allen.

With so many of his Chinese compatriots now becoming champions, there will surely be a growing determination within Zhou to finally fulfill the potential many have seen in him for years.

Si Jiahui

Si Jiahui is the only current member of the world’s top 16 who has yet to capture ranking event silverware.

The 23 year-old has already contested two ranking finals and reached the semi-finals of the World Championship in 2023, but a trophy has proved elusive.

Si, however, endured a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, reaching only two quarter-finals across the entire season.

On his day, the Chinese star possesses the attacking firepower to trouble anybody, but finding greater consistency will be the key to turning promise into trophies.

Elliot Slessor

Elliot Slessor may represent something of an outside pick, but the Englishman has quietly established himself as one of the tour’s most dependable performers.

The 31 year-old has steadily climbed the rankings over the last couple of seasons and ended the recent campaign with a career-high position of 19 in the world.

Slessor has also featured in five ranking event semi-finals – including an appearance at that stage of last season’s Saudi Arabia Masters – to underline his ability to challenge deep into tournaments.

If he can take the next step mentally in the latter stages of competitions, a maiden ranking crown may not be too far away.

Stan Moody

At just 19 years of age, Stan Moody is already being viewed as one of the brightest young prospects in the game.

The confident English teenager showcased his enormous potential at the recent World Championship where he came through qualifying and threatened to produce a huge upset against Kyren Wilson in the opening round.

Although Moody ultimately let a strong position slip, the experience may prove invaluable for his long-term development.

Having also reached two ranking event quarter-finals last season, there is little doubt that the talented youngster is heading in the right direction.

Honourable Mentions

Several other players could also stake a strong claim to becoming snooker’s next first-time ranking event winner.

Joe O’Connor has already lost in three ranking event finals, including in the title-deciding affair of Championship League Snooker almost a year ago.

Pang Junxu remains another highly regarded Chinese talent and was runner-up at the 2023 WST Classic.

Yuan Sijun has reached two ranking semi-finals during his career and still appears capable of a breakthrough at the top level.

Meanwhile, Jak Jones proved with his run to the 2024 World Snooker Championship final that he can thrive under the biggest pressure.

Who else might be a contender as the next first-time ranking event winner? Share your pick in the comments section below.

Featured photo credit: WST