High Stakes, Star Power: Players Championship Draw Sets Up Thrilling Showdowns.
The 2026 Players Championship is poised to deliver elite-level drama as snooker’s top performers converge on the Telford International Centre from 17–22 February, competing for a £500,000 prize fund and a winner’s cheque of £150,000. Only the top 16 players on the one-year ranking list have qualified, ensuring a fiercely competitive field in the season’s prestigious Players Series.
The confirmed draw has produced a string of mouth-watering first-round clashes. Among the standout ties are Neil Robertson versus John Higgins, Judd Trump against Zhou Yuelong, and Mark Selby facing Jack Lisowski, while Shaun Murphy meets Zhang Anda and Zhao Xintong takes on Elliot Slessor in equally compelling encounters. The depth of quality across the bracket underlines the tournament’s reputation as one of the toughest tests outside the World Championship.
Star power will be evident throughout the week, with leading names such as world No. 1 Judd Trump, world champion Zhao Xintong, and decorated veterans including Higgins, Mark Williams, and Selby all scheduled to feature in Telford. Their presence guarantees high-quality matchplay as the race toward Sheffield gathers momentum.
However, the event will notably proceed without Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has slipped outside the world’s top ten after limited tournament participation and chose not to enter the competition. His absence, along with defending champion Kyren Wilson’s failure to qualify, ensures a new champion will be crowned this year.
The championship follows Zhao’s recent World Grand Prix triumph in Hong Kong, a victory that highlighted the growing strength of emerging stars and intensified anticipation for the battles ahead in Telford.
With high stakes, global talent, and crucial ranking implications, the 2026 Players Championship promises a week of gripping snooker and potentially season-defining performances.