2026 British Open
Snooker tournament
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 British Open (officially the 2026 Unibet British Open) is a professional snooker tournament that is taking place from 31 August to 6 September 2026 at the Centaur in Cheltenham, England. Qualifying took place on 23 and 24 July at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England. The sixth consecutive edition of the tournament since it was revived in 2021, it is the fourth ranking event of the 2026–27 snooker season, following the 2026 Wuhan Open and preceding the 2026 English Open. The winner will receive £100,000 from a total prize fund of £502,000.
| |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 31 August – 6 September 2026 |
| Venue | The Centaur |
| City | Cheltenham |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | World Snooker Tour |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £502,000 |
| Winner's share | £100,000 |
| Highest break |  Liam Highfield (ENG) (147) |
| Defending champion | Shaun Murphy (ENG) |
← 2025 | |
Shaun Murphy is the defending champion, having defeated Anthony McGill 10–7 in the 2025 final.
Overview
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The tournament began in 1980 as the non-ranking British Gold Cup, won by Alex Higgins.[1] Held as the non-ranking Yamaha Organs Trophy in 1981 and the non-ranking Yamaha International Masters from 1982 to 1984, it was renamed the British Open in 1985, when it also gained ranking status.[2] Staged 21 times as a ranking event from 1985 until its discontinuation after the 2004 edition, the tournament was revived as a ranking event in 2021. In 2022, the tournament trophy was named the Clive Everton Trophy to honour the longtime commentator and snooker journalist.[3]
Sponsored by Unibet,[4] the 2026 edition of the tournament is being held from 31 August to 6 September at the Centaur in Cheltenham, England. Qualifying took place on 23 and 24 July at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England.[5] The tournament is the fourth ranking event of the 2026–27 snooker season, following the 2026 Wuhan Open and preceding the 2026 English Open.[6] Shaun Murphy is the defending champion, having defeated Anthony McGill 10–7 in the 2025 final.[7]
Format
There is no seeding system and the draw is randomised for every round.[8][9] Matches are played as the best of 7 frames up to the quarter-finals, which are the best of 9 frames. The semi-finals are the best of 11 frames, and the final is the best of 19 frames, played over two sessions.[10]
Broadcasters
The main stage is being broadcast in the UK by 5; in mainland China by Huya.com, Migu, CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel and CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin; in Hong Kong by Now TV; in Malaysia by Astro SuperSport; in Thailand by True Sports; in Taiwan by Sportcast; in New Zealand by Sky Sport. In mainland Europe, and in territories where no other coverage is available, the tournament is streamed via WST Play.[11][8]
Prize fund
The winner of the event will receive £100,000 from a total prize fund of £502,000. The breakdown of prize money for this event is shown below:[9][8]
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-up: £45,000
- Semi-final: £20,000
- Quarter-final: £12,000
- Last 16: £9,000
- Last 32: £6,000
- Last 64: £3,000
- Highest break: £5,000
- Total: £502,000
Summary
Qualifying
Liam Highfield made the first maximum break of his professional career in the first frame of his 4–1 victory over Stephen Maguire. It was the 245th official maximum.[12]
Mark Allen and Ronnie O'Sullivan both withdrew from the tournament, and were replaced by amateur players Patrick Whelan and Mark Joyce respectively.[13][14][15]
Judd Trump recovered from 0–2 down to take the next four frames, beating Dylan Emery 4–2. Defending champion Shaun Murphy whitewashed Reanne Evans, and David Gilbert beat Mark Williams, also by a whitewash.[16] Wu Yize defeated Liu Hongyu 4–3, and Kyren Wilson beat Florian Nüßle 4–1.[17]
Main draw
Numbers in parentheses after the players' names denote the players' seeding, and an (a) indicates amateur players not on the World Snooker Tour. Winners of matches are shown in bold.[18][19]
Last 64
Iulian Boiko (UKR) (71) 4–2 
Xu Yichen (CHN) (80)- Gong Chenzhi (CHN) (113) – He Guoqiang (CHN) (47)
Mark Joyce (ENG) (a) – 
Jordan Brown (NIR) (64)
Jackson Page (WAL) (35) – Jimmy Robertson (ENG) (33)- Jak Jones (WAL) (32) 4–0
Anthony McGill (SCO) (38) 
Chatchapong Nasa (THA) (91) – Chang Bingyu (CHN) (48)- Liu Yang (CHN) (126) – Duane Jones (WAL) (a)
- Xiao Guodong (CHN) (11) – Lyu Haotian (CHN) (61)
- Joshua Thomond (ENG) (a) –
Artemijs Žižins (LVA) (118) 
Mahmoud El Hareedy (EGY) (97) – Liam Highfield (ENG) (68)- Chris Wakelin (ENG) (13) – Zhang Anda (CHN) (20)
- Wu Yize (CHN) (2) – Kyren Wilson (ENG) (8)
- Elliot Slessor (ENG) (19) – Jamie Clarke (WAL) (101)
- Steven Hallworth (ENG) (73) –
Ishpreet Singh Chadha (IND) (59) - Mitchell Mann (ENG) (100) – Jack Lisowski (ENG) (17)
- Sean O'Sullivan (ENG) (104) – Ding Junhui (CHN) (15)
- Phil O'Kane (ENG) (120) – Michael Holt (ENG) (51)
- Ali Carter (ENG) (22) – Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon (THA) (119)
- Liam Davies (WAL) (111) – Barry Hawkins (ENG) (10)
- Pang Junxu (CHN) (25) – Liam Graham (SCO) (87)
- Ashley Carty (ENG) (106) – Long Zehuang (CHN) (50)
- Matthew Stevens (WAL) (49) – Fan Zhengyi (CHN) (57)
- Bai Yulu (CHN) (112) – Ross Muir (SCO) (84)
- Wang Xinbo (CHN) (117) – Jamie Jones (WAL) (63)
- David Grace (ENG) (74) – Zak Surety (ENG) (42)
Aaron Hill (IRL) (41) – 
Ben Mertens (BEL) (62)- Oliver Brown (ENG) (92)
OR Zhao Xintong (CHN) (5) – Daniel Wells (WAL) (45) - Stan Moody (ENG) (40) – Yao Pengcheng (CHN) (79)
- Noppon Saengkham (THA) (46) – John Higgins (SCO) (6)
- David Gilbert (ENG) (31) – Shaun Murphy (ENG) (1)
- Judd Trump (ENG) (3) – Ricky Walden (ENG) (54)
- Lei Peifan (CHN) (26) – Mark Selby (ENG) (9)
Qualifying draw
Numbers in parentheses after the players' names denote the players' seeding, and an (a) indicates amateur players not on the World Snooker Tour. Winners of matches are shown in bold.[20][18]
Cheltenham
The sixteen qualifying matches featuring the highest ranked players will be played at the Centaur in Cheltenham on 31 August.[5][21]
- Shaun Murphy (ENG) (1) 4–0 Reanne Evans (ENG) (82)
- Mark Williams (WAL) (7) 0–4 David Gilbert (ENG) (31)
- Ding Junhui (CHN) (15) 4–1 Anton Kazakov (UKR) (115)
- Barry Hawkins (ENG) (10) 4–0 Deng Haohui (CHN) (124)
- Wu Yize (CHN) (2) 4–3 Liu Hongyu (CHN) (58)
- Mark Joyce (ENG) (a) 4–1
Mateusz Baranowski (POL) (85)[a] 
Florian Nüßle (AUT) (93) 1–4 Kyren Wilson (ENG) (8)- Xiao Guodong (CHN) (11) 4–2 Jiang Jun (CHN) (65)
- Wang Xinbo (CHN) (117) 4–1 Patrick Whelan (ENG) (a)[b]
- Judd Trump (ENG) (3) 4–2 Dylan Emery (WAL) (72)
- Chris Wakelin (ENG) (13) 4–3 Luca Brecel (BEL) (44)
- Mark Selby (ENG) (9) 4–3 David Lilley (ENG) (60)
- Pang Junxu (CHN) (25) 4–1
Neil Robertson (AUS) (4) - John Higgins (SCO) (6) 4–1
Hossein Vafaei (IRN) (28) - Ashley Carty (ENG) (106) 4–3 Si Jiahui (CHN) (16)
- Oliver Brown (ENG) (92) – Zhao Xintong (CHN) (5)[c]
Leicester
The remaining qualifying matches were played at the Leicester Arena between 23 and 24 July.[5]
- Martin O'Donnell (ENG) (52) 3–4 Liam Graham (SCO) (87)
- Joe O'Connor (ENG) (27) 3–4 Anthony McGill (SCO) (38)
- Matthew Stevens (WAL) (49) 4–2 Antoni Kowalski (POL) (109)
- Michael Larkov (UKR) (125) 0–4 Artemijs Žižins (LVA) (118)
- Fergal Quinn (NIR) (90) 1–4 Jackson Page (WAL) (35)
- Luo Zetao (CHN) (122) 3–4 Iulian Boiko (UKR) (71)
- Alfie Burden (ENG) (98) 2–4 Zhang Anda (CHN) (20)
- Joshua Thomond (ENG) (a) 4–3 Sam Craigie (ENG) (70)
- Gary Wilson (ENG) (24) 1–4 Ricky Walden (ENG) (54)
Ng On-yee (HKG) (95) 2–4 Yao Pengcheng (CHN) (79)- Liu Wenwei (CHN) (83) 1–4 Jordan Brown (NIR) (64)
- Mahmoud El Hareedy (EGY) (97) 4–1 Lan Yuhao (CHN) (78)
- Marco Fu (HKG) (69) 2–4 Steven Hallworth (ENG) (73)
- Leone Crowley (IRL) (86) 1–4 Long Zehuang (CHN) (50)
- Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon (THA) (119) 4–0 Gao Yang (CHN) (75)
- Allan Taylor (ENG) (a)[d] 3–4 Ishpreet Singh Chadha (IND) (59)
- Scott Donaldson (SCO) (55) 1–4 Jack Lisowski (ENG) (17)
- Ryan Day (WAL) (37) 3–4 Chatchapong Nasa (THA) (91)
- Liam Pullen (ENG) (66) 2–4 Daniel Wells (WAL) (45)
- Fan Zhengyi (CHN) (57) 4–1 Ben Woollaston (ENG) (39)
- Huang Jiahao (CHN) (107) 1–4 Zak Surety (ENG) (42)
- Jamie Jones (WAL) (63) 4–1 Oliver Sykes (ENG) (116)
- Oliver Lines (ENG) (53) 3–4 Xu Yichen (CHN) (80)
- Jimmy Robertson (ENG) (33) 4–3 Zhou Yuelong (CHN) (23)
- Connor Benzey (ENG) (88) 2–4 Phil O'Kane (ENG) (120)
- Ben Mertens (BEL) (62) 4–1 Zhao Hanyang (CHN) (81)
- Michał Szubarczyk (POL) (77) 1–4 David Grace (ENG) (74)
- Gong Chenzhi (CHN) (113) 4–3 Xu Si (CHN) (34)
- Matthew Selt (ENG) (43) 3–4 Jak Jones (WAL) (32)
Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI) (89) 0–4 Duane Jones (WAL) (a)- Panchaya Channoi (THA) (123) 2–4 Aaron Hill (IRL) (41)
- Stuart Bingham (ENG) (21) 0–4 Chang Bingyu (CHN) (48)
- Paul Norris (ENG) (121) 0–4 Stan Moody (ENG) (40)
- Michael Holt (ENG) (51) 4–3 Cheung Ka Wai (HKG) (110)
- Yuan Sijun (CHN) (30) 2–4 Lyu Haotian (CHN) (61)
- Elliot Slessor (ENG) (19) 4–1 Julien Leclercq (BEL) (114)
- Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA) (18) 3–4 Jamie Clarke (WAL) (101)
- Tom Ford (ENG) (36)[e] w/d–w/o Ross Muir (SCO) (84)
- Noppon Saengkham (THA) (46) 4–2 Ashley Hugill (ENG) (108)
Sahil Nayyar (CAN) (96) 1–4 Bai Yulu (CHN) (112)- Mitchell Mann (ENG) (100) 4–3 Louis Heathcote (ENG) (67)
- Liu Yang (CHN) (126) 4–1 Andrew Higginson (ENG) (99)
- Stephen Maguire (SCO) (29) 1–4 Liam Highfield (ENG) (68)
- Liam Davies (WAL) (111) 4–2 Craig Steadman (ENG) (103)
- Robbie Williams (ENG) (56) 0–4 He Guoqiang (CHN) (47)
- Jimmy White (ENG) (94) 1–4 Sean O'Sullivan (ENG) (104)
- Lei Peifan (CHN) (26) 4–1 Hammad Miah (ENG) (105)
- Ali Carter (ENG) (22) 4–0 Stuart Carrington (ENG) (102)
- Note: w/d=withdrawn; w/o=walkover
Century breaks
Main stage centuries
A total of 12 century breaks have been made during the main stage of the tournament in Cheltenham.[22]
- 132, 126 – Mark Selby
- 131, 118 – Jak Jones
- 129 – Neil Robertson
- 127 – Ding Junhui
- 125, 107 – Dylan Emery
- 113, 100 – Mark Joyce
- 111 – Judd Trump
- 108 – Chris Wakelin
Qualifying stage centuries
A total of 23 century breaks were made during the qualifying stage of the tournament in Leicester.[23]
- 147 – Liam Highfield[12]
- 141 – Lyu Haotian
- 134 – Ricky Walden
- 133 – Long Zehuang
- 129 – Elliot Slessor
- 125, 101 – Noppon Saengkham
- 124, 108 – Louis Heathcote
- 122 – Antoni Kowalski
- 121 – Zhou Yuelong
- 120 – Duane Jones
- 115 – Anthony McGill
- 115 – Liam Pullen
- 113 – Jimmy Robertson
- 108 – Daniel Wells
- 107 – Alfie Burden
- 106 – Liu Yang
- 105 – Jamie Jones
- 104 – Ishpreet Singh Chadha
- 102 – Chang Bingyu
- 102 – Jak Jones
- 101 – Ashley Hugill
Notes
- Mark Joyce replaced Ronnie O'Sullivan who withdrew.[15]
- Patrick Whelan replaced Mark Allen who withdrew.[13]
- The match between Oliver Brown and Zhao Xintong was delayed until 1 September because Zhao played in the final of the Wuhan Open on 29 August.[21]
- Allan Taylor replaced Ian Burns who withdrew.[5]