Shaun Murphy will start his British Open title defence towards Reanne Evans when the 2026 match begins in Cheltenham on Monday, 31 August.
The seven-day rating occasion runs till Sunday, 6 September at The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse. Murphy returns as defending champion after beating Anthony McGill 10-7 in final yr’s closing, however the British Open’s random-draw format affords no safety for the main names.
Judd Trump faces Dylan Emery, Ronnie O’Sullivan meets Mateusz Baranowski and reigning world champion Wu Yize takes on Liu Hongyu of their held-over opening matches. Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, John Higgins and Mark Williams are additionally among the many main gamers starting their campaigns in Cheltenham.
That mixture of brief early-round matches and an open draw provides the British Open a unique really feel from most rating tournaments. There is no such thing as a typical seeded route in the direction of the ultimate. A serious contender can discover one other main participant ready within the subsequent spherical.
For followers, that uncertainty is a significant a part of the attraction.
British Open 2026 dates and venue
The British Open takes place from 31 August to six September at The Centaur in Cheltenham.
Qualifying started a lot earlier. Most opening-round matches had been accomplished on the Mattioli Area in Leicester on 23 and 24 July, whereas matches involving the main seeds befell over for the principle venue.
The match arrives instantly after the Wuhan Open in China, giving a number of contenders little restoration time earlier than returning to aggressive motion.
British followers may also have free-to-air tv protection. Paramount introduced that 5 would broadcast the British Open as a part of its settlement with World Snooker Tour, alongside the Gamers Championship and Tour Championship. Present listings additionally embody British Open classes on 5ACTION.
The most recent match info and match particulars can be found by way of the World Snooker Tour.
British Open draw brings fast strain
Murphy towards Evans is the headline opening match for the defending champion.
Murphy received his first British Open title in 2025 after a demanding run that included victories over Neil Robertson, Trump and Selby earlier than the ultimate towards McGill. He trailed McGill 7-6 earlier than taking the ultimate 4 frames to win 10-7.
His defence might develop into tough virtually instantly. The winner of Murphy towards Evans is because of meet the winner of Mark Williams towards David Gilbert within the final 64.
Trump begins towards Emery, with Ricky Walden awaiting the winner. O’Sullivan’s assembly with Baranowski feeds right into a second-round match towards Jordan Brown.
World champion Wu might have an much more demanding second match. If he beats Liu, he’ll face the winner of Kyren Wilson towards Florian Nüßle.
A number of the most important held-over matches are:
| Participant | Opponent | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Shaun Murphy | Reanne Evans | Opening spherical |
| Judd Trump | Dylan Emery | Opening spherical |
| Ronnie O’Sullivan | Mateusz Baranowski | Opening spherical |
| Wu Yize | Liu Hongyu | Opening spherical |
| Mark Selby | David Lilley | Opening spherical |
| John Higgins | Hossein Vafaei | Opening spherical |
| Neil Robertson | Pang Junxu | Opening spherical |
| Mark Williams | David Gilbert | Opening spherical |
| Zhao Xintong | Oliver Brown | Opening spherical |
The qualifying stage has already eliminated a number of established names. Chang Bingyu beat former world champion Stuart Bingham 4-0, Ricky Walden defeated Gary Wilson 4-1, and Jamie Clarke edged Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-3.
Liam Highfield additionally beat Stephen Maguire 4-1, whereas Sean O’Sullivan ended Jimmy White’s marketing campaign with a 4-1 victory.
These outcomes underline the hazard of a best-of-seven opening spherical. One poor session can finish a participant’s match earlier than they’ve time to recuperate.
Judd Trump stays one of many main contenders
Trump has a robust declare to enter Cheltenham among the many most important favourites regardless of a setback on the Wuhan Open.
He started August by successful the Shanghai Masters, beating Kyren Wilson 11-6 within the closing. The victory adopted wins over Barry Hawkins, John Higgins and Wu Yize throughout a powerful week in Shanghai.
World in Sport’s Judd Trump profile appears at how his attacking sport has developed alongside a a lot stronger tactical facet.
Nonetheless, Chang Bingyu stopped Trump 5-1 within the Wuhan Open quarter-finals on Thursday, 27 August. That outcome additionally confirmed Trump would give up the world primary place after the match.
The British Open format can reward Trump’s scoring energy. It may additionally punish a gradual begin.
His first activity towards Emery appears manageable on paper, however a best-of-seven contest leaves little margin for error.
Mark Selby carries latest title type
Selby arrives as one other severe contender after successful the China Open earlier this month.
The four-time world champion defeated Noppon Saengkham 10-6 within the Taiyuan closing on 16 August. It was his twenty sixth rating title and made him the primary participant to win the China Open 4 occasions.
His run included convincing victories over Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham.
World in Sport coated the broader subject and early-season type in its China Open 2026 preview.
Selby’s Wuhan Open ended towards O’Sullivan within the quarter-finals, however the China Open title stays robust proof of his present degree.
David Lilley is his first British Open opponent.
Ronnie O’Sullivan arrives with momentum
O’Sullivan has additionally given supporters motive for optimism earlier than Cheltenham.
The seven-time world champion reached the Wuhan Open semi-finals after beating Selby within the final eight. His run adopted victories over Ashley Carty, Yao Pengcheng and Stephen Maguire.
That makes his opening match towards Baranowski significantly fascinating. O’Sullivan has usually checked out his most harmful when he finds rhythm throughout consecutive tournaments.
The shorter matches might swimsuit him. They encourage attacking play and place a premium on changing early alternatives.
World in Sport’s Ronnie O’Sullivan profile examines the information and longevity that proceed to make him certainly one of snooker’s central figures at 50.
Wu Yize faces one other take a look at after changing into world champion
Wu enters the British Open because the reigning world champion after his Crucible success earlier this yr.
His Wuhan Open ended a lot ahead of anticipated when Artemijs Zizins beat him 5-4. That defeat doesn’t take away Wu from the record of contenders in Cheltenham, but it surely reveals the depth of the present tour.
He first wants to barter an all-Chinese language match towards Liu Hongyu.
Victory might then put him towards 2024 world champion Kyren Wilson, offered Wilson beats Nüßle.
Once more, the draw affords no comfy route.
Zhao Xintong and the broader subject
Zhao must also characteristic prominently within the dialogue.
He reached the Wuhan Open semi-finals this week and opens his British Open marketing campaign towards Oliver Brown. A victory sends him right into a last-64 assembly with Daniel Wells.
Neil Robertson can’t be ignored both, though Pang Junxu represents a tough first opponent.
Then there’s Higgins towards Vafaei, one of many strongest opening matches on the schedule. Vafaei has the scoring skill to bother any opponent in a brief format, whereas Higgins stays the most effective match gamers of his technology.
China Open runner-up Saengkham is already safely by way of qualifying after beating Ashley Hugill 4-2. He’ll face the winner of Higgins towards Vafaei.
Chang is one other participant price watching. He certified by beating Bingham 4-0 after which produced a significant lead to Wuhan by defeating Trump 5-1 to succeed in the semi-finals.
That type makes his last-64 match towards Chatchapong Nasa extra important than their rankings alone may counsel.
How the British Open format works
The British Open stands aside as a result of it doesn’t use a standard mounted seeded bracket.
The draw is random, creating the potential of main gamers assembly far sooner than they might in a regular rating match.
Matches stay brief by way of the early phases. The opening rounds by way of to the final 16 are performed over the most effective of seven frames.
The quarter-finals improve to the most effective of 9, adopted by best-of-11 semi-finals. The championship match is a best-of-19 closing.
For readers much less conversant in body scoring, fouls and the essential construction of the game, World in Sport’s snooker guidelines defined information covers the necessities.
That format can rapidly change the form of the match. A participant wants solely 4 frames to win most matches earlier than the quarter-finals. A nasty security, missed black or one heavy-scoring go to from an opponent can subsequently carry higher weight than it will in an extended contest.
British Open 2026 prize cash
The British Open carries a complete prize fund of £502,000.
The champion receives £100,000, whereas the runner-up earns £45,000. Dropping semi-finalists obtain £20,000 every and quarter-finalists take £12,000.
Gamers reaching the final 16 earn £9,000, with £6,000 obtainable within the final 32 and £3,000 within the final 64. An extra £5,000 goes to the participant who makes the match’s highest break.
These earnings additionally matter past one week in Cheltenham as a result of ranking-event prize cash feeds into the world-ranking system.
World in Sport’s snooker prize cash and rankings information explains how outcomes have an effect on a participant’s place.
Murphy collected the identical £100,000 winner’s prize final yr when he lifted the Clive Everton Trophy for the primary time.
What to observe for in Cheltenham
Murphy could have little time to ease into his title defence. Even when he will get previous Evans, Williams or Gilbert might observe instantly.
Trump has the scoring sport to maneuver by way of brief matches rapidly, however his Wuhan defeat gives a reminder that fame affords no safety on this format.
Selby brings the strongest latest ranking-title type after his China Open victory. O’Sullivan arrives following a run to the Wuhan semi-finals, whereas Zhao has additionally gone deep in China this week.
Wu carries the standing of world champion, Robertson stays a significant risk, and gamers comparable to Saengkham and Chang have already proven sufficient this month to bother the established names.
That leaves the British Open tough to name earlier than a ball has been struck in Cheltenham.
For as soon as, that uncertainty isn’t an issue with the draw. It’s the level of it.
