History of 2026 Players Championship (snooker) in Timeline

The 2026 Players Championship, a professional snooker tournament, was held from February 17-22, 2026, at the Telford International Centre in England. Featuring the top 16 players from the one-year ranking list after the 2026 World Grand Prix, it marked the 10th standalone Players Championship since 2017 and was the 14th ranking event of the 2025–26 season. As the second of three Players Series events, it followed the World Grand Prix and preceded the Tour Championship. Notably, it was the first professional snooker tournament broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK, alongside TNT Sports, Eurosport, and other international channels. The tournament offered a total prize fund of £500,000, with the winner receiving £150,000.

February 2026: 2026 Players Championship Overview

In February 2026, the 2026 Sportsbet.io Players Championship was held at the Telford International Centre in Telford, England. This was the 10th consecutive Players Championship since becoming a standalone tournament. It was the 14th ranking event of the 2025–26 snooker season, following the 2026 World Grand Prix and preceding the 2026 Welsh Open. The event was broadcast on Channel 5, TNT Sports, Eurosport and WST Play.

2026: John Higgins Competes and Considers Future Tournament Participation in 2026

In 2026, John Higgins, initially joining the Channel 5 punditry team, competed in the tournament after Ronnie O'Sullivan's withdrawal. He defeated Neil Robertson and discussed potentially qualifying for the 2026 Tour Championship and its impact on the 2026 World Snooker Championship.

2026: Judd Trump Whitewashes Zhou Yuelong

In 2026, Judd Trump, coming off a win at the 2026 German Masters, recorded a whitewash victory over Zhou Yuelong, making breaks of 61, 69, 63, 117, and 75 during the match.

2026: Zhao Xintong Wins the 2026 Players Championship

In 2026, Zhao Xintong defeated John Higgins 10–7 to win the Players Championship title. This was Zhao's first Players Championship title and fifth ranking title. With this win, he became the fourth player to win his first five ranking finals. Zhao made a high break of 142 during his quarter-final match against Shaun Murphy. John Higgins reached his 60th ranking final, becoming the second-oldest finalist at any ranking tournament.

2026: Reactions to Zhao Xintong's Win in 2026

In 2026, after winning the Players Championship, Zhao Xintong expressed surprise at adjusting his form quickly after returning from Hong Kong and dealing with jet lag. John Higgins praised Zhao's skill, calling him a genius.

2026: Qualification and Seedings for the 2026 Tournament

In 2026, the top 16 players on the one-year ranking list after the 2026 World Grand Prix automatically qualified for the Players Championship. Ronnie O'Sullivan qualified but did not enter, allowing John Higgins to participate.