Wuhan Open Snooker 2026 Prize Money: Tournament history, format, schedule, how to watch - when is John Higgins playing?
The world’s finest snooker players are heading to China this weekend.
First played in 2023, the Wuhan Open saw competitive ranking snooker return to China for the first time since the 2019 World Open and the global pandemic that followed shortly afterwards.
It’s now been joined by the Shanghai Masters, International Championship, last week’s China Open and the Xi'an Grand Prix, as China becomes an ever-growing market for the sport - with around 60 million regular players and dozens arriving in the professional ranks.
This year’s competition is reaching its final stages. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the final.
When is the Wuhan Open being played?
This year the Wuhan Open is being played from August 23-29.
Where is the Wuhan Open played?
The tournament takes place at Optics Valley Gymnasium, at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.
How much money does the winner of the Wuhan Open get?
Here’s the prize money available at the Wuhan Open, from a total prize pit of £825,000.
- Winner: £175,000
- Runner-up: £75,000
- Semi-finalists: £33,000
- Quarter-finalists: £22,000
- Last 16: £12,000
- Last 32: £8,000
- Last 64: £4,500
- Last 96: £1,500
- Highest break: £5,000
Who are the previous winners of the Wuhan Open?
In 2023 Judd Trump won after beating Ali Carter 10-7 in the final.
In 2024 Xiao Guodong became the second person to lift the trophy after triumphing over fellow countryman Si Jiahui in the final - he then successfully defended his title last year so will be the player to beat in 2026.
What is the format of the Wuhan Open?
There are two rounds of qualification before the last 32, when only the matches including the top 16 in the world will be played at the tournament proper - the remainder being played at the qualification tournament in Leicester. Four matches involving Chinese wild cards in the first round of qualifying will also be held over to the main venue in Wuhan.
It all gets a great deal simpler in the last 16, when it’s the best of nine frames until the semi-finals which are the best of 11 frames, with the final the best of 19 frames.
When does John Higgins play his first match in the Wuhan Open?
Scotland’s John Higgins will play his last-32 match against Liu Hongyu at 12.30am on Sunday, August 23.
How can I watch the China Open 2026 on television?
All the action will be broadcast on TNT Sports. You can subscribe to the channel via HBO Max or your TV provider starting from £25 a month, or buy a one-off monthly pass for £30.99.
Who is favourite to win the China Open 2026?
Home player Zhao Xintong is the 13/5 favourite to win the competition, followed by Judd Trump (16/5), Wu Yize (5/1) and Ronnie O’Sullivan (8/1). John Higgins is a 16/1 outsider.
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