Luca Brecel failed to qualify for the 2026 World Snooker Championship, losing to Jak Jones 10-5 in the last qualifying round. Jak Jones defeated Luca Brecel 10-5 in the qualifiers. Stuart Bingham failed to qualify for the World Championship for the second year in a row, losing to Matthew Stevens 10-7. This is the first time in 20 years Stuart Bingham has missed the Crucible consecutively.
Qualification for the Crucible Theatre's main draw is determined by world rankings, with the top 16 players receiving automatic berths. Zhao Xintong is the defending champion for the 2026 tournament. Only the top 16 players in the world go straight to the last 32 of the World Snooker Championship, while higher-ranked players enter qualifying at later stages.
I'm far more professional nowadays compared to my heyday in the 80s and 90s, by my own admission.
Among the successful qualifiers, Ali Carter fought back from 7-5 behind to defeat Anthony McGill 10-7 in the qualifiers. Ali Carter will be playing at the Crucible for a 22nd year. Liam Highfield qualified for the Crucible with a 10-2 victory over Oliver Lines, after returning to the tour last year from a broken wrist. The qualifiers also set a new record, with 11 Chinese players now in the 32-player field at the Crucible.
Chinese dominance was evident in standout performances, including Zhang Anda's 10-3 win over Zak Surety, where he made five centuries and four half-centuries. Conversely, Jack Lisowski was eliminated in the qualifiers, losing 10-5 to He Guoqiang.
My preparation, including keeping my phone out of reach, could not have been better.
Other notable results included Dave Gilbert defeating Aaron Hill 10-6 in the qualifiers, for the second year in a row.
Jimmy White has taken drastic measures as he attempts to qualify for the World Snooker Championship for the first time in two decades. Jimmy White last graced the final 32 of the World Snooker Championship in 2006, when he lost in the first round to David Gray. Jimmy White is the six-time Crucible runner-up. Jimmy White is 63 years old. Jimmy White remains on the World Snooker Tour. Jimmy White banned himself from using his mobile phone to focus on qualifying for the World Championship. Jimmy White has enlisted his youngest son's help for preparation. Jimmy White is the 123rd-ranked player in the world. Despite reaching the final six times, Jimmy White has never won the World Snooker Championship title.
I'm going with my son this time, only because he's been getting the balls out. I've got no distractions. I'll have no phone, nothing.
Jimmy White begins his latest attempt to qualify when he takes on Chinese star Gao Yang in the opening round of qualifying at Sheffield's Institute of Sport on Monday. Jimmy White starts off in the opening round of qualifying, which runs until April 15. Jimmy White lost 10-9 to Gao Yang in the first round of qualifying. During the contest, Jimmy White angrily gestured towards a spectator after missing a shot during his match against Gao Yang.
The specific measures Jimmy White took beyond the mobile phone ban to prepare for the qualifiers remain unclear.
I'm going up there the best prepared I've been for probably 25 years. I know that sounds crazy, but it really is the truth.
Controversial incidents marred some matches, with Sam Craigie docked a frame for tardiness during his qualifier against Umut Dikme, which he lost 10-9. Sam Craigie is recovering from a severe neck injury involving a slipped disc.
What disciplinary action, if any, was taken against Sam Craigie for his tardiness beyond the docked frame has not been disclosed.
Having my own club, the Jimmy White Sports Lounge in Woking, which opened in 2024, has helped me massively.
In the women's qualifier, Bai Yulu won her qualifier against Daniel Womersley 10-7, but a scoring error occurred in the 12th frame. The scoring error in Bai Yulu's match involved four points incorrectly added to Womersley's score.
The outcome of this scoring error, such as whether it was corrected or affected the result, is unknown.
Since I've opened the club, I've been practising more than ever.
Emotional reactions were common among eliminated players, with Stephen Maguire punching the table in frustration during his 10-5 loss to Liam Highfield in the qualifiers.
Tournament logistics are proceeding, with the draw for the main event set to take place on Thursday.
Having a club, I've had loads of people come and play loads of matches. I feel a lot sharper going into these qualifiers.
How many total players have qualified for the Crucible so far, and who the remaining qualifiers are, has not been fully confirmed.
An irrelevant claim notes that five English cities – Bradford, Leeds, York, Hull, and Wakefield – are represented in this year’s rugby Super League, not four, but this is unrelated to the snooker championship qualifiers.
I'm there every day. What I was doing previously, when I'd go to my club in Epsom, I'd have a couple of hours practice with my son, then maybe go back and do another hour and a half. But with Jimmy's Lounge, I'm there all day and without even knowing, I'm playing like six or seven hours. It's really brought me on, you know, leaps and bounds.
I hope I can keep this form up. I've got to win four matches, which is like winning a tournament because you have to win four best-of-19 frames. But my game has never been in better shape. I'm really excited.