Welsh Open Snooker 2026 | Quarter-Finals Preview and Order of Play

John Higgins resumes his quest for a record-extending sixth Welsh Open title when he faces Zhou Yuelong in the quarter-finals on Friday.

The Wizard is the most successful player in the history of the tour’s third-longest-running ranking event, in which he most recently triumphed eight years ago.

Higgins is gearing up for his 156th appearance in a ranking event quarter-final, and 17th at the Welsh Open, having compiled a break of 144 – the highest break of the week – to defeat Zhang Anda 4-2 on Thursday.

The 50-year-old has built on the momentum of his run to last week’s Players Championship showpiece, while he became the oldest Masters finalist in history last month.

Next up for him is English Open runner-up Zhou, who defeated world number two Kyren Wilson earlier this week on the way to his first Welsh Open quarter-final in nine years.

Elsewhere, two-time champion Neil Robertson locks horns with 2018 finalist Barry Hawkins in a mouth-watering battle of the left-handers.

Robertson, who beat Jak Jones on the final black in the last 16, is appearing in his eighth Welsh Open quarter-final, while this is Hawkins’ sixth after beating Mark Williams – and first since his aforementioned run to the showpiece.

Stuart Bingham is the other former champion still in this year’s draw, with the 2017 champion fresh from ending the in-form Zhao Xintong’s 11-match winning streak.

Appearing in his fifth Welsh Open quarter-final – and first since reaching his second showpiece in 2019 – Ballrun goes head to head with Jack Lisowski, whose other venture to the last eight this season culminated in glory at the Northern Ireland Open.

The other quarter-final is an all-Chinese affair as Wu Yize goes head to head with Jiang Jun.

International Championship winner Wu has dropped just two frames this week ahead of his clash with 20-year-old Jiang, who dethroned reigning champion Mark Selby on route to his second career ranking last-eight appearance.

Play gets under way at 12pm GMT on Friday with all matches contested over the best of nine frames at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

WATCH THE WELSH OPEN STREAMED LIVE

18+ | T&Cs Apply | Geo restrictions may apply | Be Gamble Aware

Welsh Open 2026 Schedule of Play

Friday February 27

Quarter-Finals

12pm
Barry Hawkins v Neil Robertson

2pm
Jack Lisowski v Stuart Bingham

7pm
Zhou Yuelong v John Higgins
Jiang Jun v Wu Yize