World Snooker Championship 2026 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

John Higgins has work to do on Monday as he battles to avoid suffering a first-round exit at the 2026 World Snooker Championship.

The four-time World champion is one of three former Crucible kings in action on day three in Sheffield, with Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy also set to launch their campaigns.

Higgins made an ideal start to his 32nd successive Crucible appearance, dropping just 37 points in the opening four frames against Ali Carter as he surged into a 4-0 lead.

However, the two-time World finalist came roaring back after the mid-session interval, hitting breaks of 74 and 91 as he reeled off the next five frames for a slender 5-4 overnight lead.

The Captain is halfway towards registering his first match win at the Crucible since 2019, while Ding Junhui is also in a strong position at 7-2 up against David Gilbert.

Ding, who was runner-up to Mark Selby in 2016, compiled breaks of 94, 74, 100, 72 and 52 to take control against a visibly frustrated two-time semi-finalist.

Shaun Murphy begins his 22nd Crucible campaign – and 24th overall – against Fan Zhengyi, who is eyeing his first win in three attempts at the hallowed arena.

The 2005 champion has also reached a further three finals, but has only progressed beyond the second round twice in the last 11 years.

Meanwhile, 2024 winner Kyren Wilson aims to avoid successive first-round exits at the hands of debutants when he plays first-timer Stan Moody.

The Warrior – also a runner-up in 2020 and two-time beaten semi-finalist – saw his title defence fall at the first hurdle 12 months ago, losing 10-9 to Lei Peifan.

Masters champion Wilson will subsequently be eager to make amends this year, while also putting an inconsistent campaign behind him.

It will not be easy, though, against Yorkshire’s teenage sensation Moody, who overcame tonsilitis to secure his Crucible bow.

The 19-year-old will take inspiration from Lei, with the latter aiming to claim another scalp in compatriot Wu Yize.

This season’s International Championship winner is eyeing a first victory in three attempts at the Crucible, where he is appearing as a seed for the first time.

Play breaks off at 10am BST on Monday with all first-round matches contested over the best of 19 frames at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

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World Snooker Championship 2026 Day Three Schedule

*Indicates final session

Monday April 20

Round One

10am
Ding Junhui (7-2) David Gilbert*
Kyren Wilson v Stan Moody

2.30pm
John Higgins (4-5) Ali Carter*
Wu Yize v Lei Peifan

7pm
Shaun Murphy v Fan Zhengyi
Kyren Wilson v Stan Moody*