World Snooker Championship 2026 | Day Eight Preview and Order of Play
Wilson (right) and Allen play to a finish on Saturday (Credit: PA Images)
Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen are set for a dramatic climax to their second-round clash on day eight of the 2026 World Snooker Championship.
It promises to be a super Saturday at the Crucible Theatre, where Wilson and Allen play to a finish, while Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins begin their blockbuster clash.
Reigning Crucible king Zhao Xintong resumes his title defence against Ding Junhui, while other former champions Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams are also in action.
Wilson and Allen are finely poised ahead of their gripping finale, with the latter 9-7 to the good.
The Warrior, despite persistent cue troubles, rallied from 5-0 down to lead 6-5, but the Pistol wrestled back the initiative, moving within four frames of his first Crucible quarter-final in three years.
Barry Hawkins is also in a strong position to return to the last eight for the first time since 2018, when he was beaten by eventual champion Williams in the semi-finals.
However, ‘The Hawk’ is on cause to exact revenge this year at 10-6 to the good.
Elsewhere, all eyes will be on the mouth-watering showdown between two of the all-time greats, as O’Sullivan and Higgins renew their World Championship rivalry.
Boasting a combined 11 World titles, they are set to meet at the Crucible for the seventh time – and 30 years after their first showdown.
They have each won three of the previous six encounters, with the Rocket prevailing 17-11 in their most recent in the 2022 semi-finals.
Another tasty tie resumes between reigning champion Zhao and his idol Ding.
The first Chinese Crucible king and the country’s trailblazer continue their intriguing battle, which is finely poised at 4-4.
Meanwhile, 2010 champion Robertson takes on Chris Wakelin looking to avenge the 10-8 defeat he suffered when the players met in last year’s first round.
Robertson last appeared in the quarter-finals five years ago, while his opponent is aiming to secure back-to-back appearances in the last eight.
Trump is set to meet Hossein Vafaei for the third time at the Crucible, with the world number one aiming to make it three straight wins.
The Ace has reached at least the quarter-finals in seven of the last eight years. Meanwhile, victory would mean uncharted territory for the Iranian, who is the only remaining seed in this year’s draw after his first-round win over former semi-finalist Si Jiahui.
Play gets under way at 10am BST on Saturday with all second-round matches contested over the best of 25 frames at the Crucible Theatre.
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World Snooker Championship 2026 Day Eight Schedule
*Indicates final session
Saturday April 25
Second Round
10am
Chris Wakelin v Neil Robertson
Kyren Wilson (7-9) Mark Allen*
2.30pm
Zhao Xintong (4-4) Ding Junhui
Hossein Vafaei v Judd Trump
7pm
John Higgins v Ronnie O’Sullivan
Barry Hawkins (10-6) Mark Williams*