World Snooker Championship 2026 | Day Four Preview and Order of Play
O’Sullivan begins his 34th Crucible campaign (Credit: Liu Lixin/China News Service/Alamy Live News)
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump launch their latest Crucible campaigns on a blockbuster fourth day at the 2026 World Snooker Championship.
Shaun Murphy is the another former champion in action on Tuesday, while the remaining debutants make their Sheffield bows in Liam Pullen and He Guoqiang.
The latter provides the first obstacle in O’Sullivan’s latest quest for a record-breaking eighth Crucible crown.
The Rocket begins his 34th successive campaign at the iconic venue, where he most recently lifted the trophy in 2022.
O’Sullivan was just two matches away from surpassing Stephen Hendry 12 months ago, but came unstuck in the semi-finals against an inspired Zhao Xintong.
The 50-year-old has only ever lost four times in the opening round in Sheffield, but faces a potential banana skin this year.
Indeed, He boasts a positive head-to-head record against the Rocket – winning two of their three previous meetings, including a 4-2 victory at the 2024 English Open.
The world number 47 is fresh from beating Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski in qualifying, and will not be daunted by the prospect of facing O’Sullivan on the biggest stage of all.
Trump, meanwhile, also faces a tricky first-round clash against three-time ranking event winner Gary Wilson.
It is a repeat of their 2019 semi-final in Sheffield, which the Ace won 17-11 on his way to lifting the trophy.
A semi-finalist last year, Trump arrives off the back of reaching five finals this season, triumphing at the German Masters.
That run to the semis seven years ago included three of Wilson’s four victories from his five previous appearances at the Crucible.
After missing out last year, the Tyneside Terror secured his return with a dramatic 10-9 win over Xu Si, making a break of 126 in the decider having been pegged back from 7-2 up.
Elsewhere, Murphy faces a battle to avoid a fourth first-round exit in his last six events.
The 2005 World champion holds a slender 5-4 advantage over Fan Zhengyi, who is targeting his first ever win at the Crucible.
Wu Yize needs just two more frames to record his maiden win in the main draw of snooker’s blue-riband event.
The International Championship winner hit a 105 and a further three breaks over 80 on his way to establishing a commanding 8-1 lead over compatriot Lei Peifan.
Chris Wakelin’s first match in Sheffield as a seeded player sees him go head to head with practice partner and debutant Pullen.
Scottish Open champion beat Neil Robertson and Mark Allen for his first Crucible victories 12 months ago, before succumbing to eventual champion Zhao in the quarter-finals.
His 20-year-old opponent has already come through four qualifying rounds to set up the biggest match of his young career to date.
Pullen has already beaten Wakelin at this year’s Welsh Open, while he also defeated John Higgins on the way to reaching the Xi’an Grand Prix quarter-finals.
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 Four Schedule
*Indicates final session
Tuesday April 21
Round One
10am
Chris Wakelin v Liam Pullen
Judd Trump v Gary Wilson
2.30pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v He Guoqiang
Wu Yize (8-1) Lei Peifan*
7pm
Shaun Murphy (5-4) Fan Zhengyi*
Judd Trump v Gary Wilson*