Snooker Results: Players Championship 2026 — Yuan Upset, Betting Angles and O'Sullivan's Verdict on Wu

The latest snooker results bring a shock headline: Yuan sank world No. 1 Trump in a Hong Kong upset, a development that reshapes form lines ahead of the Players Championship 2026. That result sits alongside high-profile commentary and fresh betting recommendations drawn from early modelling, all of which will influence how players and punters approach the event.

Snooker Results: Hong Kong upset — Yuan beats world No. 1 Trump

Yuan's win over world No. 1 Judd Trump in Hong Kong is described in the available coverage as an upset. The reversal of expectations in that match feeds directly into immediate tournament narratives and betting markets as players re-evaluate momentum and confidence.

O'Sullivan heaps praise on Wu Yize after recent form

Rising attention on Wu Yize was sharpened by a strong endorsement from Ronnie O'Sullivan, who said, "This kid is really special, " and heaped praise on Wu as a future world champion. That public encouragement elevates scrutiny on Wu's trajectory and adds a narrative layer ahead of the Players Championship 2026.

Betting focus from Telford modelling: two recommended plays

Having modelled the early action in Telford, James Cooper recommends two bets for the Players Championship: 1pt on Mark Williams to win the second quarter at 4/1, and 1pt on Mark Allen to beat Wu Yize at 11/8. Those suggestions are rooted in the modelling output and are intended as targeted plays rather than blanket advice.

Quarter pricing, Robertson line and the Williams proposition

Cooper notes that prices for match markets and to-win-quarter markets have been priced close to his probabilities. He cites a 13/8 price on Robertson to win a quarter as a fair value, though it is not widely available. Quarter two is highlighted as particularly interesting, with the 4/1 on Mark Williams to come through two matches described as an appealing proposition.

Williams' head-to-head record against Barry Hawkins is 19-6 in Williams' favour. The analysis argues that Hawkins' principal attribute, described as nous and decision making, may be nullified by Williams, who is praised as one of the best in that department. At the same time, Williams poses different challenges against Judd Trump; Williams has struggled to contain Trump on many occasions.

The two men contested a couple of huge financial deciders in Saudi in 2024, with Trump producing a memorable pressure clearance to land their equivalent of the Masters before Williams gained some recompense later that year. Williams' 17-14 win over Trump in the semi-final of last year's World Championship, where Williams outscored and outplayed his opponent, is used as evidence that his game remains in strong shape.

Despite that, Cooper labels Trump as the most likely winner of the section, but suggests the market margins should be tighter than the 4/6 and 4/1 currently shown, proposing nearer 4/5 and 10/3.

Zhang Anda, Shaun Murphy and recent form signals

There is a case made for backing Zhang Anda at 13/8 against Shaun Murphy, but reluctance to oppose Murphy is explicit; Murphy is described as one of the top three players this season. Murphy's recent Hong Kong defeat is framed in the context of a quick turnaround, a mitigating factor, and he was also ultimately well beaten by the number one player in Berlin while still producing brilliant patches in the German capital.

Zhang is characterized as a heavy scorer and more potent on home soil, having reached the final of the Grand Prix in neighbouring Hong Kong last-time-out. The head-to-head between Zhang and Murphy is noted: Murphy has had Zhang's number in five of their six clashes.

Mark Allen, Wu Yize and the bottom quartet outlook

The model writer confesses to having come unstuck a few times when backing Wu Yize this season, yet still identifies value in Mark Allen at a general 11/8 price to beat Wu. Allen is described as hard to weigh up; when he retreats into his shell it harms his rhythm. Statistically, Allen has a higher win percentage this season than Wu, and both players have won a tournament in the season covered by the analysis.

These pieces of analysis and the Hong Kong reversal by Yuan feed directly into pre-tournament conversations around the Players Championship 2026 scores, schedule, prize money and market expectations. Specific schedule and prize details are part of the broader event package but are unclear in the provided context; readers should note that modelling-driven recommendations and recent headline results will continue to influence odds and strategy going into the event.