Snooker Results: Higgins and Zhao Contest Players Championship Final in Telford for £150,000
John Higgins and Zhao Xintong met in the 2026 Players Championship final in Telford on Sunday afternoon, a best-of-19 match that requires 10 frames to clinch victory. Early snooker results showed Higgins taking the first frame and then doubling his advantage to lead 2-0 as the final got under way.
Snooker Results: Telford final and the £150, 000 prize
The winner of the Players Championship final will receive £150, 000. The match in Telford is a best-of-19 encounter, meaning the first player to secure 10 frames lifts the title. Both finalists reached this stage after winning three matches in the tournament's earlier rounds.
John Higgins' route to the final
Higgins earned his place in the Telford final with wins over Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin before edging past World No. 1 Judd Trump in a semi-final that required a deciding frame. That semi-final victory set Higgins up to face Zhao for the Players Championship crown.
Zhao Xintong's semi and World Grand Prix rematch
Zhao reached the final by defeating Elliot Slessor, Sean Murphy and then Mark Allen, claiming a 6-5 semi-final win on Saturday. The two finalists had met earlier this month in the World Grand Prix last-16 in Hong Kong, where Zhao recorded a 5-3 victory on his way to winning that tournament.
Early frames and live match progress
The first frame of the Players Championship final was under way when Higgins took an early 1-0 lead. He then doubled that advantage to go 2-0 up, leaving Zhao determined to get a frame on the board and mount a response. The sequence of opening frames set the immediate tone for a match that will swing on momentum and key mid-session wins.
Hong Kong developments: Yuan's upset and O'Sullivan on Wu
Elsewhere in Hong Kong this month there were notable developments that intersect with the current Players Championship narrative. Yuan sank World No. 1 Judd Trump in an upset in Hong Kong, illustrating vulnerability at the top end of the rankings. Separately, Ronnie O'Sullivan praised Wu, saying, "This kid is really special, " and he described Wu as a future 'world champion. ' What makes this notable is the cluster of results and endorsements coming out of Hong Kong, highlighting shifting dynamics among elite players.
Both finalists have contrasting recent histories against top opponents: Higgins overcame Judd Trump in a deciding semi-final, while Zhao's route included a tight 6-5 win over Mark Allen and a 5-3 victory over Higgins earlier in the World Grand Prix last-16. With the final staged in Telford and ten frames required for glory, the Players Championship will deliver its champion and the £150, 000 prize based on who can convert openings like the early frames into sustained advantage.
