Snooker Results: Players Championship 2026 snooker results and semi-final draw
snooker results from the Players Championship 2026 show four players remain in the hunt as the event reaches its conclusion at the Telford International Centre. The semi-final line-up confirmed John Higgins v Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong v Mark Allen as the last two fixtures standing.
Snooker Results and semi-finals
A field that boasted 16 of the best players from the one-year rankings has reached its climax with a particularly strong final four. There are three former Players Championship winners still involved in addition to the reigning world champion, who is simultaneously on course to make it back-to-back ranking triumphs on the calendar.
Higgins and Trump rivalry renewed
John Higgins and Judd Trump renew a rivalry that effectively dates back to the 2011 World Championship final in Sheffield. In addition to their two Crucible finals, Higgins and Trump share a head-to-head where one has often enjoyed periods of domination over the other. Higgins prevailed from a 6-5 thriller in their latest affair at the Alexandra Palace.
Higgins' route into Telford
Higgins, the four-time world champion who is approaching 51, impressed en route to the final of the prestigious Masters in January. He was not originally supposed to be in the Players Championship, reaching the cut-off point for qualification in 17th position but then promoted into the lineup on the back of Ronnie O'Sullivan’s decision not to enter. The 2021 champion has certainly made the most of his chance, with wins over Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin taking him through to the last four.
Trump's form and recent titles
Judd Trump, the world number one, is 36 years old and has amassed a large quantity of titles over the last decade. Success at the German Masters ended a rare 14-month title drought for Trump. At this tournament he backed up a thrashing of Zhou Yuelong with a 6-3 defeat of Mark Williams in the quarter-finals.
Zhao Xintong's comeback form
Zhao Xintong, 28, represents one of the most obvious players in form this season. He won his first title as a world champion with his triumph at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and followed that with a World Grand Prix victory a couple of weeks ago. In Telford Zhao looked to be heading for an early exit when he trailed Elliot Slessor 5-2 in the first round but fought back to emerge from a deciding frame, and he fired in plenty of nice breaks to beat Shaun Murphy 6-3 in the last eight. Next up for the Chinese competitor is Mark Allen, who came into this tournament as a 20/1 outsider despite having won the event only a couple of years ago.
Other notable headlines and quotes
Outside the Players Championship headlines, a separate result showed Yuan sinks world No. 1 Trump in Hong Kong upset. In another reaction, O'Sullivan heaped praise on Wu, saying, "This kid is really special, " and calling the youngster a future "world champion. "
With semi-finals set and four players remaining in Telford, the snooker results to come will decide which pair contest the Players Championship final.
