International Championship Snooker 2026: Prize money, format, schedule, last 64 matches, how to watch - when is John Higgins playing?

It’s nearly time for the eighth ranking event of the 2026/27 snooker season, with the International Championship starting at the weekend.

Wu Yize is the International Championship defending champion. | Getty Images

First staged in 2012 in the Chinese city of Chengu, since 2024 it has been held in Nanjing, in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, and this year marks the 12th edition.

Read more: Snooker Rich List 2026: Here are the 11 biggest earners of the season - how much prize money have Wu Yize and John Higgins banked?

Last year saw local hero Wu Yize lift the trophy after being Scotland’s John Higgins 10-6 in the final.

Both are back this year, along with a who’s who of the snooker world, although Ronnie O’Sullivan has chosen not to play.

And there’s plenty of Scottish interest - with John Higgins, Ross Muir and Stephen Maguire all taking part.

Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament.

When is the International Championship being held?

The tournament will take place from Saturday, October 31, to Sunday, November 8.

Where is the International Championship snooker being held?

The tournament is hosted by the South New City National Fitness Center (SNCNFC) in Nanjing, China.

What is the prize money at the International Championship?

There is £825,000 up for grabs, distributed as follows:

• Winner: £175,000
• Runner-up: £75,000
• Semi-final: £33,000
• Quarter-final: £22,000
• Last 16: £14,000
• Last 32: £9,000
• Last 64: £5,000
• Highest break: £5,000

What is the format of the International Championship snooker?

Matches are the best of 11 frames (first to six) until the semi‑finals which are the best of 17 frames (first to nine) and the final which is the best of 19 frames (first to 10).

Qualifying took place in Leicester on September 17-19. A number of qualifying matches feturing Chinese players and wildcards were held over to the main competition in China.

What is the last-64 draw at the International Championship snooker?

Here’s the last-64 draw and when the games will be played - along with the final qualifiers held over to the main competition.

Saturday, October 31

From 1.30am

• Zhou Yuelong [18] v Liam Davies [90]
• Liu Hongyu [55] v Louis Heathcote [67]
• Jimmy White [97] v Mark Selby
• Shaun Murphy [7] v Mitchell Mann [98]
• Michal Szubarczyk [78] v Chen Qi'en (a) (Qualifier)
• Liu Wenwei [84] v Dong Zihao (a) (Qualifier)
• Steven Hallworth [73] vLi Jun (a) (Qualifier)

From 6am

• Ben Woollaston [45] v Yao Pengcheng [75]
• Ryan Day [42] v Lei Peifan [26]
• Barry Hawkins [10] v Ricky Walden [57]
• Stuart Carrington v Hossein Vafaei [28]
• Neil Robertson [3] v Jiang Jun [63]
• Ding Junhui [15] v Sahil Nayyar [93] (Qualifier)
• Pang Junxu [27] v Wang Xinzhong (Qualifier)

From 11.30am

• David Grace [77] v Si Jiahui [17]
• Jak Jones [31] vWang Xinbo [105]
• Wu Yize [1] v Hammad Miah [103] (Qualifier)
• Jackson Page [36] v Szubarczyk / Chen Qi'en (Qualifier)
• Judd Trump [5] v Liu W / Dong Zihao (Qualifier)
• Fan Zhengyi [53] v Hallworth / Li Jun (Qualifier)
• Zhao Xintong [2] v Ian Burns [76] (Qualifier)

Sunday, November 1

From 1.30am

• Zhang Anda [19] v Huang Jiahao [111]
• Oliver Lines [52] v Dylan Emery [68]
• Ashley Carty [100] v Julien Leclercq [110]
• Stuart Bingham [20] v Marco Fu [70]
• Ishpreet Singh Chadha [58] v Mark J Williams [9]
• Lyu Haotian [62] v John Higgins [6]
• Chang Bingyu [22] v Ross Muir [82]

From 6am

• Stephen Maguire [32] v J Page/tbdS
• Ding Junhui / Nayyar v Gao Yang [74]
• Liam Highfield [69] v Kyren Wilson [8]
• Trump / tbd v Fan Z / tbd
• Luca Brecel [40] v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh [21]
• Joe O'Connor [30] v Yuan Sijun [34]
• Aaron Hill [38] v Anton Kazakov [116]

From 11.30am

• Wu Yize / Miah v Robbie Williams [54]
• Pang Junxu / Wang Xinzhong v Mina Awad [127]
• Xu Si [37] v Gary Wilson [25]
• Chris Wakelin [12] v Long Zehuang [50]
• Daniel Wells [51] v Duane Jones (a)
• Stan Moody [41] v Sam Craigie [71]
• David Lilley [59]vZhao Xintong / I Burns

When is John Higgins playing in the International Championship?

Scotland’s John Higgins will be taking on world number 62 Lyu Haotian in the 1.30am session on Sunday, November 1.

How can I watch the Northern Ireland Open?

There will be live coverage of the Northern Ireland Open on TNT Sports which UK viewers can stream through Discovery+.

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