The draw for the annual snooker World Championship has been made as defending champion Zhao Xintong aims to break the Crucible Curse

The draw for the 2026 World Snooker Championship has produced plenty of eyecatching first round fixtures as attention turns to the biggest sporting event in Sheffield’s calendar.

All eyes will naturally be on defending champion Zhao Xintong. The 29-year-old from China, who beat Mark Williams in last year’s final, is aiming to end the Crucible Curse, referring to the fact that no first-time winner of the World Snooker Championship has retained the title since the tournament moved to Sheffield's Crucible Theatre. Xintong begins his defence with a matchup with Liam Highfield, who is competing in the tournament for the first time since 2023.

Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan is in the running for an eighth title after reaching the semi-final last year. The 50-year-old, widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats, takes on He Guoqiang, who makes his debut at the Crucible this weekend.

Four-time winner Mark Selby faces 2024 runner-up Jak Jones in one of the standout first round ties. Meanwhile, Judd Trump takes on 2019 semi-finalist Gary Wilson, nicknamed The Tyneside Terror in another exciting first round contest.

Yorkshireman Stan Moody, who came out of hospital to secure qualification, faces a mouthwatering showdown against former world champion Kyren Wilson. While two former finalists in Barry Hawkins and Matthew Stevens also collide this weekend.

Here is the full draw for the Snooker World Championship at the Crucible Theatre: