Get set for 17 days at the Crucible with exclusive interviews, expert analysis and tributes — including Barry Hearn on how close the Worlds came to leaving the UK
Pick up a copy of the World Snooker Championship 2026 preview now – our special edition is on sale and packed with everything you need ahead of the game’s biggest event in Sheffield.
The best players on the planet are heading back to the Crucible Theatre, and with confirmation the iconic venue will remain the tournament’s home for years to come, we go behind the scenes of the biggest story around this year’s championship. In an exclusive interview, snooker chief Barry Hearn reveals just how close he came to having to move the competition out of the UK — and what finally secured the Crucible’s future.
From there, we turn to the action on the table. With China’s Zhao Xintong the man to beat, we speak to the leading contenders as they chase snooker’s ultimate prize. We assess Ronnie O’Sullivan’s chances of making history with an eighth world crown, and hear from major names including Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy and last year’s runner-up Mark Williams.
We also spotlight the outsiders hoping to spring a Crucible shock, and chat to several of the broadcasters who will be bringing fans every moment from 17 days of drama. Plus, some of the sport’s greats – Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn and Tony Knowles – share their views on who has what it takes to lift the trophy, while the referee for this year’s final explains why there’s nowhere quite like the Crucible to officiate.
And in a special, emotional feature, we pay tribute to the one and only John Virgo.
Get your World Snooker Championship 2026 Preview today . It is available to buy in participating retailers across the UK. Online postage and packaging applied.