World Snooker Championship 2026 Preview: Favorites, Odds, & Best Bets

Judd Trump (+500)

Trump heads to the 2026 World Snooker Championship as one of the clear favorites to lift the title for a second time. The 2019 world champion hasn’t returned to the winner’s circle at the Crucible since his dominant 19-8 win over John Higgins, and his last final appearance came in 2022. But recent form and rankings suggest he’s primed for another deep run.

Trump has been a force over the past few seasons. He swept the UK Championship and Masters in 2023, coming one trophy short of the Triple Crown, and he enters this year’s Worlds on the back of topping the 2025-26 End of Season Rankings. His £1,625,550 in prize money puts him well clear of Neil Robertson (£1,160,550), and he also sits No. 1 in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings.

PURE POWER! 🤯

That's Judd Trump ending a stalemate 😅#tourchampionship | @Sportsbetio pic.twitter.com/qPXR0ycQpi

— WST (@WeAreWST) April 3, 2026

This season, Trump has shown both a high ceiling and some vulnerability. He finished runner-up to Mark Selby at the UK Championship and reached the Masters quarterfinals, with his standout title coming at the German Masters. However, there are warning signs: he was hammered 10-3 by Zhao in the Tour Championship final, edged 6-5 by Higgins in the Players Championship semifinals, and upset by Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in a shock World Open semifinal defeat.

From a betting perspective, Trump offers a blend of elite pedigree and slight volatility. He has the scoring power and current ranking profile of a genuine champion, but his recent losses in big matches hint at possible fragility under pressure.

Backers will see strong value if his outright price reflects those doubts, while skeptics may look to oppose him deep in the tournament, especially against clinical match players like Selby or in-form shot-makers like Zhao. Although Trump should be considered as one of the favorites, he doesn’t present the best value for my World Snooker Championship winner picks at +500.

Zhao Xintong (+500)

In red-hot form, Zhao will aim to keep rolling at the Masters Championship. The 29-year-old is one of the younger players, but he already has compiled an impressive resume.

Zhao won the 2021 UK Championship and became the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship last year. In 2025, Zhao defeated Mark Williams in a strong 18-12 victory.

Instead of Zhao tanking, he’s found more results this season. Despite not winning the UK Championship or Masters, he’s the hottest player in snooker with the World Snooker Championship approaching. Zhao enters with the most century breaks on the WST by a considerable margin at 74 compared to Selby’s 65.

Zhao Xintong in this season's Players Series Finals:

🏆 10-6 vs Zhang Anda (WGP)
🏆 10-7 vs John Higgins (PC)
🏆 10-3 vs Judd Trump (TC)

A simply incredible single-season feat 🙌 pic.twitter.com/D3jVPzIo09

— WST (@WeAreWST) April 5, 2026

He is coming off outstanding performances in two prestigious tournaments. Zhao claimed the Players Championship and Tour Championship. Trump was no match for the streaking Chinese player in Manchester, and he should remain in top shape at the Crucible.

In addition to those two wins, Zhao took home the World Grand Prix this season. Overall, in his previous 19 matches, he’s gone 17-2 since February 4. All things considered, Zhao’s odds to win the World Chess Championship are worth a look at +500 to defend his title.

Ronnie O’Sullivan (+600)

Does “The Rocket” have one more in him before he calls it a career? At 50 years old, O’Sullivan has checked every conceivable box. He’s been in the Hall of Fame since 2012, owns just about every record that matters, and has nothing left to prove. The question now isn’t about his legacy, but whether there’s still enough in the tank for one last big run.

From a betting standpoint, recent form says you need to be cautious.

O’Sullivan has not lifted a major ranking trophy since the 2024 Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. He also captured the World Grand Prix that same year, but the last two seasons haven’t matched that level of success.

His 2025-26 campaign hasn’t been a write-off, though. On March 20, he produced a remarkable 153 break against Ryan Day, eclipsing Jamie Burnett’s long-standing 148 from 2004. Just when you think O’Sullivan’s resume is complete, he finds another way to rewrite the record book.

Ronnie O'Sullivan keeps breaking records in snooker – he's just made the highest ever break in the history of the professional game at the World Open! 👑 pic.twitter.com/2xO9H0P75Z

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) March 20, 2026

Historically, his achievements are unmatched. He holds the world record for most major titles, with 23 Triple Crown championships. Even this season, he showed flashes of that pedigree by reaching the World Open in China, where Thepchaiya Un-Nooh ultimately denied him. Still, his recent finishes tell a more modest story:

• • Last 16 – World Grand Prix
  • Last 32 – German Masters
  • Last 32 – UK Championship

Those results are respectable, but they’re not the dominance his name still commands in the market.

And that’s the key for bettors in this tournament: O’Sullivan can never be written off, but his World Championship price is largely anchored to his past, not his present. Books are still shading his odds based on his legendary career more than his current form and consistency over a long event.

So, how should you play it? In short, you need a premium price to justify the risk. Unless you can find +1000 or longer on O’Sullivan to win the World Snooker Championship, it’s better to stay away. At shorter numbers, you’re paying for the name and past results than for a true current edge.

He may still have one last masterpiece in him, but from a value perspective, you should only back it if the odds fully reflect the uncertainty.