World Snooker Championship 2026 recap - Neil Robertson opens up slender lead over Pang Junxu as Mark Selby thumps Jak Jones
By Leon Imber
Updated 22/04/2026 at 23:29 GMT+1
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World Snooker Championship 2026 live comments and streaming details. TNT Sports brings you frame-by-frame updates as Mark Selby cruises past Jak Jones in their opening-round clash at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Selby led 7-2 after a strong morning session, and closed out the victory in speedy fashion. Neil Robertson was also in action against Pang Junxu.
'We don't need Fergie time!' - Scholes captivated as O'Sullivan sinks another century for victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Neil Robertson opened up a slender 5-4 lead in an enthralling first-round clash against Pang Junxu at the World Snooker Championship.
The Australian vowed to go on the attack from the get-go, and produce a brand of snooker ”never seen before” inside the iconic venue in Sheffield, and he did look, at times, back to his brilliant best.
There was a certain irony that the first frame lasted nearly 45 minutes, but this was anything but a bruising grind. Both players went for their shots in an effort to gain the upper hand.
From distance, Robertson was immense, nailing a flurry of long pots like he did in his pomp. But he could never shake Pang.
After taking the opener, Robertson conceded the second frame when he was 47 behind with 51 left on the table, incurring a bizarre fine for his unknown error. But he brushed that aside to move 2-1 ahead.
Back came Pang to level at the break, and then hit the front after the resumption before breaks of 72 and 53 helped Robertson reel off three frames in a row to take a 5-3 lead.
A crucial final frame went the way of Pang courtesy of a sublime century, meaning this clash is keenly poised for when it resumes on Thursday.
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Watch: Unusual scenes as Robertson incurs fine by conceding frame early
Video credit: TNT Sports
Earlier in the evening session, Mark Selby made light work of Jak Jones. The four-time world champion led 7-2 after the first session, and picked up where he left off, completing a 10-2 victory to set up a potential blockbuster second-round match against Wu Yize.
Watch all the action on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
World Snooker Championship 2026 live comments
Robertson 5-4 Pang
What a way to finish!
Pang ends the session with a break of 122, clearing the table in style. Most importantly, though, he closes the gap to just 5-4.
They will resume their first-round match tomorrow, with all the action, as always, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Robertson 5-3 Pang (0-78)
Barring a wobble on a black, this has been a great break. Frame ball has been dispatched, so Pang will now turn his attention a making the first century of the match.
Robertson 5-3 Pang (0-42)
Pang has the first chance of the final frame of the session. After an attacking safety by Robertson, the reds are superbly spread for a big break, so Pang will want to ensure he doesn’t give his opponent a sniff.
With where the balls are, it’s hard to see where he could stumble here, to be honest.
Robertson 5-3 Pang
At 43 ahead with 43 remaining, Robertson just needs to pot the red along the bottom rail. He does so and pots the subsequent pink to move 5-3 ahead.
A huge final frame is coming up.
Robertson 4-3 Pang (65-29)
Pang fouls and worse still, leaves a free ball. Robertson makes the most of it, developing some of the awkward reds at the bottom of the table as he moves ahead in the frame.
There are still three reds on the bottom rail, but he moves two of them with a sublime canon from the black. He’s got the frame at his mercy now.
Robertson 4-3 Pang (19-25)
Pang tries to force the pink into the middle but at that pace, he needs to be more accurate. He gets away with the miss, though, leaving Robertson nothing but a safety shot.
But the Australian is gifted a chance when Pang plays a poor safety. He pots a good opening red and lands nicely on the blue. The reds are placed pretty nicely, but the pink and black are well away from their spots, so he’ll need to tidy the table up.
He gets the pink back on its spot but has to play safe on the next red.
Robertson 4-3 Pang (0-18)
Back comes Pang. The Chinese player pots a red and yellow to the same middle pocket to get going and now has a decent chance early in this frame.
There aren’t many loose reds to play on so he’ll need to disrupt the pack quickly if he wants to win the frame at this visit.
Robertson 4-3 Pang
Robertson rolls in the final red and that should be that. He slots the pink to make absolutely sure he will retake the lead.
Let’s hope the final two frames aren’t so bruising.
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'Let him deal with it' - McManus reacts to bizarre Robertson fine
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson 3-3 Pang (55-9)
After committing a bizarre foul on the pink, Pang jaws a thin cut on a red, leaving it for Robertson to pick off.
Could the end finally be in sight for this marathon frame?
Robertson makes no mistake on frame ball but lands tight on the pink and has to play safe. Needing just one snooker, Pang returns to the table.
On we go.
Robertson 3-3 Pang (41-9)
There’s certainly nothing wrong with Robertson’s long game. Another red from distance falls, can he put together a more meaningful break this time? He’ll have to move the pink, black and the last five reds if he is to do so.
He gets the pink out first and then nudges into the reds, but he runs out of position in the process. So it’s end of break but he’s further tightened his grip on this frame.
Robertson 3-3 Pang (21-9)
The Thunder from Down Under knocks in another sumptuous long red. The frame will still take some winning with the balls where they are but every little helps.
As it is, he only makes six, breaking down with another miss on the high side to the middle.
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More confusion as Robertson corrects referee over frame concession
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson 3-3 Pang (12-5)
After a safety exchange at the start of the seventh frame, Robertson can’t resist taking on a trademark red and sends it into the heart of the bottom-left bag. Vintage stuff.
However, with the high-value colors all pretty tied up, a miss on the pink offers Pang a chance. He can't take it and Robertson is immediately back at the table.
WATCH: Robertson incurs fine after bizarre concession
In case you missed it earlier, Robertson lost the second frame of the match in unusual circumstances.
Watch: Unusual scenes as Robertson incurs fine by conceding frame early
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson 3-3 Pang
The break ends at 72 and is enough to make it 3-3.
Robertson 2-3 Pang (56-0)
Robertson goes into the bunch off the brown and lands nicely on a red. But he opts to go back up for another baulk colour rather than trying to hold for the blue, which leaves him more distance to travel.
He zips back from the brown and sets himself up on a plant, which he gets to go. The break continues, but the reds still aren’t where he’d like them.
He goes back into them from the blue and eventually finds himself in prime position to level up. He’ll be thinking about the century soon.
Robertson 2-3 Pang (30-0)
Pang jaws a red and leaves Robertson a sitter to get going. Vintage Robbo would demolish this chance, so can he do the same here and restore parity?
He’ll probably need to play a canon at some stage, but he’s taking them well so far.
Robertson 2-3 Pang
He falls short of a century but a break of 73 should be enough for Pang to take the frame. Robertson is 72 behind with just 51 left but is out of his chair and back at the table.
He’s not going for snookers, rather he’s taking the chance to pot some balls and get some table time. Who can blame him?
He’s polishing them off nicely, but it’s Pang who leads.
Robertson 2-2 Pang (1-45)
Apart from wobbling a black, Pang is taking these with little fuss. He nudges a few reds out and then goes back into the bunch for a second time, leaving the balls in perfect position.
At risk of repeating myself, he should win the frame at this visit.
Robertson 2-2 Pang (1-14)
Robertson thumps in a brilliant long red. He lands awkwardly on the green and misses it to the middle, gesturing that it may have drifted a little onto the far jaw.
So, after a brilliant long red by Robertson, it’s Pang who has the first proper chance of this frame. Funny old game.
Robertson 2-2 Pang (0-0)
The players are back in the arena for what could be a crucial mini session. They will play five more frames tonight.
Can someone take control or will it be keenly poised? We'll find out.
Robertson 2-2 Pang
Pang snookers Robertson, who fouls on the yellow. The referee then assumes Robertson has conceded the frame before the Australian corrects him, which draws a laugh from the crowd.
It is over when Pang thumps the yellow in. It’s honours even heading in at the break.
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Watch: Jones smashes ball in 'sheer frustration' to hand Selby victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson 2-1 Pang (28-69)
To his credit, Robertson is tying Pang up in some nice snookers. His latest yields four points, so he is now 41 behind with 35 left on. We saw Stan Moody lose a frame earlier in the tournament from a similar position so Pang has to be careful here.
Robertson 2-1 Pang (24-69)
Pang carelessly leaves himself low on the blue after under-hitting a red. He has to go round the angles and even then, he’s faced with a tricky red with the rest. He gets it to fall and then confidently puts the blue away to set up frame ball.
The red goes in to put Pang 45 ahead with just 35 remaining but Robertson isn’t giving up. He returns to the table after Pang plays safe.
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'Perplexed and confused' Jones smacks cue after breaking down on red
Video credit: TNT Sports
Robertson 2-1 Pang (24-51)
A good safety forces a mistake from Robertson and Pang pounces, cutting a lovely red into the left middle. He should take the frame from here.
The final five reds are close to how you’d set them up to practice so unless something goes drastically wrong, we’re looking at 2-2.
Robertson 2-1 Pang (24-25)
The action continues on the other side of the partition, with Neil Robertson taking on Pang Junxu.
After a scathing review of his own game following the Tour Championship, Robertson has vowed to go on the attack at the Crucible this year.
Naturally, after the big build-up, the first frame lasted nearly 45 minutes. Robertson took it before Pang levelled. The Australian then made a break of 81 to move 2-1 ahead but Pang is at the table in the fourth frame.
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'I don't really get close to anyone' - O'Sullivan has 'zero interest' in talking about snooker
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 10-2 Jones
It’s over. Selby mops up the final red and Jones has seen enough. He walks forward, shakes his opponent’s hand and darts out of the arena.
Up next for Selby is an intriguing clash with Wu Yize.
Selby 9-2 Jones (59-30)
The Jester slots a nice red to middle and lands nicely on the yellow. He bumps a red over the top-left corner bag for good measure, too.
He then has a good angle on the black to disturb the remaining two reds but somehow finds the gap behind them and has to play safe.
The suffering isn’t over for Jones yet, who is going for everything. He smashes a red in but misses the follow-up yellow.
Selby 9-2 Jones (48-29)
Hang on a second. With the winning line approaching, Selby misses a sitter to the middle.
”That was a nigh-on certainty for Selby,” TNT Sports commentator Dominic Dale said. ”I do not know how he’s missed it.”
But with a chance he won’t have been expecting, Jones fails to take advantage, managing a break of just seven.
He doesn’t leave Selby anything, but he looks like he’s past the point of caring.
Selby 9-2 Jones (17-22)
Jones is certainly going for it. With nothing to lose, he begins a break with a series of exquisite pots, smashing the bunch to pieces in the process.
But true to the form of the match, he breaks down on 22, leaving Selby with little work to do to complete a serene victory.
Selby 9-2 Jones
Selby narrowly misses a cross-double and Jones thumps in the resultant long red – that’s more like it.
He moves the last red off the black and cuts it in, sending the cue ball racing round the table. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t land nicely on the next colour. To his credit, though, he pots a good blue but then misses frame-ball yellow and leaves it for Selby.
Another steal incoming? You bet. Selby clears the colours to move 9-2 in front.
Selby 8-2 Jones (37-47)
Jones flukes a snooker behind the yellow – could that change things? Selby misses the reds three times and on the third attempt leaves Jones a chance to the middle.
Once again, though, Jones sees the red remain above ground after hitting the far jaw.
It’s still far from a frame-winning chance but Selby now has a chance to amass some points. He closes the deficit before laying a snooker on the last two reds that are tight on the bottom cushion.
Selby 8-2 Jones (24-35)
Selby cuts in a superb long red but where’s the cue ball going? The top-right corner is the answer.
Given how the balls are lying, it is of little consequence, though. A few shots later, Selby pots another excellent red, and although he doesn’t go in-off this time, he doesn’t land nicely on a colour.
Let the safety battle re-commence.
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O'Sullivan feeling a 'different type of nerves' at Crucible - 'Not been a good three years'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 8-2 Jones (19-31)
After getting to 31, Jones jaws a pink to the left middle. The reds are lying terribly, so Selby will do well to win the frame from here.
There are few better at scooping up awkward frames than Selby, though.
A break of 13 is all he can muster before he has to play safe. This could be a long one.
Selby 8-2 Jones (6-11)
It’s one of those days for Jones. After losing the opening frame of the session, he incredibly pots the blue off the next break-off shot.
It isn’t costly, other than the five points, more it just reflects how this match has gone for the 2024 Crucible finalist.
Having said that, he has just drilled in a brilliant long red and followed that with a nice yellow to the middle.
Selby 8-2 Jones
A wild Jones miss works in his favour when he leaves Selby needing to swerve around the green to hit a red. The Jester slightly misjudges it and leaves Jones a chance to the middle.
The Welshman jaws it and hands the frame to Selby on a plate.
Selby 7-2 Jones (54-20)
Another reprieve for Jones. With the frame at his mercy, Selby over-screws the white when potting the blue and sends the cue ball into the bottom-right corner. What an error.
Jones goes for the cross-double but misses, so this one is still very much up for grabs.
Selby 7-2 Jones (33-15)
Selby leaves himself a nice angle on the black to go into the bunch. He strikes it well but sends a red into the left middle – how unlucky!
To make matters worse, he leaves Jones a red to the same middle bag. Jones has another go at splitting the pack from the black and it could hardly go any better but he somehow misses the next red. Trailing by five frames you can’t be making mistakes like that.
Back comes Selby to stun a red in, he’s now the firm favourite for this frame once again.
Selby 7-2 Jones (12-0)
Safe to say this is not the start Jones was after. The Welshman wildly misses an attempt at a long red and it comes all the way up the table into baulk to leave Selby a simple opener.
Can The Jester make him pay and move 8-2 ahead?
He floats in a tricky black and dislodges some reds from the pack. He’s hampered for the next red and needs the extended spider, but he gets it to fall. Now this is a chance.
Boys on the baize
The players have been introduced. Here we go…
McManus previews O'Sullivan v Higgins
While we don't like to look ahead, it's hard not to be seduced by the second-round clash between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins.
The 'Class of 92' icons will square off in a best-of-25 encounter for a place in the quarter-finals, with the first session live on TNT Sports and HBO Max on Saturday.
Among those excited to tune in is TNT Sports expert Alan McManus. Here are his thoughts...
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O'Sullivan v Higgins will be 'one of the biggest occasions in the history of the sport'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Hello and welcome
Another evening of snooker action from the Crucible is upon us. After Ronnie O’Sullivan booked his spot in the second round with a dominant 10-2 win over He Guoqiang, there are more big names in action in tonight’s session.
Four-time world champion Mark Selby resumes with a 7-2 lead over 2024 finalist Jak Jones, while another former champion in Neil Robertson also gets his campaign underway against Pang Junxu and has vowed to deliver something never before seen at the Crucible.
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Robertson plans to play 'aggressive style of snooker we've not seen before' at Crucible
Video credit: TNT Sports
How to watch the World Snooker Championship 2026
You can watch every day of the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports.
It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.Â
For the latest information on which snooker events are on TNT Sports, click here.
Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide.
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