World Snooker Championship 2026 recap - Shaun Murphy leads Zhao Xintong, with Barry Hawkins on top against Mark Allen

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World Snooker Championship 2026 live comments and streaming details. TNT Sports brought you frame-by-frame updates as 2005 winner Shaun Murphy meets the defending champion Zhao Xintong in the last 16 at the Crucible Theatre, while Mark Allen takes on Barry Hawkins.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy leads Zhao with Hawkins on top against Allen

A tremendous first session saw Shaun Murphy win five frames in a row after losing the first three to lead Zhao Xintong, the defending champion, 5-3 after the first session of their quarter-final.

That looked extremely unlikely early on, Zhao quickly taking command with a big break to win frame one, Murphy having chances to win each of the first three frames before losing them all.

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But he began the fightback in four, before two black-ball steals levelled the match, the champ's standard dropping inexplicably.

And, though the 2005 winner didn't play that well himself, he did just enough to turn 4-3 into 5-3, both players missing numerous chances in a second consecutive marathon.

Meanwhile, on table two, Barry Hawkins, seeking his maiden triple crown title, took a 5-3 lead over Mark Allen, in search of his first world title.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-5 Murphy

AND HE MISSES IT! Shaun tidies, and five frames won on the spin means he leads, improbably, going into this evening's second dig; I can't wait.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-4 Murphy (44-53)

No matter: Zhao leaves a clip to the yellow bag, Shaun punches it home ... and somehow leaves the green on the lip! That felt like a formality, but perhaps a lack of concentration, the frame perceived to be his, caused the error, and if Zhao can get in behind the pink, on the side rail, he'll fancy himself for 4-4. It's not as easy shot, at all: it's not dead straight, the white further into open table, but if he rolls it home, he'll have a cut-back black for the frame ... but he goes at it hard, looking to get on to the final ball perfectly...

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-4 Murphy (30-52)

Zhao keeops the run going with a pot long pot to the yellow pocket, but his cannon off the black and on to one of the last two reds connects too thinly. So it's a skinny cut to left corner ... which stays on the lip! Yet another chance for Shaun to claim the frame, but he escehws a double on the final red to protect his lead ... but doesn't execute as planned, white in the open, not hiding behind the black.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-4 Murphy (16-44)

If someone had told me before the session that Shaun would win five frames straight, I'd have assumed he'd hit one of his streaks, but it's not been like that at all. Oh, but as I type, he gets out the rest and misses a third poink he shouldn't; what can Zhao conjure in response? There are two reds on the side...

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-4 Murphy (8-43)

Pink to corner on a straight diagonal ... is missed! Oh Shaun! I didn't see that coming, but Zhao isn't at it, leaving himself a nasty cut ... which he can't complete! I don't think I've ever seen him struggle like this and there's no good reason for it – he's not been blitzed or anything like it. The Magician has to take advantage and, if he doesn't, he'll have all afternoon to stew.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-4 Murphy (1-15)

Tareendous three-ball plant from Zhao ... yields no position, so he forces it with a blue to right corner ... as he did with that brown last frame ... with similar results. Shaun will know he won't play like this all match, so this is cash-in time. The balls are there...

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-4 Murphy

And he does. I don't think Shasun can win this one from behind so, can he extend his lead in the final frame of the sesh? He's won four frames on the spin...

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-3 Murphy (1-54)

He can't make much of the opportunity but he is the better player currently, and even when Zhao picks out a plant, he then goes seriously hard at a brown to middle – I'm not sure why he was so loose there – and Shaun ought really to secure the lead at this visit.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-3 Murphy (0-34)

It's not so easy for Zhao now, and he can't bag to right corner – he was at 96% pot success in frames 1-3, but 4-7 he's 74%, and this is a chance for Shaun to move ahead.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-3 Murphy (0-33)

Having one two frames on the black, Shaun glides a jazzer of a starter into left corner and quickly builds. if he copuld move in front, Zhao would really have things to consider, but as I tyope he runs out of position and it's in behind the brown.

World Championship LIVE - on table two

Barry Hawkins 4-3 Mark Allen

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-3 Murphy

Oh but he can! That could be a huge moment in this match, and we're level - a state of affairs that did not look likely when Zhao rushed into a 3-0 lead.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (70-67)

Shaun has a go at the pot, misses and leaves a snick ... but again, Zhao can't get the frame one and this time, leaves a ball that surely won't be missed. After 40-odd minutes, this is huge! Can The Magician hold it down?

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (70-61)

The brown isb't easy – Shaun will have to bump in behind it, send it to the bottoM cushion and along it into the yellow bag ... oh but he misses! So Zhao gets rid, leaves himself a mid-range diag on the pink ... and who expected him to make a mess of that?! the frame goes on!

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (61-56)

Shaun goes at an opener and misses by miles, then finds himself in a snooker behind the yellow, misses thrice ... and somehow flukes it on the fourth go, coming off the side from baulk to pot into right corner! This game! That should be 3-3, though the brown isn't far off the bottom rail.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (45-53)

Zhao lands a lovely starter but no more then, when Shaun tries a swerve to hit the final red, just as Fouldsy's praising the effort, he cannons the black into corner ... and has he left a free ball? Not quite. And next go, he flukes a snooker ... well escaped.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (37-53)

Easy balls gone, Shaun plays a poor shot to get on to the blue that he was hoping to use to get on to one of the two difficult reds. So he lays a snooker behind the green, not hard to escape but which might leave him a pot ... and Zhao measures his response very nicely.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (37-28)

Yup, Zhao leaves himself a tight cut-back to corner, misses, and somehow covers it; Shaun remains in his seat for a good few seconds, processing the injustice, before knuckling a much harder ball that he was expecting into right corner with the rest. There are two reds on the side, but before he gets to them, he can move in front.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (30-22)

Another decent safety earns Shaun an opportunity, and are we seeing a route to victory for him? Zhao's tactical game is good and improving, but so far, he's second-best in that aspect ... which won't matter if Shaun continues missing pinks like that one he's just directed into the jaws. The reds, though, are nasty, so this frame has plenty legs in it yet.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (24-7)

Zhao's cooled a little and he misses to middle – by a way – and the way the balls are, Shaun will expect to put a dent in this frame ... but flicks a stray red and somehow lands on nowt. Though the standard's not as high as in the opening frames, it's a really good contest now.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy (17-1)

Left in baulk with the colours covering most of the table and enough reds loose down the right side of the table to be a problem, Shaun misses his selected ball four times, then adjusts and hits nicely; he'll take that, the points of far less concern than leaving a chance. Then, with his safety, he more or less forces Zhao to take on a pot, it stops out ... and The Magician botches a mid-range blue to the yellow bag. He worked hard for that opportunity, only to quickly hand it over; ouch.

World Championship LIVE - on table two

Barry Hawkins 3-2 Mark Allen

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-2 Murphy

Shau needed that; he'll feel he's in the match now, but must keep up the pressure.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (68-53)

Shaun earns the initiative with soe decent safety, sinks the green with the rest, good pot, adds a mid-range brown, another fine effort, and this is going to be his frame.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (68-46)

The green is on the side and Shau gets position for the double ... then refuses it, instead tucking in behind the black; good shot. Zhao, though, hits well, and gets the white safe, this becoming a really important pssaage of play.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (68-36)

Not quite: Zhao tries sending one long to the yellow bag, it's not there, and Shaun gets away, but he can't take the yellow because it'll mean he needs a snooker if he doesn't take the black with his next ball. So it's the harder brown, he plays it well, uses pink off the final red, and the steal is on! This would be a massive boon for The Magician.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (61-23)

Zhao tries clipping from middle to corner but with safety in mind, landing white behind green, not tight but close; Shaun misses with his escape, leaves a starter, and this is 4-1.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (56-23)

But when Shaun gets in, he too goes at the pack from below, sticking to a red; the ref calls touching ball, and it's back to baulk.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (56-15)

There's no one better at going into the pack from underneath than Zhao, but this time, he gets the power wrong, hitting it too slowly; end of break, frame still in the balance.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (16-15)

Zhao clips to left corner, he's on the black, and is now picking at the pack from below.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy (0-15)

Shaun flukes an opener – he's been in first in every frame – then adds yellow to middle. But with few loose reds, he must play safe when they're gone, and we're now bumping in and out of the pack.

World Championship LIVE - on table two

Barry Hawkins 2-2 Mark Allen

My sense is Zhao beats Shaun with a bit to spare, but this match could go all the way.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-1 Murphy

A really entertaining mini-sesh, completed in roughly an hour, is over, with the champ looking tremendous but Shaun also in nick.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-0 Murphy (23-73)

Zhao goes hard at a long one, hits the jaws, and if Shaun can just pot one more ball, he'll be on the board ... and he clips a beauty into the yellow bag.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-0 Murphy (7-69)

This is lovely, methodical stuff from Shaun, who'll not have forgotten he missed frame-ball not long ago. He's making very sure he doesn't do that here, though with one snooker required, he can't quite cut to middle, and Zhao returns to the table with a starter waiting for him.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-0 Murphy (0-30)

Zhao goes hard at one to right corner ... misses ... and leaves a chance. Shaun must surely take it if he's to make a match of this; though we've seen some comebacks recently, they've not been against his opponent here. He gets the pack open, slots a banger to middle, and this is good stuff.

World Championship LIVE - on table two

Barry Hawkins 1-1 Mark Allen

Mark is behind but at the table, and it shout;d soon be 2-1 to him.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 3-0 Murphy

Shaun's had chances in all three frames, only to lose all of them; Zhao is ruthless when opponents err, and if he wins the next, it'll really make a statement.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy (58-31)

Shaun leaves himself a double on the final red ... and it's wide ... and he leaves a dolly. That's another frame to Zhao.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy (57-25)

Zhao gets behind the second of the three but not quite at the angle he's after. He has a think – this red plus a colour leaves Shaun needing snookers – but he doesn't want to risk his lead with a really difficult pot, sending the ball from right side to the yellow bag, so plays safe. And straight away, he's left a brute to middle, gets really close ... it spins on the lip ... and stays out. Opportunity for Shaun...

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy (51-24)

There's a red really close to the right side and two others not far off it; he gets on the easiest of them and slips it to middle, but the hard work is just beginning.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy (4-24)

Oh, but Zhao opts to take on a pot almost the full diag of the table ... and look at that. He is a ridiculous individual, already playing better than in his first two matches, and this could soon be 3-0.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy (0-24)

There are a few loose reds but the table isn't easy and, when the white speeds up, it takes Shaun out of position; he won't be happy with making just 24 from that opportunity. Gosh, and when Zhao's safety clips the brown as it re-enters baulk, it lands behind the green; the escape works out pretty well.

'What's gone wrong there?!' - Murphy clips the pink in nightmare start

Video credit: TNT Sports

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy (0-8)

A stonking starter for Shaun then, already behind the green, he nuzzles up to it; Zhao escapes. No matter: another superb red and he's in again – he's playing well.

World Championship LIVE - on table two

Barry Hawkins 0-1 Mark Allen

But Basher is at the table, frame two secure, seeking a century.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 2-0 Murphy

Zhao clears the table, meaning he's won the first two frames in the most aggravating manner imaginable: a ton and a steal.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 1-0 Murphy (39-60)

It'd sting Shaun something fierce to be mugged here, but the final red is on the side, Zhao leaving himself a double. Here he goes ... and it's into the far jaw ... but will he get cover? Yes he will, the blue blocking access to it on the diagonal, so Shaun goes off the side trying to cut it into the yellow bag, and gets close. But all he does is leave long one and as we said, his boy is an absolute cheat code. We've a new favourite for the frame, and this looks ominous for The Magician - and the rest of the draw.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 1-0 Murphy (20-60)

Shaun knows exactly how good Zhao is and how well he's playing, so could really use an emphatic kill here. Oh, but he runs out of position a little so pauses to contemplate before prodding towards left-centre ... and into the far jaw. He did not need that, and here comes the counter. Before long, though, Zhao must take on a minger to middle ... and it's lasered into the heart of the pocket. This boy is an absolute cheat code.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 1-0 Murphy (0-39)

My system crashes, returning for me to see Shaun at the table, accumulating.

World Championship LIVE - on table two

Barry Hawkins 0-1 Mark Allen

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 1-0 Murphy

And there it is. I'm not totally sure how Shaun wins this – he's a fantastic player, but everything he does, Zhao does a bit better. He's not one of those who can slow the game down with safety – he just has to pot like God and hope it's enough.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 0-0 Murphy (72-16)

Frame clinched with little apparent effort, Zhao is now after a century.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 0-0 Murphy (49-16)

Zhao is one of those players you watch and think yeah, this is exactly what he's meant to be doing – he's so smooth and calm. He's beatable, but over long matches it's hard to do – last year, no one got close to him.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao 0-0 Murphy (31-16)

The ref has a issue with a light somewhere in crowd but we're soon under way, Shaun getting in before running out of position. Winning his round two match with a session to spare allowed him to go home and forget about snooker, but will the rest have done him good or hindered his focus? Either way, he'll have to play brilliantly to get by the champ, who's had a fantastic year establishing him as the best player in the world; my sense is that it needed Ronnie or Judd at their best to stop him, perhaps Mark J Williams, and they've all gone out, but we shall see; for mine, the Crucible curse is in danger of being broken. Meantime, Shaun goes for a pot that's not on, hitting the pink, so Zhao lashes a starter to corner and quickly builds.

World Championship LIVE - Zhao v Murphy

Rob Walker is making a noise – it's really, really exciting, Here come our players!

How to watch and stream the World Championship

You can watch every day of the 2026 World Championship live on TNT Sports.

It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.

For the latest information on which snooker events are on TNT Sports, click here.

Here is the TNT Sports schedule and TV guide.

Oh my days! Yesterday was alright, wasn't it? We could easily spend all of today reliving it and probably will, except there's the small matter of our quarter-finals to be getting on with – and what a line-up we've got.

We begin this morning with Zhao Xintong, the champ – and now, for my money, hot favourite – against Shaun Murphy, in teriffic form having devastated Xiao Guodong in round two. Meantime, Mark Allen, seeking the one major title to have eluded him, meets Bazza Hawkins, still chasing the trple crown event that'd crown an excellent career.

Then, this afternoon John Higgins returns to face Neil Robertson, with Wu Yize taking on Hossein Vafaei. Don't mind if we do!