World Snooker Championship 2026 LIVE - Updates, results and streaming details as Zhao Xintong defeats Ding Junhui in last-16 Crucible clash

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World Snooker Championship 2026 live comments and streaming details as defending champion Zhao Xintong defeats Ding Junhui, while Mark Selby faces Wu Yize. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan resumes later on Sunday night holding a 6-2 lead over John Higgins in the 'Class of 92' last-16 battle.

Zhao wins 'battle of China' against Ding to reach quarter-finals

Video credit: TNT Sports

Zhao Xintong is through to the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield after defeating Ding Junhui.

Zhao faced Chinese compatriot Ding in the morning session on Sunday, April 26, 2026, while four-time champion Mark Selby is taking on Wu Yize.

This live blog covers frame-by-frame action from that match, with full scores across all matches available on the TNT Sports scores page.

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Result: Zhao 13-9 Ding

Defending champion Zhao Xintong will face Shaun Murphy in the World Championship quarter-finals after completing a 13-9 win over fellow Chinese icon Ding Junhui in a last 16 clash.

Resuming 9-7 behind, Ding won an error-strewn 17th frame lasting 45 minutes to trail 9-8, but while the former UK champion continued to make blunders in the remainder of the closing session, Zhao found enough form to avoid an early exit.

The top seed punished his opponent's misses by winning the 18th frame before edging a tense 19th frame on the final black.

Ding kept alive his hopes with a break of 76 in the 20th frame, but Zhao finished strongly by dominating the final two frames as a break of 108, his third century of the match, in the 21st frame helped him over the winning line.

Zhao will probably have to improve when he takes on 2005 winner Murphy on Tuesday and Wednesday after the in-form Murphy thumped Xiao Guodong 13-3 with a session to spare on Friday.

Meanwhile, four-time champion Mark Selby is level at 4-4 with Wu Yize after an absorbing first session on Sunday morning.

Selby led 2-0 with breaks of 123 and 124 before Wu hit back by winning the next three.

An 81 saw Selby level at 3-3 before Wu rolled in 72 to move 4-3 clear, but it was the Leicester man who claimed the final frame of the session after Wu ended up going in off the final red in the last frame of the session.

They resume their last-16 match at 19:00 on Sunday night.

Zhao wins 'battle of China' against Ding to reach quarter-finals

Video credit: TNT Sports

Sunday's order of play at Crucible

10:00

Zhao Xintong 13-9 Ding Junhui
Mark Selby 4-4 Wu Yize

14:30

Chris Wakelin 4-4 Neil Robertson
Hossein Vafaei 4-4 Judd Trump

19:00

John Higgins 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Selby 4-4 Wu Yize

Zhao 12-9 Ding (87-9)

Warm embrace from Zhao towards Ding as the world champion continues his title defence with a 13-9 win in the last 16.

Zhao 12-9 Ding (75-9)

Ding missed far too many balls in this closing session. Zhao heading through to face Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals.

Zhao 12-9 Ding (51-9)

Another chance for Ding, but he again misses an easy looking red at the table. Which you can't afford to do in this company. Looks like we are heading for the conclusion of this match.

Zhao 12-9 Ding (43-4)

Loses the white on 43. And can't drain a long red to the yellow bag. So chance eludes the world champion. Ding then rolls in a long red of his own. Needs to win the final four frames to stay alive in this year's competition.

Zhao 12-9 Ding (28-0)

Suspect Ding's run might be done in this match. A superb plant on reds by Zhao opens up more red, and he is right in among the balls again as we speak.

Zhao 11-9 Ding (137-0)

A brilliant break of 108 from Zhao and he leads 12-9, chasing one more frame to secure a spot in the last eight.

Zhao 11-9 Ding (99-0)

Ding at the point of no return now as Zhao closes on the quarter-finals.

Zhao 11-9 Ding (61-0)

Zhao is in prime position here as he slots red with rest to land on black. Ding is going to reflect on missed chances in this match if he goes out. Can't say he hasn't had enough scoring opportunities in this contest.

Zhao 11-9 Ding (34-0)

Ding with another poke at a longish red. But well off the pot, and suddenly Zhao is back in business here at the business end. Another glorious chance to move one from the winning line in this match.

Zhao 11-9 Ding (29-0)

Ding ends up hitting the black as he sticks up plenty for Zhao to attack. But he loses the white on only 22. Well, that is astonishing. Only the safety shot to follow for Zhao. He can't believe that.

Sunday's order of play at Crucible

10:00

Zhao Xintong 13-9 Ding Junhui
Mark Selby 3-3 Wu Yize

14:30

Chris Wakelin 4-4 Neil Robertson
Hossein Vafaei 4-4 Judd Trump

19:00

John Higgins 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Selby 3-3 Wu Yize

Zhao 11-8 Ding (0-76)

Ding misses the black on 76, but Zhao has seen enough. Gives the world champion the nod. And they head off for a cuppa at the mid-sesh.

Zhao 11-8 Ding (0-60)

Brilliant three-ball plant by Ding to continue this contribution. Up for the blue, and this looks like a one-visit hit after draining that opening long red. Much more like it from him. Looks like it will be as you were then when they head for the interval.

Zhao 11-8 Ding (0-22)

Can Ding steady the ship here? First prod at these balls here. Vital that he starts scoring here. And this is a very decent opportunity after he opened up a few reds.

Zhao 10-8 Ding (69-60)

And it is Zhao who ends up taking out the long brown after a safety blunder by Ding. Zhao steps in to polish off the final four colours. A big move made by Zhao, who is three clear. Ding really not taking his chances this morning. And pays a heavy price.

Zhao 10-8 Ding (47-34)

So many basic errors continue to be made by both men, but somehow Ding has been presented with a huge chance here to steal a frame that never looked on. Two reds remaining. Brown the key ball in frame welded to a baulk cushion.

Zhao 10-8 Ding (47-0)

Well, didn't see that one coming as Zhao misses a fairly straight red with the rest. What a chance he has presented to Ding, who must have thought he was destined to trail by three.

Zhao 10-8 Ding (16-0)

Is Zhao starting to feel good about himself here? Has first prod at these balls in the 19th frame. Usually clinical in these set-piece situations. Ding will be fearing the worst.

Selby 2-1 Wu

Wu dominates the third frame to close to 2-1 behind against the four-time world champion.

'Extraordinary' - Ding snookers himself after accidentally potting 'incredible' yellow

Video credit: TNT Sports

Zhao 9-8 Ding (78-9)

Not overly convincing stuff from either man, but Zhao looks a lot more like himself in this 18th frame. Settling down to the task at hand. Ding is going to have to play much better to win this match you would suggest.

Zhao 9-8 Ding (55-9)

Another chance for Zhao here as Ding clips black in failing to escape from a snooker. The world champion rolls in a red to yellow pocket. Big chance then for the top seed to regain his two-frame lead.

Zhao 9-8 Ding (33-9)

Early chance for Ding, but he misses a pink to right middle. Zhao responds with 33 before snookering Ding behind the black. All very tense on this Sunday morning in Sheffield.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (39-63)

Ding finally cuts in the blue to left middle before snookering himself on the black. Plenty of laughs from the crowd. 45 minutes of misses and drama. But Ding finally closes to only one frame behind.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (39-58)

Frame now running for over 40 minutes as Ding misses double on blue. Zhao then leaves Ding behind the pink. Off two cushions to escape from the latest snooker. This can't be much fun for Ding.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (39-58)

This 17th frame running for well over 30 minutes. Ding missed a straight yellow to seal this frame 20 minutes ago. And has been put through the wringer since.

Selby 2-0 Wu

Start how you mean to go on. Mark Selby with breaks of 123 and 124 to open against Wu, who has only scored one point in two frames.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (35-58)

Stunning escape from Ding to hit the brown off three cushions from deep in baulk. Wonderful knowledge of the angles by Ding.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (35-58)

Ding escaping from a snooker after leaving himself behind the black in potting yellow, but he is not yet out of the woods here. Chance for Zhao. Sticks Ding in another horrid situation behind the blue.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (32-56)

Would you believe this? Fairly routine swerve shot for Ding, but he misses the edge of the yellow. Not sure how he missed that. This frame back in the balance.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (28-56)

But a fluke on red by Ding is going to surely pave the way to this frame. Yet Ding misses a straight yellow off the spot. Wow. That is a bad miss. 28 clear with 27 remaining. Still not over the line.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (28-45)

A big chance then for Ding to put some distance between himself and his compatriot here. But a double on a red doesn't drop. A 23-point lead with three reds before Ding slams home a corking long red. But ends up going in off the black to right middle.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (21-21)

Incredible amount of misses in this first frame of the final session. Nerves clearly affecting both players as Zhao can't slot a routine red.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (16-12)

Ding missing a black off the spot as the tension continues to overrule this first frame. Both men seem to be aware of the significance of a fast start this morning.

Reminder of last night's action

Zhao 9-7 Ding (9-1)

Zhao missing a blue seconds later. Neither man truly settling down so far this morning. Get the feeling this start is more important to Ding than Zhao as he plays catch-up.

Zhao 9-7 Ding (5-0)

All smiles before they walked into the Crucible this morning, but Ding won't be seeing the funny side of that first shot. Miles away from a long pot. Doesn't cost him though as Zhao fails to nudge in a tricky red with the spider. Ding back at the baize. But he then misses a pretty routine red. Zhao with a big chance now.

Sunday's order of play at Crucible

10:00

Zhao Xintong 11-9 Ding Junhui
Mark Selby 2-2 Wu Yize

14:30

Chris Wakelin 4-4 Neil Robertson
Hossein Vafaei 4-4 Judd Trump

19:00

John Higgins 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Mark Selby 2-2 Wu Yize

Zhao 9-7 Ding

Zhao Xintong produced a second century of the match to open up a 9-7 overnight lead against fellow Chinese icon Ding Junhui in their last-16 meeting at Sheffield.

The world champion added to his 116 in the fourth frame with 115 in the 11th frame on his way to winning the second session 5-3 after the duo were locked at 4-4 overnight.

Top seed Zhao was never behind in opening up an 8-5 then 9-6 lead with other notable breaks of 77, 59 and 87.

But Ding pinched the 10th frame on the final black with another couple of 69 knocks keeping him in touch before they play to a finish on Sunday morning at 10:00.

The winner will face Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals.

'Like Ronnie O'Sullivan' - Ding says Zhao will 'take everything over' in snooker

Video credit: TNT Sports

World Championship LIVE - Zhao v Ding

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Sunday's morning session in Sheffield.

How to watch and stream the World Championship

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.

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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