John Higgins to face Mark Williams in heavyweight showdown at Tour Championship as new World Open winner Thepchaiya Un-Nooh discovers opponent

React to this story

John Higgins and Mark Williams have won the past two editions of the Tour Championship in Manchester, and the 'Class of '92' duo will do battle in the first round of this year's event (March 30-April 5). Only the top 12 via the sport's one-year ranking list qualify for the elite competition, which is the penultimate tournament of the season ahead of next month's World Championship in Sheffield.

‘What a story’ - Un-Nooh 'stuns' O’Sullivan to become World Open champion

Video credit: TNT Sports

John Higgins will open his title defence at the 12-player Tour Championship against fellow 'Class of '92' icon Mark Williams.

The heavyweight contest is the stand-out tie of the first round between the multiple world champions next Tuesday as Manchester Central hosts the penultimate ranking event of the season (March 30 to April 5).

The celebrated duo last met in the quarter-finals of the World Championship last April with Williams edging an epic battle 13-12 on the final black.

Tour Championship

Tour Championship final RECAP - Zhao completes thumping win over Trump in Manchester

05/04/2026 at 22:06

Higgins lifted the Tour trophy with a 10-8 win over Mark Selby in last year's final, and is in line for a rematch with his fellow four-time world champion in the quarter-finals if he can overcome Williams, who himself claimed the trophy with a 10-5 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan two years ago.

O'Sullivan has opted out of this year's tournament with his 10-7 defeat to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Sunday's final of the World Open, his last competitive action before the World Championship gets underway at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre (April 18 to May 4).

World champion Zhao Xintong is the second seed and will take on the winner of Wu Yize or Chris Wakelin in the other matches in the bottom half of the draw.

'Very special moment!' - Watch O'Sullivan create history with highest ever professional break of 153

Video credit: TNT Sports

Un-Nooh has moved up to 22nd in the world rankings after producing the season's record-extending 23rd 147, his third maximum of the season, in winning the final four frames against O'Sullivan in Yushan.

The Thai speed merchant will face Barry Hawkins in the first round on Monday with the winner set to meet top seed Neil Robertson in the last eight.

Un-Nooh will need to win the trophy and £150,000 first prize to dislodge Ding Junhui as the 16th and final seed who qualifies automatically for the World Championship.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Judd Trump takes on Mark Allen with fourth seed Shaun Murphy awaiting the winner of that contest in the top half in the best-of-19 frame match format.

Watch in FULL as Un-Nooh makes 'genius' 147 in World Open final against O'Sullivan

Video credit: TNT Sports

Snooker's record maximum men in 2025/26

23. March 22, 2026: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Ronnie O'Sullivan (World Open)
22. January 28, 2026: Zhang Anda v Barry Hawkins (German Masters)
21. January 23, 2026: Zhao Xintong v Jak Jones (Championship League)
20. January 22, 2026: Wu Yize v Oliver Lines (Championship League)
19. January 22, 2026: Xiao Guodong v Oliver Lines (Championship League)
18. January 8, 2026: Matthew Selt v Xiao Guodong (Championship League)
17. January 2, 2026: Chris Wakelin v Pang Junxu (Championship League)
16. November 24, 2025: Chang Bingyu v Stephen Maguire (UK Championship)
15. November 22, 2025: Liam Pullen v Kaylan Patel (UK Championship)
14. November 4, 2025: Zak Surety v Aaron Hill (International Championship)
13. October 7, 2025: Aaron Hill v Huang Jiahao (Xi'an Grand Prix)
12. October 7, 2025: Judd Trump v Ng On Yee (Xi'an Grand Prix)
11. October 2, 2025: Gary Wilson v Artemijs Zizins (International Championship)
10. September 17, 2025: Ali Carter v Aaron Hill (English Open)
9. September 14, 2025: Aaron Hill v Yao Pengcheng (English Open)
8. September 2, 2025: Zhou Yuelong v Julien Leclercq (Xi'an Grand Prix)
7. August 25, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Pang Junxu (Wuhan Open)
6. August 24, 2025: Xiao Guodong v Mink Nutcharut (Wuhan Open)
5. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
4. August 15, 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Chris Wakelin (Saudi Arabia Masters)
3. August 10, 2025: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Jordan Brown (Saudi Arabia Masters)
2. July 29, 2025: Zhang Anda v Ding Junhui (Shanghai Masters)
1. July 17, 2025: Fan Zhengyi v Xu Si (Championship League)

Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports

Tour Championship

Is Trump v Zhao's Tour Championship clash a dress rehearsal for World final?

05/04/2026 at 09:59

Tour Championship

Watch the moment Xintong plays 'the best shot I've ever seen'

04/04/2026 at 18:45