2026 World Open snooker qualifiers explained: Who is playing in Barnsley and what is the format?
The 2026 World Open qualifiers are taking place from Tuesday 10 February until Thursday 12 February 2026 at the Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley, England. These qualifying rounds determine which players will make the main draw of the 2026 World Open, a major ranking event scheduled for 16–22 March 2026 in Yushan, China. The World Open offers a total prize fund of £825,000, with £175,000 going to the champion.
Venue & Context
Qualifying Venue: Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley, England.
Main Event Venue: Yushan, China (mid-March).
The qualifiers bring together a large field of professional players outside the automatic seeding for the main event. Many tour players, including established names and rising talents, compete for a spot in the World Open’s main stages.
How the Qualifiers Work
The qualifying tournament is essentially a knock-out competition. Players must win their qualifying match to secure a place in the main World Open draw in China.
Most qualifying matches are best of 9 frames, meaning the first player to win 5 frames wins the match and progress.
The event is played over three days, with multiple rounds depending on ranking position and draw. Higher-ranked players may enter at later stages, while lower-ranked professionals start earlier.
Winners advance to join the main tournament field in Yushan.
Who is Playing in Barnsley
A wide range of professionals are competing, including established names and those fighting to secure ranking points and prize money. Results from the official qualifying draw show a diverse set of matches (with players’ seedings in brackets):
Notable qualifiers and fixtures include:
John Higgins [1] — the defending World Open champion — featured at Barnsley (his match may be held over to the main venue).
Stan Moody [50] (ENG) vs Jiang Jun [79] (CHN).
Lei Peifan [29] (CHN) vs Michal Szubarczyk [96] (POL).
Ryan Day [35] (WAL) vs Jordan Brown [65] (NIR).
Chris Wakelin [15] (ENG) vs Mink Nutcharut [118] (THA).
Jamie Jones [61] (WAL) vs Artemijs Zizins [75] (LAT).
Beyond these, the qualifiers list includes dozens more players scheduled across multiple sessions — featuring seasoned pros and lower-ranked competitors all aiming to reach China for the main event.
What’s at Stake
Success in Barnsley means:
Qualification for the main World Open main draw in China.
Ranking points contributing to season standings.
Significant opportunities to earn prize money.
A chance to compete for the £175,000 winner’s prize at the World Open.
Watching the Qualifiers
The qualifiers are being streamed live across various platforms: Discovery+, WST Play, Huya, and others. Selected matches may also be covered by broadcasters in different regions.
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