World Senior Snooker Championship 2026 Betting Tips: We’re back at the Crucible for even more snooker!

Following Shaun Murphy's profitable World Championship run, Betfred snooker tipster and former pro Craig Edwards (@EdwardsTips) previews the Senior World Championship at the Crucible Theatre.

Read on for his World Senior Snooker Championship 2026 betting tips.

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New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

World Senior Snooker Championship Odds

On the final evening Hazel Irvine asked, "What is she going to do from Tuesday?"

Easy answer Hazel;  the World Seniors championship starts Wednesday evening and is played through to Sunday evening.

World Seniors Championship Format and Field

The World Seniors Championship continues to expand rapidly each year at the Crucible Theatre, directed by the innovative Jason Francis of Sporting Legends. His "900" series has captured the imagination of snooker enthusiasts in recent months.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is making his first appearance alongside a distinguished group including Ali Carter, Matthew Stevens, Joe Perry, Rob Milkins, Anthony Hamilton, and Stuart Bingham, all new participants in the event.

As always, the Legends Snooker leadership introduces fresh elements, replacing traditional deciding frames with a black ball shootout to heighten both atmosphere and pressure.

Participation has increased annually, and in 2026, 24 players will compete, with the top eight seeded directly into the opening round. The competition format consists of best-of-seven frames until the semi-finals, which are contested over thirteen frames, culminating in a best-of-19 frame final on Sunday. This structure presents a significant challenge for competitors and underscores the depth and quality of this year's World Seniors Championship.

World Seniors Draw

• Alfie Burden vs Igor Figueiredo or Mohammed Elkhayat
• Robert Milkins vs Jimmy White or Daniel Ward
• Stuart Bingham vs Peter Lines or Anthony Hamilton
• Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Ken Doherty or Gerard Greene
• Nigel Bond vs Craig Steadman or Neal Jones
• Ali Carter vs Tony Drago or Roger Farebrother
• Matthew Stevens vs Dominic Dale or Wayne Townsend
• Joe Perry vs Reanne Evans or Aaron Canavan

Top Half

The top half of the draw appears favourable for Ronnie O’Sullivan, especially considering his performance at the recent World Championship. Not only did he mention rediscovering his enjoyment for the game, but his strong form throughout the event- including in his defeat to John Higgins - suggests he has been putting in significant effort.

A potential quarter-final clash with Stuart Bingham could prove challenging, particularly as it will be played over just seven frames. Whoever wins that encounter is likely to be a formidable opponent in the semi-final. However, Rob Milkins, who is soon returning to Q School, might also pose a threat if he manages to get past defending champion Alfie Burden in the earlier rounds.

For those interested in betting, focus should shift to the bottom half of the draw, where there is no need to face 'The Rocket' en route to the final.

Bottom Half

The bottom half of the draw offers excellent value for someone to reach the final, as it appears more open. The World Seniors event has helped revive several journeyman professionals' careers in recent years.

For example, Alfie Burden won last year's event and then went on to achieve an unexpected victory at the Shootout on the main tour this season. Similarly, David Lilley’s win here boosted his confidence, allowing him to regain his tour card and improve his earnings over the next few years.

0.5 pts Craig Steadman @ 33/1

That context draws my attention to Craig Steadman, who has recently regained both his playing privileges and tour card after a solid QTour season.

Steadman has a straightforward start against Neal Jones and Nigel Bond, with a possible match against Ali Carter afterward - a player sometimes susceptible to upsets by lower-ranked competitors.

Given these factors, the 33/1 odds at Betfred make it worth placing a small bet that the forty-three-year-old from Farnworth could make a strong comeback by winning the World Senior Championship.

1 pt Matthew Stevens @ 10/1

Matthew Stevens finds himself in the lower ranks of the competition, but if he can resist the temptations of an event celebrated for its camaraderie and lively atmosphere, he could be a strong contender.

As a former Masters and UK champion, Stevens has an impressive history at the Crucible, having twice finished as runner-up and reached three semi-finals between 2000 and 2005, despite never claiming the title.

Recently, he qualified for the Crucible again by defeating Stuart Bingham, before falling to Barry Hawkins in the last 32 at the iconic venue. This shows that the well-liked Welshman is still performing well, and after several heartbreaking defeats here in the early 2000s, few would be happier than Matthew Stevens if he were to win the World Seniors Championship.

With Betfred offering odds of 10/1 on Matthew Stevens, he stands out as a strong main pick for the 2026 World Seniors Championship.

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