World Snooker Championship Betting Tips 2026: Four Each-Way Picks for The Crucible

Betfred's resident snooker tipster and former pro Craig Edwards @EdwardsTips_, who played at the Crucible Theatre 35 years ago, shares his top bets for the action starting this Saturday from the home of snooker itself, the Crucible in Sheffield.

Craig has picked out a name to know from each quarter of the draw. Let's check out who he's backing and why with his World Snooker Championship Betting Tips this year...

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The World Snooker Championship returns to the Crucible Theatre for a seventeen-day marathon, closing another season. Matches progress from best-of-19 frames until the last 16, then best-of-25 until the semi-finals, with the final over 35 frames for a £500,000 prize. 

This tournament stands apart from others with its lengthy format, often producing surprising outcomes - players like Jak Jones and Anthony McGill excel here compared to the rest of the season. 

The opening round draw includes notable qualifiers: 2024 runner-up Jak Jones and four debutants - Yorkshire lads Liam Pullen and Stan Moody (the first teenager since Judd Trump at the Crucible), He Guoqiang from China, and Antoni Kowalski, Poland's first player at this iconic venue. 

Round of 32 

Zhao Xintong [1] v Liam Highfield
Ding Junhui [16] v David Gilbert
Xiao Guodong [9] v Zhou Yuelong
Shaun Murphy [8] v Fan Zhengyi 

John Higgins [5] v Ali Carter
Ronnie O'Sullivan [12] v He Guoqiang
Chris Wakelin [13] v Liam Pullen
Neil Robertson [4] v Pang Junxu

Kyren Wilson [3] v Stan Moody
Mark Allen [14] v Zhang Anda
Barry Hawkins [11] v Matthew Stevens
Mark J Williams [6] v Antoni Kowaski

Mark Selby [7] v Jak Jones
Wu Yize [10] v Peifan Lei
Si Jiahui [15] v Hossein Vafaei
Judd Trump [2] v Gary Wilson 

You can bet on the event with betfred by clicking on the button below, which will take you directly to this Betting Market...

Quarter 1

Shaun Murphy: 1 point each-way at 20/1 

Quarter One appears highly competitive, especially considering the notorious Crucible Jinx that Zhao Xintong is likely to face—a challenge that has historically proven insurmountable. Looking back to Steve Davis's infamous 1-10 defeat to an unknown Tony Knowles during his first title defence in 1981, no first-time champion has ever returned to successfully defend their title; in fact, many have been eliminated in the opening round. 

The best showing by a first-time champion was in 1987 when Joe Johnson reached the final just a year after his surprising 150/1 victory. While trends exist to be defied and should not be treated as certainties, this jinx will undoubtedly dominate the conversation surrounding young Xintong in the coming days. Nevertheless, Zhao Xintong is rightly considered the clear favourite, having only appeared pressured while competing in China this season. He also has a straightforward path to the quarterfinals, making him a popular choice among bettors eager to see him break the legendary Crucible Jinx. 

We are selecting a player from the opposite side of the quarter, whose market value is notably elevated and who possesses the capability to defeat Xintong in the quarter finals should he advance.  

Shaun Murphy merits particular attention; although his ongoing commentating commitments pose a potential concern, it is worth noting that he captured the Masters title last year under similar circumstances.  

His consistently elevated level of performance throughout the season, combined with the expertise of his coach Peter Ebdon, suggest a strategic approach aimed at securing Murphy’s second world title. Since partnering with Ebdon, Murphy has demonstrated significant improvements in focus and execution.  

While certain doubts remain, the current Betfred odds of 20/1 each way (1/2 odds) present an attractive proposition for “The Magician” to reach a fifth final and potentially secure his second world championship, two decades after his first victory. 

Quarter 2

Chris Wakelin: 1 point to win quarter 2 and 0.5 points each-way 

In the top half of our bet, we focus on quarter 2—a section that seems tough on paper since three of its four seeds, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, and Neil Robertson, have twelve world championships combined. However, it is Chris Wakelin, the other seed, who stands out to me. 

Despite being overlooked by snooker fans and bookmakers because of his challenging draw, Wakelin's performance in longer formats is impressive. Once considered a "journeyman professional," Wakelin was frequently a qualifier for the Crucible Theatre, which now looks like a sign of his future success. Since winning the Shootout, he has climbed into the world's top 16 over the last three seasons, dispelling doubts about whether his tenure would be short after his first year as a top 16 player. 

He claimed a second ranking title just before Christmas at the Scottish Open, defeating Chang Bingyu in the final over 17 frames. Last year, seeded in the top 16 for the first time at the World Championship, Wakelin reached the quarterfinals with victories against Neil Robertson, who qualified, and Mark Allen during the demanding event. 

This year, Wakelin could face Robertson again in the last 16, this time playing over 25 frames. Since winning his sole world title, Robertson has only reached the one-table setup of the semi-finals once - in the past twelve years - and doubts about his performance at the Crucible Theatre have increased. 

If Wakelin gets past Robertson, many will not expect him to challenge O'Sullivan or Higgins. Yet, such matchups could prove tricky for these legends, especially when they are heavily favoured to win. 

Should this scenario unfold, holding a Betfred quarter slip for Chris Wakelin would be a valuable addition to our pocket. 

*As Liam Neeson famously puts it, "I have a very particular set of skills," and that sentiment certainly resonates at the Crucible Theatre. In the lower half of the tournament, two specialists known for their World Championship performances stand out!  

Quarter 3

Kyren Wilson: 1 point each-way at 12/1 

The #3 seed and 2024 World Champion, Kyren Wilson, has experienced a season marked by both challenges and significant accomplishments. Notably, in January, he secured his second triple crown title by winning the Masters at Alexandra Palace. Throughout his ascent within the sport, Wilson, age thirty-four, demonstrated remarkable consistency, especially at the World Championship, where he achieved two quarterfinals, two semi-finals, and a runner-up finish prior to claiming the title in 2024. 

This year, after capturing the season-opening Shanghai Masters, an invitational event, his performances in ranking events have not matched his previous standards, yielding only three quarter-final appearances. It is worth noting that when Wilson won the 2024 World Championship, he did so following another underwhelming season; however, in terms of fatigue and energy levels, he remains well-prepared compared to several competitors who have endured longer seasons, including participation in the recent Tour Championship. 

His current campaign has resulted in odds of 12/1 with Betfred, presenting a favourable opportunity for each-way bettors at ½ odds for two places. Based on these factors, Wilson is expected to progress through quarter 3. 

Quarter 4

Mark Selby: 1.5 points each-way @ 9/1 

If Kyren Wilson is considered well-suited to the rigorous 17-day tournament in Sheffield, then Mark Selby certainly fits the bill, evidenced by his four world titles. Although his last world championship victory was five years ago, Selby's form remains strong—he secured his first triple crown since 2021 with this season's UK Championship win at age forty-two. 

Unlike many players, Selby has intentionally skipped several events since Christmas, suggesting he is conserving his mental energy in preparation for the demanding challenge Sheffield presents. In Quarter 4, Selby faces the toughest qualifier, Jak Jones and the winner could be considered as the winner of the quarter. Next up is a probable last-16 encounter with Wu Yize, a formidable opponent. Unless unusual conditions prevail as they did in 2024, Selby is expected to outplay the young Chinese talent. 

This could set up a clash with Judd Trump next. Given that this is the World Championship—longer and more gruelling than other ranking events - Selby might wear down the 2019 champion. I would not be surprised if Kyren Wilson meets Mark Selby in the bottom half semifinal, ensuring Betfred readers see a profitable outcome and giving both players a shot at the title. 

Check out the rest of our Snooker Betting Tips over at Betfred Insights.