International Championship 2026: Tournament Guide

The 2026 International Championship runs from 31 October to 7 November in Nanjing, China, one of the biggest ranking events of the autumn calendar and the final automatic-seeding cutoff ahead of the UK Championship. Bookmark this page for dates, format, prize money, and the players chasing a title on Chinese soil. Follow every match live once play begins via Snooker247's live scores hub.

Key Details

Dates: 31 October – 7 November 2026 City: Nanjing, China Event type: Ranking event Total prize fund: £825,000 Winner's share: £175,000 Defending champion: Wu Yize (CHN) Qualifiers: 17–19 September 2026, Leicester Arena, Leicester

A Landmark Event on the China Swing

First held in 2012, the International Championship was once dubbed the "first overseas major" for carrying the same ranking-points weight as the UK Championship. After stops in Chengdu and Daqing in its early years, and a pandemic-enforced pause between 2020 and 2022, the tournament has been staged in Nanjing every year since 2024, building a growing reputation as one of the most prestigious events on the China leg of the tour.

Defending Champion's Breakthrough Run

Wu Yize enters as defending champion after a stunning run to his maiden ranking title last November, beating four-time World Champion John Higgins 10–6 in the final. That win propelled him into the world's top 16 for the first time in his career — and it turned out to be the launchpad for an even bigger triumph, as Wu went on to win the 2026 World Championship at the Crucible just months later, beating Shaun Murphy 18–17 in a deciding-frame classic. He returns to Nanjing not as an underdog anymore, but as reigning World Champion looking to defend a title on the same stage where his rise truly began.

Why This Tournament Matters

The International Championship carries extra significance beyond its £825,000 prize fund: it's the cut-off event for automatic seeding at the UK Championship. A strong run here can be the difference between a top-16 seed and a tougher early draw at one of the season's most prestigious tournaments just weeks later — giving every player in the field an added incentive to go deep in Nanjing.

Players to Watch

Wu Yize headlines as both defending Nanjing champion and reigning World Champion, a dual status that makes him the man to beat.

John Higgins, last year's runner-up, will be looking to go one better this time around after pushing Wu all the way to a 10–6 scoreline in a final that highlighted the veteran's enduring quality even in his fifties.

Zhao Xintong, the 2025 World Champion, reached the semi-finals here last year in an epic 9–6 defeat to Wu — a match many considered one of the best of the season — and will be eager for another deep run.

What's Next

After Nanjing, the tour heads into Scottish Open qualifying before the season builds toward its next marquee event, the UK Championship, with seeding for that tournament directly shaped by results here.

Check back for results and reaction as the International Championship gets underway, or follow live scores here as matches unfold.