Snooker
World Snooker Championship 2026: The Rocket Heads Best Bets In Last-16
We’re into the last-16 stage of the 2026 World Snooker Championship and William Hill News have assessed the best bets as we enter the business end of the competition.
World Snooker Championship Tips – Last 16:
- Xiao Guodong to beat Shaun Murphy (6/4)
- Ronnie O’Sullivan to beat John Higgins and record most century breaks (4/6)
- Mark Allen to beat Kyren Wilson (6/5)
- Mark Selby to beat Yu Wize and record most century breaks (13/8)
The first round of the snooker World Championship has gone pretty much as expected. The result is some high-profile matchups in the last 16, creating some fascinating snooker betting angles.
Xiao Guodong vs Shaun Murphy
Shaun Murphy had to work hard for his last 16 spot after a 19-frame win over Fan Zhengyi. Xiao Guodong won 10-6 against Zhou Yuelong.
This is the first meeting between the players since the 2024 Wuhan Open. A semi-final appearance at the World Grand Prix is Xiao’s best recent showing and wins against the world’s best players have been few and far between.
Murphy hasn’t beaten a contender since January. Given their respective form and a pretty even head-to-head record, it’s hard to see why Xiao is the underdog.
John Higgins vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan cruised past He Guoqiang to set up a last 16 duel with John Higgins. This marks their seventh Crucible meeting, but only the second since 2011. It’s three wins apiece so far.
Form doesn’t mean much for O’Sullivan at this stage of his career. Higgins is in a difficult spot to judge – he beat Mark Selby but was hammered by Zhao Xintong in the Tour Championship.
It’s been a mixed bag from Higgins since he reached the final of the Players Championship. We think the Scot will be competitive, but O’Sullivan is primed for yet another quarter-final appearance.
Kyren Wilson vs Mark Allen
Despite Kyren Wilson being seeded third to Mark Allen’s 14th, there’s not much to choose between these two in the betting markets.
Since winning the Masters, Wilson’s results have been largely underwhelming, with poor showings at the World Grand Prix, Welsh Open, and World Open. Allen’s form is far from perfect but wins over Selby and Wu Yize are fresh in the memory.
Allen has the game to get the win here, even though Wilson’s won the last two meetings.
Mark Selby vs Wu Yize
Selby and Wu have met six times. Selby has won all six, many of which have come in emphatic fashion. Wu has played some good snooker in recent months, but it’s no surprise he’s the underdog for this matchup.
Winner of the UK Championship and the Champion of Champions, Selby only needed 12 frames to see off Jak Jones in the last 32. He’s once again a serious contender to go all the way.
The Jester from Leicester is going to take some beating – this is poised for a last eight duel with Judd Trump.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
