World Grand Prix

It's another case of "he's had a crap season, but one good run and suddenly he'll go to Sheffield where John Virgo will kiss his boots".

Robertson 10 Bingham 0


In terms of the Players Championship in Telford on 17 March (and the 1 year ranking list), Bingham's in, Carter's out.

In terms of the World Championship in Sheffield (and the 2 year ranking list), Bingham's at no.20 and the Craptain is at 15. However Bingham, and Xiao Guodong in 16th, are in the Player's Championship so they have a chance to add to their points before Sheffield. Unless someone withdraws from the Players Championship, then the Craptain won't be playing in Telford and he won't be able to add to his ranking points before Sheffield, so Bingham and Xiao can still kick him out of that top 16.

Wow that was close

Never doubted it for a moment...

I've been pushing for Robbo for a few tournaments, so it's good he's finally bloody well won one.

The World Grand Prix takes place 3-8 Feb 2026. It will take place at the Kai Tak Arena, Hong Kong again. The event features only the top 32 players in the 1 year ranking list, but counts as a ranking event as it based on this season's performances alone.

The Draw (the number before the name is their ranking on the 1YL):

1 Neil Robertson v 32 Jak Jones

16 Zhou Yuelong v 17 Stephen Maguire

9 Mark Allen v 24 Ali Carter

8 Judd Trump v 25 Yuan Sijun

5 Wu Yize v 28 Anthony McGill

12 Jack Lisowski v 21 Chang Bingyu

13 Barry Hawkins v 20 Ding Junhui

4 Mark Williams v 29 Zhang Anda

3 Shaun Murphy v 30 Pang Junxu

14 Gary Wilson v 19 Si Jiahui

11 Xiao Guodong v 22 Kyren Wilson

6 Ronnie O'Sullivan v 27 Joe O'Connor

7 Chris Wakelin v 26 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

10 Elliot Slessor v 23 Stuart Bingham

15 John Higgins v 18 Zhao Xintong

2 Mark Selby v 31 Aaron Hill

My first thought is "I bet Lisowski's chuffed"

After the interim events from that draw being made, this might turn out another skew-whiff situation.

Jack Lisowski no longer chuffed as Chang Bingyu came back from 3-1 down to beat him 5-4.

Wu Yize came back from 3-1 down to beat McGill 5-3.

Xiao Guodong continues his good form, beating Kyren 5-2. Zhand Anda also carrying on his good form, beat Mark Williams by the same score. Sadly Hawkins beat Ding 5-3. Wins for Zhou Yuelong, Elliot Slessor, and Mark Selby.

Ronnie still struggling for form, but still managed to grind out a hard fought 5-3 against Joe O'Connor.

The Chinese players are still thriving with the support they are getting in Hong Kong, and Si Jiahui beat Gary Wilson 5-2.

Jak Jones got the upset, beating Neil Robertson 5-1. Chris Wakelin whitewashed Thepchaiya 5-0.

Sadly Carter beat Mark Allen 5-4

Apart from that the Hong Kong crowd were treated with success for the Chinese players. Pang Junxu beat Tubbs 5-1 . Zhao Xintong beat Higgins 5-3. Yuan Sijun upset Judd 5-2.

9 of the 16 remaining players in Hong Kong are Chinese.