World Grand Prix Snooker draw throws big names together in Hong Kong

The World Grand Prix only features the top 32 players on the one-year ranking list, so it is no surprise there are some tasty ties in the draw.

The event is held at the Kai Tak Arena in Hong Kong and isn’t played until February 3-8, but the draw has already been done.

The Scottish Open, which came to a conclusion on Sunday night, was the last counting event, so the 32-player field was finalised in Edinburgh.

Chris Wakelin won the title in Scotland but he was already safe in the Grand Prix draw, while runner-up Chang Bingyu booked his spot in Hong Kong thanks to his run to the final.

The standout contest in Hong Kong is probably world champion Zhao Xintong taking on John Higgins in the opening round.

The pair met earlier in the season, with the Scot winning at the British Open, and the Cyclone will be looking for revenge at the World Grand Prix.

Defending champion Neil Robertson takes on Jak Jones in his opener, while Ronnie O’Sullivan will draw in the crowds as he faces Joe O’Connor in his first match.

2026 World Grand Prix draw

(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

Other notable games include Mark Allen taking on Ali Carter, Barry Hawkins facing Ding Junhui and in-form Mark Selby playing rising Irish star Aaron Hill.

The big-money ranking event offers £180,000 for the winner, the prize which Robertson pocketed for thrashing Stuart Bingham 10-0 in last season’s final.

Just qualifying for the tournament secures players £10,000, making it a big aim for most of the tour at the start of the season.

After the Grand Prix, the Players Championship begins in Telford on February 17, featuring just the top 16 players on the one-year list, so there is another carrot for the players in Hong Kong.

There is plenty of snooker before the 32 players head to Hong Kong in February, with the Masters coming up at Alexandra Palace in January, followed by the German Masters in Berlin.

The Championship League Invitational also gets underway on January 2, running all the way till February 11.

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