2026 International Championship snooker: Quarter-finals set after more Nanjing drama

Only eight players remain in pursuit of this week’s title and £175,000 winner’s purse after yet another dramatic day in Nanjing.

John Higgins is through to his 159th world ranking event quarter-final after ousting fellow ‘Class of 92’ graduate Mark Williams, 6-5.

In a meeting of two of snooker’s all-time greats, Williams compiled a 94 break as he headed to the mid-session 3-1 up, although on resumption, Higgins went on a four-frame winning streak - with runs of 52, 53 and 60 - to flip the tie and take control at 5-3 up.

Momentum swung again as efforts of 66 and 76 helped Williams force the contest all the way, but it was Higgins - winner of this crown in 2015 - who claimed the decider to go through.

Earlier in the tournament, Higgins - who began these televised stages in the Far East placed 79th on the seasonal ranking list - talked about ‘going back to basics’ as he has reverted to using a brass ferrule on his cue.

Higgins will face Marco Fu in the last eight after the Hong Kong ace pipped teenage rookie Wang Xinbo, 6-5, to make his first ranking event quarter-final since January 2020.

Elsewhere in the bottom half of the draw, there’s a very tasty all-Chinese encounter to look forward to as world number one Zhao Xintong meets Wuhan Open champion Chang Bingyu.

Zhao survived an epic the day before when his opponent Sam Craigie went in-off a re-spotted black in the deciding frame. His latest outing wasn’t quite as eventual, as he crafted a 131 in a 6-3 victory over Aaron Hill. The Republic of Ireland’s number one player Hill registered a 103 and 140.

Chang looks to be in irresistible form in the Far East. The 24-year-old posted breaks of 104, 112 and 104 in dispatching recent Shenzhen Open runner-up Yuan Sijun, 6-2. Chang has already made nine centuries across his opening three matches here.

Ding Junhui navigates another thrilling climax at the International Championship

Chinese snooker’s original trailblazer Ding Junhui emerged from yet another nail-biting finale to keep alive his hopes of a record third International Championship title and preserving his top 16 ranking.

The 15-time ranking event winner cleared the colours to edge Zhang Anda in a deciding frame on Monday, and nearly went the extreme distance again against Stephen Maguire.

Breaks of 56 and 76 aided Ding to a 2-0 lead before Maguire - who himself got here via a final pink finish in the last 32 - pieced together four frames, highlighted by runs of 107 and 105.

Ding struck 50 and 109 in equalising at 4-4; Maguire then went on the cusp via a 76, but his opponent took it to an 11th and final frame.

Like the day before, Ding battled back in the decider that went to the colours, but received a dreaded double kiss whilst attempting a safety shot on the final blue. However, Maguire subsequently missed the blue to middle and left it near the green pocket. Ding stepped up to sink the blue before coolly slotting home match-pink much to the enjoyment of himself and a vocal home crowd.

In this tournament, Ding is defending £175,000 from his world ranking total - the amount he collected for winning this title two years ago.

Next up for Ding is Kyren Wilson in what will be the only all-top 16 quarter-final.

Newly-minted Northern Ireland Open champion Wilson kept his winning streak on the World Snooker Tour going as he squeezed past Oliver Lines, 6-5, totting up eight half centuries during the match.

The other quarter-final in the top half will be China’s Fan Zhengyi against Iran’s Hossein Vafaei.

Conqueror of Mark Selby the round before, former Shoot Out champion Vafaei constructed 102 and 107 in defeating Si Jiahui, 6-3, meanwhile former European Masters champion Fan - who eliminated Judd Trump in the last 64 - reached his first quarter-final since February 2024 after seeing off Liam Davies, 6-4.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 International Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.