Several players in race to claim the Home Nations Series bonus jackpot prize at Welsh Open

The player who ends up with the most cumulative prize money from all four of this season’s Home Nations events - the English, Northern Ireland, Scottish, and Welsh Opens - will pocket the bumper six-figure purse.

The final leg of this term’s Series takes place in North Wales between Monday 23rd February to Sunday 1st March. One of the longest-running events on the professional circuit, the 2026 Welsh Open itself offers a £100,000 top prize, as well as The Ray Reardon Trophy.

Following two rounds of qualifying held in Sheffield in early January, the main venue draw consists of 64 players, and there could be a thrilling climax in store over the destiny of the £150k bonus pay-out.

Mark Allen - who turned 40 on Sunday and made the semi-finals of last week’s Players Championship - travels to Llandudno in pole position, currently sitting in top spot with £142,000 in prize money after three of the four completed events.

The former world number one claimed his maiden English Open crown in September under memorable circumstances after winning his final five matches all via a deciding frame, and having conjured up several brilliant comeback wins.

'The Pistol' followed up that Brentwood triumph with fantastic consistency by making the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open on home soil, and the last four of the Scottish Open just before Christmas.

Another incentive for Allen heading into this year's Welsh Open is that should he win the tournament, he would be the first player to have won all four Home Nations events. His other titles on the Series came in Glasgow in 2018, and back-to-back in Belfast in 2021 and 2022.

The winners of this season's other two concluded HNS events are the closest to Allen in the race with Scottish Open champion Chris Wakelin in second on £110,800, and Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski in third on £109,000.

Should either Wakelin or Lisowski claim another title in Wales, they would finish top of the order of merit and pocket the bonus - regardless of what those around them in the standings do this week. At the minimum, they need to reach the final.

The other two players in with a shout of the bonus are China’s Zhou Yuelong and Chang Bingyu.

Chinese cueist Zhou came desperately close to claiming his maiden ranking title earlier this season but was denied in a final frame by Allen at the English Open.

Zhou has maintained that brilliant form throughout this season's Home Nations roadshow by appearing in the last four in Belfast, and then the quarter-finals in Edinburgh.

In order for Zhou to come top of the standings, he will need to win the Welsh Open and hope Allen doesn't reach the final.

Youngster Chang helped light up the action at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in the Scottish capital city last December with a run to his maiden ranking final.

Back on the sport’s top flight this season following his ban and subsequent requalification for the World Snooker Tour, Chang has already had to win a qualifying match in order to reach the main draw for Llandudno.

He requires the title and several other results to go his way in order to pocket the additional prize.