LIVE BLOG | 2026 Wuhan Open Snooker Final - Zhao Xintong v Chang Bingyu

The final leg of this summer’s ‘Chinese snooker swing’ will be won on Saturday as compatriots Zhao and Chang face each other in a two-session (07:00BST & 12:30BST) best of 19 frames final. The winner will pocket £175,000.

Both players have essentially cruised through to the final, winning all their matches by at least three frames.

World number 45 Chang had to win two qualifying matches held in the UK earlier this summer just to reach these main venue stages in the Far East. In front of the cameras, the 24-year-old saw off Liu Hongyu before eliminating multiple-time ranking event winners Ali Carter, Judd Trump, and then Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-final.

2025 World Champion Zhao’s run here this week means that he is guaranteed to finish the event as the world number one for the first time in his career, although he’ll now be focused on maintaining a 100% winning record in professional finals.

In this blog, Totally Snookered will bring you live updates throughout the day. Will it be a seventh ranking title for Zhao, or a maiden one for Chang?

16:10BST: CHANG BINGYU IS THE 2026 WUHAN OPEN CHAMPION

Having needed a snooker on the final red, Chang Bingyu has completed one of the GREATEST clearances professional snooker has ever seen to land his maiden ranking event title!!!

He has defeated Chinese compatriot Zhao Xintong, 10-7, to win the 2026 Wuhan Open and claim the £175,000 first prize.

15:37BST: Zhao 7-9 Chang | Chang one away from title

It's such a nervy and edgy affair now, so full respect to Chang Bingyu getting the job done in frame 16.

Holding a 45-point lead but with the balls spread largely handsome, Zhao missed a tight red to leave his opponent a chance.

Chang compiles 40 before running out of position. He attempts to lay a snooker but ends up leaving the red on, although it doesn't amount to much for Zhao.

The crucial juncture came on the last red when Chang laid a brilliant snooker. Zhao escaped from it but left it on, and Chang steadied himself to clear for 9-7 - one away from a maiden ranking glory.

15:14BST: Zhao 7-8 Chang | Chang back in front

Another twist in this dramatic all-Chinese final as Chang stops his opponent's three-frame streak to nudge in front and go two away from the title.

Chang gets in first but misses a red to middle on 17. Presented with a fine opportunity, Zhao gets up to 37 but fluffs position on his next ball by going into the yellow.

Later in the frame, Zhao attempts a four-ball plant that turns into a horror shot, spreading the balls and leaving Chang a simple starter.

Considering what had happened across the previous three frames, the qualifier composes himself admirably and crafts a morale-boosting 73 clearance.

14:55BST: Zhao 7-7 Chang | Back to all level

This could be yet another HUGE turning point, in what was another very close and dramatic frame!

In a frame that went down to the last red and colours, Zhao sinks the last red and later manages to dislodge the pivotal green that was on a side cushion.

Zhao sank a tremendous green and screwed back for the brown, but the six-time ranking event winner unexpectedly missed it, and left it hanging in the jaws.

HOWEVER, Chang - who was surely playing cushion first to obtain position on the blue - ended up missing the entire brown altogether.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Zhao potted essentially frame ball brown before later confirming his third in-a-row and to restore parity at 7-7.

Incredible turnaround over these past few frames; how is Chang Bingyu feeling now?

14:15BST: Zhao 6-7 Chang | Zhao within a frame at interval

From essentially being a ball away from going 8-4 down not long ago, things are looking a lot rosier for Zhao Xintong who is now only one behind as the players go into the final mid-session interval of the final.

After Chang misses a long red and balls collide, Zhao capitalises - enjoying freedom at the business end of the table - by making a decisive run of 60 for back-to-back frames.

The momentum has definitely shifted in Wuhan.

13:59BST: Zhao 5-7 Chang | Gamechanger?

Is this going to be a BIG turning point in the match as Zhao steals the frame on the final pink and ends his opponent's four-frame sequence.

After Zhao initially got in, Chang went about producing a frame-winning effort.

The qualifier looked to have completed his mission, but missed a black whilst on 57 that would have left his peer needing penalty points.

In an incident-packed end to the frame, Chang gives away several fouls whilst in a snooker before escaping from it and fluking the yellow in the same shot.

However, faced with a green on a side cushion from distance, Chang plays safe, but Zhao - after being disturbed by a noise in the audience - creams in a stunning long green from distance, pots up to the pink to pinch the frame and reduce his arrears to two frames.

13:27BST: Zhao 4-7 Chang | Chang taking control

It's now four frames on the spin for Chang Bingyu who is looking very good and comfortable out there in the biggest match of his life.

From behind, Chang produces a brilliant counter effort of 57 - including an incredible positional/development shot on the final red - to go within three of his maiden ranking crown.

Remember, 2025 World Champion Zhao has never lost in a professional final, having won in all seven of his previous appearances.

12:53BST: Zhao 4-6 Chang | Three frames in-a-row for Chang

From 4-3 down, Chang has gone 6-4 up.

Chang crafts a break of 62 - with some brilliant recovery shots, including a long, straight blue - but within touching distance of the frame he rattles a red.

With six reds remaining, Zhao mounts a counter charge but misses the penultimate red down a side cushion whilst on 29 but gets away with it.

With the frame in the balance, an exchange ensued with Chang emerging as the winner after laying a fiendish snooker. The world number 45 then amassed the points he required to go two clear for the first time.

12:35BST: Zhao 4-5 Chang | Action back underway

The players have been introduced and the green baize drama resumes.

09:55BST: Zhao 4-5 Chang | END OF OPENING SESSION

How big a frame could this be in the context of the final as Chang takes the lead for the first time and holds a slender advantage going into the evening session in China.

Zhao opened the scoring in frame nine with a long red. He went on to make 36 before missing a red with the rest.

Chang runs 15 but fails to land on a red when going into the cluster with only a glancing blow.

Later in the frame, Zhao has a golden opportunity to take it, but doesn't convert, botching a pink into a corner pocket.

Like what his fellow countryman did to him a few frames before, Chang - with four reds left this time - stepped in and punished with a 53 counter clearance to steal the frame on the final black.

Play will resume at 12:30BST for the concluding session. Ten frames is the target.

09:30BST: Zhao 4-4 Chang | All-square again

Zhao Xintong goes for a long red early on but misses.

Chang coolly goes about his business, constructing a break of 67 but goes into reds and lands on nothing with still enough points on the table for his opponent.

A few minutes later, after Zhao failed with another attempted pot from distance, Chang put the finishing touches to the frame with a 54 clearance.

He levels up for the third time today. The final frame of the afternoon session is coming up.

09:09BST: Zhao 4-3 Chang | Zhao nudges in front once more

Zhao Xintong is not allowing his opponent to take the lead.

After Zhao missed a red early on, Chang makes 38 but fails with a fiddly red into the red.

Six-time ranking event winner Zhao fully capitalises with an 83 clearance for 4-3.

It just seemed inevitable, that counter.

08:52BST: Zhao 3-3 Chang | Back to a level game

The previous frame would have hurt Chang, so this is a good response from him in the sixth.

Last season's Scottish Open runner-up crafts a 42 before missing a blue when going into the pack of reds.

Zhao - sizing up another counter - gets in the balls but misses a black off its spot on 17.

An effort of 24 from Chang leaves his opponent needing penalty points. Zhao plays on, but it's not long until Chang seals the deal.

08:40BST: Zhao 3-2 Chang | HUGE counter clearance

Sheer class from soon-to-be world number one Zhao Xintong!

On resumption from the mid-session interval, Zhao is very wide with an attempted long red and Chang opens the scoring with a 54 before running out of position. Later, Chang gets in again but misses a long green.

With six reds left, Zhao produces a superb counter clearance of 64 - including a tremendous long pot on the third-to-last red - to pinch it on the black.

He edges back in front, and in style.

08:09BST: Zhao 2-2 Chang | All-square at mid-session interval

Good stuff from the world number 45 - who had to win two qualifying matches to get here - as he wins back-to-back frames to restore parity.

Zhao scores first in frame four but misses a black.

With some fine shot making - and an outrageous fluke on a long blue that went into the opposite diagonal pocket - runs of 34 and 32 essentially help Chang to 2-2. He later made a 31 clearance after Zhao played on for snookers.

The cueists will return in about 15 minutes.

07:47BST: Zhao 2-1 Chang | Chang on the scoreboard

In the biggest match of his life, Chang Bingyu has opened his account.

After a slightly scrappy start to the frame, Zhao missed a red when cueing near a side cushion.

Chang stepped up to compile a frame-winning effort of 76.

The 24-year-old will be feeling much better about things now.

07:30BST: Zhao 2-0 Chang | Zhao doubles his advantage

Chang slams in a plant from distance, spreading the balls at the same time, but misses a green to the middle.

Zhao punishes with a 43 before botching a red with the rest.

Chang replies with 8 but fails with a thin black into a corner. With his second bite of the cherry, Zhao completes the task with a 27 for 2-0.

07:15BST: Zhao 1-0 Chang | Zhao takes the opening frame

A brilliant start from Zhao Xintong to this intriguing final!

The incoming world number one drops in a red from distance and goes on to make a break of 76, albeit with a huge slice of good fortune when fluking a red whilst on 30 (he went for it into the yellow pocket, but found its way into the pink one instead).

Chang returns to the table to get some practise and acclimatise, but it's Zhao who opens up his account, first.

07:05BST: The 2026 Wuhan Open final is underway!

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Wuhan Open snooker, visit our tournament information centre here.