Players Championship 2026 Tips

After a title-less 2025, he arrives at his peak form after breaking his 14-month drought. Trump comes into the tournament with massive momentum after winning his 31st ranking title on February 1, 2026, defeating Shaun Murphy 10-4 in the final.

Zhao’s natural fluency and rapid break-building ability make him extremely dangerous. He thrives in quick-scoring exchanges and can overwhelm opponents with fearless shot selection. However, consistency under intense pressure remains key. If he controls his nerves in longer matches, he has genuine title-winning potential in this field.

No one has dominated the ranking tournaments this season so far, with no player owning two ranking titles at this point yet. One of those who has won a ranking title is Shaun Murphy, who has a fine record in the Players Championship, making the final three times already. He won the British Open and, raised in Northamptonshire, he won the Championship in 2023 in Wolverhampton. He does not have far to travel to Telford for this tournament this week either. Odds of 10/1 to win look worth taking.

John Higgins is always a dangerous player , any time can win a tournament, he made he final at The Masters last month and the scottish can have another good result today here at Players Championship.

Xiao Guodong has been playing really well lately, making the semi-final in Hong Kong where he defeated Kyren Wilson, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Si Jiahui before losing out to eventual winner Zhao Xintong. Guodong has already won an event this season (Wuhan Open in August) and, crucially, he seems to be in the easier half of the draw in Telford.

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Chinese player Zhang Anda has really developed as a player over the past three seasons, making all four of his ranking finals within this time span. In his last appearance in the Players Championship a few seasons ago, he reached the final in his very first attempt. He was also a finalist in his last event, the ranking event World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. Odds of 28/1 each way for this in-form player this week in a sixteen-player field look worth taking.

Yuelong has made a QF, two SFs and a final this season, only losing a decider to Allen. He has a very tough first-round match against Judd, but if he causes an upset then he may have confidence to go further.

Slessor has made a quarter-final in each of the last three seasons and made a quarter-final this season. He showed recent league ability to beat the top players, topping a group with Selby and Wu, but was beaten in a decider by Wu. Unlikely, though, due to the format and quality of opposition, but he has a chance.