Robertson, Zhao, and Higgins Advance to Tour Championship Semis

Three top snooker players reach the final four of the prestigious tournament in Manchester.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and competing perspectives of a high-stakes snooker match, with sharp planes of green, red, yellow, and blue representing the table, cues, and balls.A cubist interpretation of the intense strategic battle unfolding on the snooker table as top players vie for a spot in the prestigious Tour Championship semi-finals.Manchester Today

Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, and John Higgins have all secured spots in the semi-finals of the 2026 Sportsbet.io Tour Championship in Manchester. Robertson battled past Barry Hawkins 10-8 after Hawkins had taken a 5-3 lead, while Zhao and Higgins also won their respective quarter-final matches.

Why it matters

The Tour Championship is one of the most prestigious events on the snooker calendar, featuring only the top 8 players in the world. Reaching the semi-finals is a major accomplishment for these three players, who are among the sport's elite.

The details

In the Robertson-Hawkins match, Hawkins had taken a 5-3 lead when play resumed on Thursday, helped by breaks of 98 and 58. However, Robertson fought back to win the next seven frames and clinch a 10-8 victory. Zhao Xintong and John Higgins also won their quarter-final matches to join Robertson in the final four.

  • The quarter-final match between Robertson and Hawkins resumed on Thursday afternoon.
  • The semi-finals of the 2026 Sportsbet.io Tour Championship will take place this weekend in Manchester.

The players

Neil Robertson

A professional snooker player from Australia who is ranked among the top players in the world.

Zhao Xintong

A professional snooker player from China who is considered one of the rising stars of the sport.

John Higgins

A veteran Scottish professional snooker player who is a four-time world champion and one of the most successful players of his generation.

Barry Hawkins

A professional snooker player from England who has been ranked among the top players in the world.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was a tough match against Barry, he really pushed me all the way. I'm just glad to have come through it and reach the semi-finals.”

— Neil Robertson

What’s next

The semi-finals of the 2026 Sportsbet.io Tour Championship will take place this weekend in Manchester, with the winners advancing to the final.

The takeaway

The Tour Championship features the best players in the world, and reaching the semi-finals is a major accomplishment that showcases the skill and resilience of Robertson, Zhao, and Higgins.