Emma Richards
Emma Richards covers the stories behind the snooker. From tournament drama to player profiles, she brings the human side of the sport to life. A NCTJ-qualified journalist with a passion for growing the game.
Articles by Emma Richards
Championship League Snooker 2026: Everything You Need to Know as the New Season Gets Under Way in Leicester
The 2026 Championship League Snooker is under way in Leicester, offering the first ranking silverware of the new season with 128 players in the draw and defending champion Stephen Maguire among those bidding for glory.
The Shot That Stopped the Crucible: Robertson's Genius Moment Against Higgins
Neil Robertson produced a contender for shot of the tournament in his World Championship quarter-final against John Higgins, playing a red off the cushion and into the yellow to divert the ball into the middle pocket in a moment of breathtaking audacity.
Half a Million Reasons to Win at the Crucible: The 2026 World Championship Prize Money Explained
The winner of the 2026 World Snooker Championship will pocket £500,000 — a figure unchanged for eight straight years. Here is the full prize money breakdown, from the champion's cheque to the qualifying round losers.
Snooker Is Thriving at the Top — So Why Are Its Grassroots Still Struggling?
Snooker is experiencing a genuine boom at the elite level, but the grassroots clubs where champions are made have been disappearing for years. Can the sport's golden moment finally reverse the decline?
Gilbert Shows His Class as Donaldson Also Books Stage Two Spot at Championship League
David Gilbert advanced unbeaten from Group 21 at Championship League Snooker on Thursday, while Scott Donaldson edged a tense group decider against Yuan Sijun to join him in Stage Two.
Wu Yize Wins the World: A 22-Year-Old's Nerve, a Nation's Pride, and the Crucible at Its Finest
Wu Yize became the second-youngest World Champion in Crucible history, defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in only the fourth deciding-frame final since 1977.
Chang Bingyu Is Making His Move — and the Rest of the Tour Should Take Note
Chang Bingyu maintained his perfect start to the 2026/27 season by topping Group 27 of the Championship League, dropping just a single frame across wins over Ryan Day, Jamie Clarke, and Phil O'Kane.
Burglar Steals £2,000 Children's Cancer Charity Fund from Kyren Wilson's Home
Kyren Wilson has withdrawn from the Championship League Snooker event after burglars broke into his home and stole personal items — including £2,000 set aside as a donation for a children's cancer charity.
Emery and Xu Si Make Winning Starts as Kyren Wilson's Championship League Campaign Ends Before It Began
Dylan Emery and Xu Si advanced from their opening groups on day one of the 2026 Championship League Snooker, though the dominant story was the withdrawal of former world champion Kyren Wilson after a burglary at his home.
Where to Watch the BetVictor Championship League 2026: Your Complete Broadcast Guide
The BetVictor Championship League 2026 is a full-ranking event with global coverage — here's exactly where to watch every frame, whether you're in the UK or tuning in from across the world.
Burglars Steal £2,000 Cancer Charity Cash from Kyren Wilson's Home While He Competed in Leicester
Kyren Wilson withdrew from the Championship League in Leicester after burglars broke into his home and stole three watches, jewellery, and £2,000 in cash that had been set aside for a children's cancer charity.
Eight Champions, One Spectacular Day: The 2026 World Disability Snooker Championship Delivers in Thailand
Eight world champions were crowned in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday as the 2026 World Disability Snooker Championship delivered a stunning conclusion, with Thailand claiming four gold medals and England's Carl Gibson producing a remarkable comeback to retain his title.
Championship League Snooker 2026: Leicester Calls as a New Season Begins
The 2026/27 snooker season gets its first taste of silverware as Championship League Snooker returns to Leicester on 22nd June, with world number three Zhao Xintong heading a 128-player field and defending champion Stephen Maguire back to defend his crown.
Wuhan Open Qualifiers: Lisowski, Un-Nooh and Bingham Among the Fallen as Leicester Delivers Drama
Five seeds were eliminated in the final day of 2026 Wuhan Open qualifying in Leicester, with Jack Lisowski, Stuart Bingham and Zhang Anda among those to suffer surprise defeats.
Wu Yize Crowned Players' Player of the Month — and Every Single Peer Agreed
Wu Yize has become the first player in the award's history to claim the WPBSA Players' Player of the Month with a unanimous 100% of the vote, following his stunning World Championship triumph at the Crucible.
Hamilton Fires the Starting Gun: Is Ferrari's Finest Back in the Title Hunt?
Lewis Hamilton's first win in Ferrari red at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix has cut his championship deficit to Kimi Antonelli to 41 points — and the seven-time world champion is not ruling anything out.
Wuhan Open 2026 Qualifiers: The Road to China Begins in Leicester
The 2026 Wuhan Open qualifiers are underway at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, with players ranked 17 to 32 — including Jack Lisowski, Ali Carter, and Stuart Bingham — fighting for their places at the main event in China this August.
Wyatt-Hodge Lights Up Edgbaston as England Begin World Cup in Devastating Fashion
Danni Wyatt-Hodge struck an unbeaten 105 and took a stunning catch as England demolished Sri Lanka by 87 runs in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston, with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hailing her side's ruthless composure.
Son's Missed Chances Cost Czechs Dear as South Korea Stage Gutsy World Cup Comeback
South Korea came from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara, with goals from In-Beom Hwang and substitute Hyeon-Gyu Oh completing a gutsy World Cup Group A comeback.
The Whirlwind Still Blows: Jimmy White Opens 47th Pro Season With Century and Victory
Jimmy White marked the start of his 47th season on the World Snooker Tour with a composed 6-2 win over Sean O'Sullivan at the China Open qualifiers, including a century break of 112.
WST PLAY Brings Live Commentary to Qualifying Action — Starting With the China Open
WST PLAY is adding live commentary to qualifying matches from the 2026/27 season, beginning with the China Open and Wuhan Open qualifiers on 10th June — with Ali Carter, Luca Brecel and Jack Lisowski among those in action.
Your Guide to the 2026/27 World Snooker Tour: Who's In, What's New, and When It All Begins
The World Snooker Tour for 2026/27 is almost fully formed, with 128 players confirmed ahead of a season that begins with China Open qualifying in mid-June.
Dongguan Secures World Women's Championship Until 2031 in a Landmark Moment for the Game
World Women's Snooker has agreed a landmark deal to keep the World Championship in Dongguan Changping until at least 2031, with record entry numbers and rising prize money signalling a new era for the women's game.
Women's Snooker Finds Its Home: World Championship Locked Into Dongguan Until 2031
World Women's Snooker has secured a landmark five-year deal to keep its World Championship in Dongguan Changping until at least 2031, with rising prize money and a purpose-built arena cementing the tournament's most ambitious era yet.
Higginson, Gong and Company Complete Q School Class of 2026 in Leicester
Andrew Higginson, Gong Chenzhi, Mitchell Mann and Stuart Carrington completed the Q School class of 2026 in Leicester, bringing the total number of new tour graduates to twelve.
From 'Smelly' to Sacred: Vafaei's Crucible Conversion and a Date with Judd Trump
Hossein Vafaei once called the Crucible 'smelly' — now he's comparing it to Wimbledon after a commanding 10-3 win over Si Jiahui set up a last-16 clash with world number one Judd Trump.
Evil Genius: Ronnie O'Sullivan Puts John Higgins to the Sword in Crucible Classic
Ronnie O'Sullivan was in imperious form at the Crucible on Saturday, carving out a dominant 6-2 first-session lead over John Higgins as he hunts a record eighth world title.
One Shot, One Life: Joe Johnson Looks Back on the Miracle of 1986
Joe Johnson was a 150-1 outsider, a former factory worker and father of six who had never won a match at the Crucible. In 1986, he beat Steve Davis in front of 18 million viewers and changed his life forever.
Wu Yize Leads but Murphy Refuses to Fold: World Final Day One Leaves Everything to Play For
Wu Yize leads Shaun Murphy 10-7 after a gripping first day of the World Championship final, with the young Chinese star's fearless long-potting keeping him in the driving seat — but Murphy refuses to disappear.
Mike Ganley on Respect, Roots and What Really Drives Snooker's Grassroots Game
Mike Ganley joined Shabnam Younus-Jewell on Framed: The Snooker Podcast to talk about the values that hold snooker's community together — and why respect sits at the very heart of the game.
Mark Davis Stunned in Opening Round as Q School Claims Its First Big Scalps
Mark Davis, one of the most experienced players in the draw, has been knocked out of Q School Event 1 at the first attempt, beaten 4-3 by Oliver Briffett-Payne in Leicester.
'I Felt I Was Unbeatable': Steve Davis Reflects on the Title That Changed Everything
Steve Davis has been reflecting on the UK Championship victory that launched his legendary career, telling the Framed podcast he simply 'felt unbeatable' as a young man — a mindset that would carry him to six world titles.
The Next Breakthrough: Five Players Ready to Win Their First Ranking Title
Fifteen different champions across eighteen ranking events made 2025/26 one of the most extraordinary seasons in snooker history. With a new campaign on the horizon, we look at who could be next to claim a first ranking title.
Fifty Years of The Rocket: Ronnie O'Sullivan's Career in Ten Unforgettable Moments
Ronnie O'Sullivan turns 50 this week, and the records he has accumulated across three decades of professional snooker still read like a misprint. We look back at the moments that built a legend.
Behind the Baize: Framed Podcast Takes York by Storm for UK Championship Special
Shabnam Younus-Jewell takes the Framed podcast behind the scenes at the UK Championship in York, sitting down with Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and tournament MC Rob Walker for a 27-minute special.
Mind Over Matter: Panchaya Channoi Becomes World Champion at 18 in Stunning Dongguan Final
Panchaya 'Mind' Channoi defeated Reanne Evans 6-2 in Dongguan to claim the World Women's Snooker Championship title at just 18, becoming the youngest world champion since 1987 and the 16th player in history to lift the Mandy Fisher Trophy.
Dreams, Tour Cards and Table One: How to Watch Q School 2026
Q School 2026 runs across two events at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from 20th to 31st May, with eight two-year tour cards up for grabs and free worldwide streaming available via WST's YouTube channel and WST PLAY.
Twenty Years On: The Boy From Leeds Who Made Snooker Fall in Love With Itself
Twenty years after Paul Hunter's death, those who knew the Leeds-born snooker star remember a player who made the game fall in love with itself — one century break, one smile at a time.
The Queen Is Dead, Long Live the Queen: Channoi Stuns Evans to Claim Women's World Crown
Panchaya Channoi became Women's World Snooker Champion with a commanding 6-2 victory over twelve-time champion Reanne Evans in Dongguan, China, announcing herself as the sport's next great force.
Teenage Sensation Panchaya Channoi Writes History With Women's World Title
Eighteen-year-old Panchaya Channoi produced a stunning performance in Dongguan to beat 12-time champion Reanne Evans 6-2 and claim the 2026 World Women's Snooker Championship title.
John Virgo: The Boy From Salford Who Found His Life on the Baize
John Virgo, who has died aged 79, was a UK Champion, a Crucible finalist, and one of snooker's most beloved personalities — a man who found his calling at twelve years old in a Salford snooker club his father called a den of iniquity.
Kyren Wilson's Audacious Trick Shot Puts the Gloss on a 142 Break at the Welsh Open
Kyren Wilson rounded off a stunning break of 142 against Liu Hongyu at the Welsh Open with an audacious trick shot on the final black, producing one of the tournament's most memorable moments.
'He Had It All': Dennis Taylor's Heartfelt Farewell to John Virgo
Dennis Taylor has paid an emotional tribute to the late John Virgo, who passed away earlier this month at 79, saying simply: 'He had it all.'
O'Sullivan Hails Snooker 900 as 'The Sweet Spot' After Winning Inaugural Global Championship
Ronnie O'Sullivan won the inaugural Snooker 900 Global Championship with a five-century display against Luca Brecel, then declared the format could be 'here to stay forever' — and Brecel agreed.
Beyond the Maximum: Ronnie O'Sullivan Rewrites History With a Staggering 153
Ronnie O'Sullivan produced the highest break ever recorded in professional snooker at the World Open in Yushan, compiling a staggering 153 to surpass Jamie Burnett's two-decade-old record of 148.
Eight Queens Remain in Dongguan as the World Women's Championship Enters Its Final Act
Just eight players remain at the 2026 World Women's Snooker Championship in Dongguan, with five of the world's top six still in contention and Reanne Evans yet to drop a frame in her pursuit of a record-extending 13th world title.
O'Sullivan vs Brecel: Two Champions Chasing Very Different Things in Reading Final
Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Luca Brecel in Sunday's inaugural Snooker 900 Global Championship final in Reading, with O'Sullivan chasing a third consecutive invitational title and Brecel desperate to rediscover his best form.
Bruges Delivers Champions Across the Board as WDBS Tour Roars Into 2026
The Belgian Open returned to The Trickshot in Bruges for a seventh time, crowning champions across every classification group as the WDBS Tour opened its 2026 ranking season in style.
Rocket, Brecel and a Reading Venue: Everything You Need to Know About the Inaugural Snooker 900 Global Championship
The inaugural Snooker 900 Global Championship is underway in Reading, with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Kyren Wilson, and Luca Brecel among the headline acts competing for a £100,000 prize fund.
From 4-0 Down to 147 Glory: Un-Nooh Produces the Snooker of His Life to Stun O'Sullivan
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh fired in a maximum 147 and finished with three consecutive centuries to overturn a 4-0 deficit and beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-7 in the World Open final in Yushan.