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
Quiz: Can You Name Every World Championship Quarter-Finalist Since the Crucible Era Began?
Since snooker moved to the Crucible in 1977, just 89 of the 236 players to have competed in Sheffield have reached the World Championship quarter-finals. How many of them can you name?
Three Reds, One Shot: Zhao Xintong Conjures a Moment of Pure Magic at the Crucible
Zhao Xintong produced one of the most extraordinary moments of this year's World Snooker Championship, potting three reds in a single shot during his quarter-final clash with Shaun Murphy at the Crucible.
Manic Monday Looms as Four Quarter-Final Spots Hang in the Balance at the Crucible
Four quarter-final spots remain up for grabs at the 2026 World Snooker Championship, with O'Sullivan, Trump, Robertson and Wu Yize all holding narrow leads heading into a potentially breathless Manic Monday in Sheffield.
Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters Axed After Just Two Editions — and Players Found Out by Email
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has been cancelled after just two editions, with players including Barry Hawkins expressing fury at finding out via a brief email and receiving no explanation for the decision.
Murphy's Miracle: From Crowd Fury to Crucible Magic as The Magician Survives a Thriller
Shaun Murphy survived a deciding-frame thriller against Fan Zhengyi to reach the last 16 of the 2026 World Snooker Championship, completing a remarkable clearance on the final pink and calling it the best break he has ever made at the Crucible.
Kyren Wilson: Snooker Should Take a Leaf Out of Darts' Book on Atmosphere
Kyren Wilson has called on snooker to embrace more entertainment and crowd interaction, pointing to darts as a model worth following — comments made after a dramatic comeback win over Stan Moody at the 2026 World Championship.
Zhao vs Ding, O'Sullivan vs Higgins: Day Eight at the Crucible Serves Up the Lot
Day eight of the 2026 World Snooker Championship brings the Crucible to a boil, with Zhao Xintong facing Ding Junhui in a 4-4 thriller and the highly anticipated second-round clash between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins getting underway.
The Antrim Grinder Is Back: Mark Allen Battles Past Wilson to Reach Crucible Quarter-Finals
Mark Allen fought back from a five-frame lead turned deficit to defeat reigning champion Kyren Wilson 13-9 and reach the World Championship quarter-finals for the sixth time in his career.
Thirty Years On: The Night Higgins, O'Sullivan and a Missed Pink Changed Everything
John Higgins has revisited the agonising 1996 World Championship quarter-final where a missed pink ended his semi-final dream — and helped forge one of snooker's greatest rivalries.
Robertson Seals Historic Crucible Feat as Seeds Dominate First Round
Neil Robertson's 10-6 win over Pang Junxu completed a record-equalling first round at the Crucible, with 15 of the 16 seeds advancing — only the third time in the tournament's history.
Six Days, Six Questions: How Well Did You Follow Round One at the Crucible?
The first round of the 2026 World Snooker Championship is over — six days of drama at the Crucible wrapped up on Thursday. Now BBC Sport wants to know how closely you were watching.
'I Wanted to Rip My Shirt Off': Jak Jones Opens Up on Asthma Battle Behind Heavy Selby Defeat
Jak Jones has revealed he was struggling to breathe during his 10-2 first-round defeat to Mark Selby, with his asthma triggering headaches, tremors and near-panic attacks at the Crucible.
The 50th World Championship: O'Sullivan, Selby and Robertson Headline a Pivotal Day Five at the Crucible
The 2026 World Snooker Championship reaches day five with Ronnie O'Sullivan closing in on the last 16, while Mark Selby and Neil Robertson also return to the Crucible table in a headline-packed session.
Before the Boardroom: Jason Ferguson Revisits the Playing Career That Shaped a Chairman
Long before Jason Ferguson became the face of snooker's governing body, he was a Tour professional who reached a world ranking of 28 and qualified for the Crucible three times. The latest WPBSA Snooker Podcast revisits the playing career behind the chairman.
Eight Is the Dream: Why the World Still Stops for Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible
Ronnie O'Sullivan begins his 2026 World Championship campaign on Tuesday, facing debutant He Guoqiang as the hunt for a record-breaking eighth title gets underway at the Crucible.
Jak Jones: The Silent Assassin Loads Up for One More Shot at Crucible Glory
Jak Jones returns to the Crucible as a qualifier once more, but the man who reached the 2024 World Championship final is carrying something more potent than his cue — he carries the knowledge of exactly what he is capable of.
Wilson Survives Crucible Scare as Moody's Debut Dream Fades in Heartbreaking Fashion
Kyren Wilson produced a stunning seven-frame winning run to beat Stan Moody 10-7 at the Crucible, overturning a 7-3 deficit in a match that swung on a single missed red.
Stan Moody at the Crucible: The 19-Year-Old Who Thinks Snooker Needs a New Generation
Teenager Stan Moody made a confident Crucible debut at 19, but it was his call for snooker to embrace new faces and personalities that really caught the attention.
Daniel Ward Punches His Ticket to the Crucible — and Jimmy White Is Waiting
Daniel Ward defeated Andrew Norman 4-0 in the Golden Ticket final to secure the last place at the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship, where Jimmy White awaits him at the Crucible on 7th May.
From the Club Table to the Global Stage: WPBSA Launches App to Unite Snooker's Hidden Millions
The WPBSA has launched Play Snooker, a new app giving an estimated 100 million recreational players worldwide a way to record matches, earn rankings and connect with the wider game for the first time.
Zhao Holds His Nerve in Emotional Crucible Opener as Snooker Bids Farewell to Virgo
Reigning world champion Zhao Xintong edged past Liam Highfield 10-7 on an opening day at the Crucible that began with a heartfelt tribute to the late John Virgo.
Zhao Xintong Admits Crucible Pressure Got to Him Despite Surviving Highfield Scare
Zhao Xintong survived a testing opening-round encounter at the 2026 World Snooker Championship, beating Liam Highfield 10-7 while admitting the pressure of defending his title got to him under the Crucible lights.
The 50th World Championship Begins: Zhao Xintong Opens His Title Defence at a Historic Crucible
The 2026 World Snooker Championship gets under way at a landmark Crucible as defending champion Zhao Xintong opens his title defence against qualifier Liam Highfield on day one of the tournament's 50th edition.
Mark Allen: 'What a Time It Would Be' to Win the World Championship After His Worst Season in Years
Mark Allen heads to the Crucible admitting this has been his worst season in years — but the Northern Irishman believes Sheffield could be the perfect place to turn it all around.
Mark Williams Would Run the M4 Naked for a Fourth World Title — and He Might Just Do It
Mark Williams has vowed to run the M4 naked if he wins a fourth world title — and given his history of keeping outrageous promises, snooker fans might want to avoid the motorway.
Champions, Memories and a Menu Fit for a King: Sheffield's World Champions Dinner Returns
Eleven former Crucible champions gathered in Sheffield on Thursday for the second annual World Champions Dinner, a glittering evening that honoured the past, celebrated history-maker Zhao Xintong, and raised a glass to the late John Virgo.
History, Records and a Golden Anniversary: Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 World Championship
The 2026 World Snooker Championship runs from 18 April to 4 May at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, marking 50 years at the venue with a record 11 Chinese players, Ronnie O'Sullivan chasing a historic eighth title, and every session live on the BBC.
Where and How to Watch the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship
The 2026 Halo World Championship runs from 18th April to 4th May at Sheffield's Crucible — here is every way to watch, whether you're in the UK, Europe, Asia or beyond.
Trump vs Zhao: The Final That Could Define a Season — and a World Championship
Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong meet in the Tour Championship final in Manchester on Sunday — a clash between the world number one and the reigning world champion that carries enormous implications for the upcoming World Championship.
One Lucky Fan Could Win £100,000 If a 147 Is Made in the World Championship Final
Midnite has confirmed the return of its Maximum initiative for the 2026 World Snooker Championship, with a randomly selected fan set to win £100,000 should a 147 break be made during the final.
Qualifiers Begin: White, Doherty and a Cast of Dreamers Chase Their Crucible Ticket
The 2026 World Snooker Championship qualifiers are under way, with Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, and a host of Tour-card hopefuls all chasing one of sixteen precious spots at the Crucible.
Jamie Clarke: 'I Feel Like I'm Starting My Career Again'
Jamie Clarke beat Haydon Pinhey 10-5 in the World Championship qualifiers on Wednesday, announcing his return to the sport with breaks of 138 and 112 after a year away that he says has completely reinvigorated his game.
Entries Open for the 2026 World Women's Snooker Championship — and the Stakes Have Never Been Higher
Entries are now open for the 2026 World Women's Snooker Championship, heading to a brand-new venue in Dongguan Changping from 12–19 May — with a two-year World Snooker Tour card awaiting the winner.
Marco Fu Survives Black-Ball Thriller to Keep Crucible Dream Alive
Marco Fu edged Liam Davies 10-9 in a gripping black-ball decider at the World Championship qualifiers, keeping alive the 48-year-old's dream of a Crucible return for the first time since 2018.
Craigie's Costly Lateness Hands Amateur Dikme a Stunning World Championship Qualifier Upset
Sam Craigie's World Championship qualifier campaign ended in agonising 10-9 defeat after a frame was docked for his failure to return from the mid-session interval on time — handing German amateur Umut Dikme one of the upsets of the qualifying rounds.
Zhao Xintong Completes Stunning Players Series Sweep With Dominant Tour Championship Win Over Trump
Zhao Xintong thrashed Judd Trump 10-3 to win the 2026 Tour Championship and complete an unprecedented sweep of the entire Players Series in a single season.
Zhao Xintong Reaches Career-High World Number Four After Dismantling Trump at Tour Championship
Zhao Xintong has climbed to a career-high world number four after his commanding 10-3 Tour Championship final victory over Judd Trump, and could yet end the season as world number one.