WST PLAY to Stream Wuhan Open Qualifiers Live with Commentary from 15th June

Table One Coverage Confirmed for 2026/27 Qualifying Season

World Snooker Tour has confirmed that subscribers to its WST PLAY platform will be able to watch table one live, with full commentary, across all 26/27 season qualifying events — beginning with the Wuhan Open qualifiers which run from 15th to 18th June 2026. The announcement marks a significant expansion of the platform's live offering, adding what amounts to an extra 53 days of commentary-led qualifying coverage across the season.

The commentary team will be headlined by the experienced David Hendon, alongside other expert voices to be confirmed. Hendon, a familiar presence across WST broadcast output, will help guide viewers through what is traditionally one of the most unpredictable and statistically volatile phases of the professional calendar — the qualifying rounds, where ranking fluctuations and shock eliminations are a near-weekly occurrence.

Notable Players in Action at Wuhan Open Qualifying

Among those confirmed to feature across the Wuhan Open qualifying days are Ali Carter, Chang Bingyu, Jack Lisowski, and Luca Brecel. Carter, a two-time World Championship finalist, has spent recent seasons battling to maintain his top-16 status, making his qualifying appearances especially high-stakes. Brecel, the reigning world champion as of 2023, will be a notable draw should he appear at the table, while Lisowski — a player who has historically performed well in Chinese events — adds further interest to the draw. Chang Bingyu represents a growing contingent of Chinese professionals competing on the main tour, a demographic that WST has actively sought to develop over the past decade.

It is worth noting that the Wuhan Open itself has a relatively brief but competitive history on the tour, having been part of the calendar as WST looks to capitalise on snooker's substantial fanbase across mainland China. Qualifying rounds are where journeymen professionals and ambitious lower-ranked players often produce their most compelling snooker, free of the television pressure that accompanies the televised stages.

Full 26/27 Qualifying Calendar

The Wuhan Open qualifiers form part of a broader qualifying schedule that stretches across the entirety of the 2026/27 season. The confirmed qualifying windows are as follows:

Across these windows, the 53 additional days of live commentary represents a substantial uplift in value for PLAY subscribers. Historically, qualifying action has been accessible only to those physically present at the venue — typically the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield — meaning the vast majority of competitive snooker played each season has gone largely unseen by the global fanbase.

Availability, Restrictions and Platform Details

The live commentary coverage on WST PLAY will be available globally, with the exception of China. Viewers in China can access qualifying coverage through local broadcast partners Migu, Huya, Douyin and WeChat. For those in the UK and Europe who do not hold a WST PLAY subscription, table one action will also be available without commentary via HBO Max.

Beyond the live qualifying streams, WST PLAY subscribers retain access to thousands of hours of archive footage — a resource of considerable depth given that the platform draws on decades of professional snooker content. Subscribers also benefit from exclusive priority access to tickets for all UK tournaments, including the sport's three Triple Crown events: the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Championship at the Crucible.

Analysis: A Meaningful Step for Qualifying Transparency

The decision to bring commentary to qualifying coverage is a pragmatic one from WST's perspective. Qualifying rounds produce statistically significant results — upsets, centuries, and career-defining performances — that have long deserved a wider audience. Bringing even table one into focus with professional commentary legitimises these matches and, crucially, gives lower-ranked professionals a platform that was previously unavailable to them. Whether subscriber numbers justify further expansion of this model — covering additional tables, for instance — will likely depend on the uptake seen across this inaugural full-season rollout.