Judgement Day is here in the World Snooker Championship 2026 qualifiers. Live on TNT Sports and HBO Max across Tuesday and Wednesday, the remaining spots at the Crucible’s 50th edition will be decided.
Among the match-ups, Matthew Stevens takes on Stuart Bingham, with the latter narrowly missing out on automatic qualification as he sits 17th in the world.
Luca Brecel is also in action, facing 2024 finalist Jak Jones. The 2023 world champion beat Chang Bingyu 10-8 on Monday, despite a 147 from the Chinese player.
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Stevens edges clear of Bingham
Matthew Stevens produced a superb closing clearance of 64 to open up a 5-4 lead against 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham in the final round of World Championship qualifying in Sheffield.
Bingham trailed 3-0 and 4-2 at the English Institute of Sport but had the chance to eke out a lead until he missed frame-ball black on 61 as his opponent responded with an immaculate counter clearance.
Two-time world finalist Stevens looked the stronger player early on with runs of 62, 58 and 61 before Bingham won four of the next five frames, boosted by 54 and 73.
But it is Stevens who carries a narrow lead into the concluding session between the former Masters champions when they play to a finish from 17:00, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Around the tables: Latest Judgement Day scores
Tuesday’s matches
- Stuart Bingham 4-5 Matthew Stevens
- Hossein Vafaei 4-4 Gao Yang
- Aaron Hill 4-5 David Gilbert
- Michael Holt 3-6 Zhou Yuelong
- Jiang Jun 4-5 Stan Moody
- Antoni Kowalski 5-3 Jamie Jones
- Jackson Page 5-4 Pang Junxu
- Noppon Saengkham 4-5 Liam Pullen
‘Oh no!’ – Pullen misses 14th black to end hopes of pocketing huge 147 bonus
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (61-64)
A majestic clearance of 64 from Stevens, who leads 5-4 before they resume at 17:00. Vintage break from the former Masters champion.
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (61-46)
Down to the final colours now. All colours look inviting. Stevens on the cusp of a remarkable clearance. In his hands now.
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (61-15)
This would be a massive steal if Stevens can win the frame from here. Huge ask with black far from easy on a side rail, but the chance is there. Bangs in the black left-handed. What a piece of cueing that is. Sweet as you like.
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (61-1)
Looks to be in peak scoring condition at the end of this session. Completely transformed from being 3-0 down. But he then misses the black off the spot. Well now. Didn’t expect that on frame-ball black.
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (45-0)
Bingham is a very dangerous customer among the balls at the business end. Like second nature to him when he is in the mood.
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (30-0)
Bingham on the move here then in this final frame of the session. “Typical Bingham this. Plays through crisis point earlier in the match, and now looks back to normal,” says Neal Foulds on TNT Sports.
Bingham 4-4 Stevens (0-0)
This match will conclude from 17:00 this evening. But would be nice to get your nose in front heading for home.
Bingham 3-4 Stevens (134-0)
A fine closing clearance of 73 from the Ball-run, who is right back in the hunt at 4-4. One more frame to come in this session.
Around the tables: Latest Judgement Day scores
Tuesday’s matches
- Stuart Bingham 4-5 Matthew Stevens
- Hossein Vafaei 2-4 Gao Yang
- Aaron Hill 4-3 David Gilbert
- Michael Holt 3-4 Zhou Yuelong
- Jiang Jun 4-5 Stan Moody
- Antoni Kowalski 4-2 Jamie Jones
- Jackson Page 5-4 Pang Junxu
- Noppon Saengkham 4-5 Liam Pullen
Bingham 3-4 Stevens (68-0)
Excellent red is drained by Stuart, and in goes black. Looks to be quite the finale in store tonight as this match levels up again at 4-4.
Bingham 3-4 Stevens (61-0)
This is more like the classic Bingham you expect. Brisk break-building, but can’t get reds open nicely on 61, his highest break of the match so far. Which tells you where he is in this contest. Six reds left on deck. Bingham then with the safety shot.
Bingham 2-4 Stevens (68-39)
Stevens battling hard as you would expect, but Bingham sees out the frame by clipping home the brown from distance to seal the deal. Back to 4-3 behind. Far from spectacular fare. But Bingham will take this. Two big frames to come here.
Bingham 2-4 Stevens (64-10)
All very scrappy out there, but Bingham battling hard. Needs one more red after adding 40. Stevens chasing a snooker otherwise it will be 4-3.
Bingham 2-4 Stevens (24-10)
Stevens needs one more frame from the final three to secure a lead before they play to a finish at 17:00. Fine long red by Bingham will do his confidence levels no harm. But another red to left centre eludes him.
Pullen misses out on £147,000 chance
Bingham 2-4 Stevens (16-9)
Fine opening red by Matthew, but he then misses black off the spot seconds later. Wasn’t easy, but expected him to make it.
Bingham 2-3 Stevens (44-65)
Superb shot from Matthew to land on the final yellow from pink. Looks good for a 4-2 lead. Down to the brown. And cans it to the top right-hand bag. Super pot. A 56 break from the Welshman. What an excellent clearance. He is two clear again.
Bingham 2-3 Stevens (44-44)
Get the feeling this match is all about the W. Neither man overly convincing, but a big chance for Matthew to come up with a big steal. Down to the final red.
Bingham 2-3 Stevens (44-10)
But then Bingham misses the blue using the rest to scupper his chances of taking out this frame here and now.
Bingham 2-3 Stevens (44-9)
The mood music of this match is suddenly altering with Bingham looking good to level up at 3-3 without really finding peak form. That loose break-off shot at the start of the fourth frame was such a key error as his opponent was all at sea. But Stuart among the balls here looking to build a healthy lead.
Around the tables: Latest Judgement Day scores
Tuesday’s matches
- Stuart Bingham 4-4 Matthew Stevens
- Hossein Vafaei 2-4 Gao Yang
- Aaron Hill 4-3 David Gilbert
- Michael Holt 3-4 Zhou Yuelong
- Jiang Jun 4-5 Stan Moody
- Antoni Kowalski 3-2 Jamie Jones
- Jackson Page 4-4 Pang Junxu
- Noppon Saengkham 4-5 Liam Pullen
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (65-45)
Down to the final red then with the frame scores level. Bingham can’t drop in red down table to a top pocket. Matthew can’t see it, and tries to nudge red in off side rail. But nowhere near it. Could well cost him the frame. And does as Ball-run mops up to the pink. Suddenly a 3-2 lead for Stevens in race to 10.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (31-45)
Bingham back to within 14 points of Stevens, but he can’t land on a red off the pink with only three reds still on deck. Safety is the option.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (22-45)
Stevens trying to clip a tough red into left middle, but didn’t get anywhere near the potting angle. So near, yet so far. And on we go in quite a tough joust in this fifth frame.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (23-45)
38 from Stevens to move 16 points clear in this fifth frame. Still six reds left up. Bingham having to regroup after that missed pink.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (22-22)
Stevens levelling up the scores in this fifth frame with more to come surely.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (22-1)
Bingham then misses an easy pink out of nowhere. Can’t believe he has missed that. And neither can he.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (14-0)
Bingham with first prod at these balls in the fifth frame of the day. Trying to get some swagger into his step in this match. Nudges a neat red into right middle despite tricky cueing. Looking a lot brighter at close range.
Bingham 1-3 Stevens (0-0)
Bingham with a 6-5 lead in this duo’s career head-to-head meetings. Another five frames to come in this session.
‘His hand will be hurting’ – Stevens smacks table after ‘dreadful’ positional shot
Video credit: TNT Sports
Around the tables: Latest Judgement Day scores
Tuesday’s matches
- Stuart Bingham 2-3 Matthew Stevens
- Hossein Vafaei 1-2 Gao Yang
- Aaron Hill 2-2 David Gilbert
- Michael Holt 0-4 Zhou Yuelong
- Jiang Jun 3-1 Stan Moody
- Antoni Kowalski 2-2 Jamie Jones
- Jackson Page 2-3 Pang Junxu
- Noppon Saengkham 2-4 Liam Pullen
Bingham 0-3 Stevens (104-0)
In goes frame-ball red and pink is the insurance policy. A 3-1 lead for Stevens at the first mid-session break. Bingham has started to hit the ball a lot better in this frame.
Bingham 0-3 Stevens (63-0)
Chance of a mid-range red for Stevens, but it doesn’t drop and this should be a first frame of the day for Bingham.
Bingham 0-3 Stevens (54-0)
Out of position on 54 so just the safety to follow. Makes a bit of a mess of it, but doesn’t leave a red. Which is fortunate.
Bingham 0-3 Stevens (54-0)
Doing some heavy lifting here in and around the black spot in this fourth frame. Shocking break-off from Stevens. But Bingham loses the white on 47. Looks to be struggling with the pace of the table. Nice recovery on a red to left centre to continue the break. Big visit to the table in progress.
Bingham 0-3 Stevens (8-0)
Off we go then for the fourth frame. A poor break-off shot from Stevens as he leaves red to right centre. Easy opener then for the 2015 world champion.
Bingham 0-2 Stevens (1-69)
Very smooth from Matthew, who is settling into this match with some relish as Bingham continues to miss. One more frame before the mid-sesh. Bingham chasing one snooker with 59 left on table. A break of 61 from Stevens should hold sway. And it does with Stuart again missing from close range.
Bingham 0-2 Stevens (1-19)
Well, not really happening for Ball-run so far as red with the rest isn’t drained, and Matthew is invited to get his scoring boots back on. Has looked the likelier player earlier on. A long way to go. But encouraging signs for the Welshman.
Around the tables: Latest Judgement Day scores
Tuesday’s matches
- Stuart Bingham 0-3 Matthew Stevens
- Hossein Vafaei 0-2 Gao Yang
- Aaron Hill 1-0 David Gilbert
- Michael Holt 0-3 Zhou Yuelong
- Jiang Jun 3-1 Stan Moody
- Antoni Kowalski 2-0 Jamie Jones
- Jackson Page 1-2 Pang Junxu
- Noppon Saengkham 1-3 Liam Pullen
‘Still no?’ – Stevens makes Bingham sweat over early re-rack request
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bingham 0-1 Stevens (30-64)
A 58 in the second frame from Stevens looks like job done. A 2-0 lead for the Welshman. A very fine start to this match in a battle between the Crucible veterans.
Bingham 0-1 Stevens (30-47)
Terrific recovery pot on a pink, and he has set himself up here to clasp this second frame. Superb stuff from Stevens after that loose positional shot llooked like end of break. All there for him now.
Bingham 0-1 Stevens (30-16)
Very nice shot by Stevens to open up the pack of reds via the yellow. Back on pink to left middle. But he somehow doesn’t land on a red in open play. Plenty of groans. Can’t land on black. So end of break.
Bingham 0-1 Stevens (30-5)
Another pink to the top jaw of the right middle bag. Doesn’t drop for Stuart. He looks confused by that. Both players not yet settled out there.
Bingham 0-1 Stevens (22-1)
But he misses a pink to right middle among the balls. Didn’t expect to see that stay out. A reprieve for Matthew that he probably didn’t see coming.
Bingham 0-1 Stevens (15-0)
Re-rack for a second straight frame prompts more smiles before Ball-run tries to get to work here in the second frame of a possible 19. Some nice mid-range reds being put away.
Bingham 0-0 Stevens (15-69)
Matthew was never going to keep missing. This is a very decent start for the former UK and Masters champion. Down goes the final red with the rest. Looks like a 1-0 lead for Stevens. 62 break to the colours gets the job done.
Bingham 0-0 Stevens (15-25)
Both men just struggling to keep a tight rein on that white ball in this morning session. Remember, they will come back for the concluding session at 5pm this evening. Nine frames to be played in the first sesh.
Bingham 0-0 Stevens (15-7)
Scoring chance here for Bingham, but he misses a cutback pink on 15. Which is disappointing. But Stevens then misses a red trying to go in off pink. Bad miss really. And Bingham can’t slot a mid-range red. Like a final-frame decider this opener.
Bingham 0-0 Stevens (0-7)
Couple of nice long reds by Matthew early doors. Won’t do his confidence any harm. Trying to return to the Crucible for the first time since 2022.
Bingham 0-0 Stevens (0-1)
All very good-natured bantz between these two Crucible warriors. Bingham wanted a re-rack, but Stevens refused before eventually relenting. All in high spirits, and we go again with this opening frame.
What is coming up on Judgement Day?
Tuesday’s matches
- Stuart Bingham 0-2 Matthew Stevens
- Hossein Vafaei 0-1 Gao Yang
- Aaron Hill 1-0 David Gilbert
- Michael Holt 0-3 Zhou Yuelong
- Jiang Jun 2-0 Stan Moody
- Antoni Kowalski 1-0 Jamie Jones
- Jackson Page 1-1 Pang Junxu
- Noppon Saengkham 1-2 Liam Pullen
Wednesday’s matches
- Jak Jones v Luca Brecel
- Lei Peifan v Ryan Day
- Xu Si v Gary Wilson
- Zak Surety v Zhang Anda
- Ali Carter v Anthony McGill
- Liam Highfield v Oliver Lines
- Fan Zhengyi v Ben Mertens
- He Guoqiang v Jack Lisowski
Qualifying for the 2026 World Championship takes place between April 6-15, and is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Carter and McGill produce epic comebacks to reach Judgement Day
The final round of 2026 World Championship qualifiers will take place in Sheffield over Tuesday and Wednesday with plenty of Crucible pedigree set to battle it out for a spot in the final stage of this year’s tournament. Former world champion Luca Brecel held off Chang Bingyu 10-8 in a high-scoring battle before Ali Carter and Anthony McGill both produced epic comebacks on Monday night.
Read more here:
‘Hits the jackpot’ – Chang makes ‘magnificent’ 147 against Brecel
Video credit: TNT Sports
World Championship qualifying LIVE – Bingham v Stevens
Play will begin at 11:00 UK time.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
