Where to Watch China Open 2026 Live
China Open 2026 starts today — and if you want to watch matches live, here’s everything you need to know. There are both paid and free options available.
BBC & Eurosport — TV Coverage
BBC (UK) — BBC has broadcast rights for World Snooker Tour events in the UK. Check BBC iPlayer and BBC Two/Red Button for live coverage of the China Open, particularly from the quarter-finals onwards.
Eurosport — Eurosport holds exclusive broadcast rights for World Snooker Tour across continental Europe. The deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and WST runs through the 2030/31 season — meaning all major tournaments for the next five years will be on Eurosport.
China Open is broadcast on Eurosport 1 or Eurosport 2 depending on the day and session. Key matches from the final stages are always shown live.
How to access Eurosport:
- Cable or satellite TV — check whether your provider carries Eurosport. Most major operators do.
- Eurosport online — via eurosport.com or the Eurosport mobile app. Requires a subscription.
- Max (formerly HBO Max) — Warner Bros. Discovery is gradually moving coverage to its streaming platform. Check availability at max.com.
Stan Sport / Fox Sports (Australia) — Stan Sport streams WST events in Australia. Fox Sports also carries selected snooker coverage. Check listings for China Open sessions.
WST Play — Every Single Match
WST Play (wst.tv) is the official streaming platform of the World Snooker Tour. The most complete option: every single match of the tournament is available here — including early rounds that TV broadcasters may not show in full.
- Cost: £7 per month or £70 per year;
- Devices: computer, smartphone, tablet, Smart TV;
- Archive: match replays available after the live broadcast ends;
- Availability: worldwide, no geo-restrictions.
If you follow snooker seriously throughout the season, WST Play is the most convenient option. Pay once a month and watch everything.
YouTube — Free, But Not Everything
The official World Snooker Tour channel on YouTube (@WorldSnooker1) publishes:
- Match highlights — usually within a few hours of the final frame;
- Best breaks and centuries of the tournament;
- Press conferences and player interviews.
Full live broadcasts are not available on YouTube — but if you miss a match, 10–15 minute highlights give you a solid understanding of what happened.
When to Watch: Session Times
Taiyuan is in the UTC+8 time zone. Here’s how that converts to major snooker-watching regions:
| Taiyuan (local) | London (BST) | New York (EDT) | Sydney (AEST) | Session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | 6:00 AM | 1:00 AM | 3:00 PM | First session |
| 6:30 PM | 11:30 AM | 6:30 AM | 8:30 PM | Second session |
Good news: unlike British tournaments that often run late into the night for Asian and Australian viewers, Chinese events are conveniently timed. Morning sessions in Taiyuan fall in the early morning in the UK and afternoon/evening in Australia.
Schedule, Results & Coverage
Full match schedule, live results, and daily China Open 2026 coverage at snooker.news from August 8. If you can’t watch live — check in for scores and key moments.
Quick Comparison: Which Option to Choose
| Option | Cost | What it shows | Best if |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC (UK) | Free (licence fee) | Main-stage matches | You’re in the UK |
| Eurosport (TV/online) | Subscription | Main matches live | Already have a TV package |
| WST Play | £7/mo or £70/yr | Every match + archive | You want to see everything |
| Stan Sport (Australia) | Subscription | Main matches | You’re in Australia |
| Max | Subscription | Main matches | Already subscribe to Max |
| YouTube WST | Free | Highlights, interviews | Can’t watch live |
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