Who Is Playing in the Champion of Champions Snooker 2026?
Leicester gets the good stuff first. The Champion of Champions snooker 2026 begins on Monday 9 November with Mark Selby defending his title in his hometown, Ronnie O’Sullivan facing Shaun Murphy later in the week and a genuinely unusual debutant in the draw. Sixteen invited players, four compact groups and seven days of snooker on ITV give this event its own rhythm.
Champion of Champions Draw: All 16 Players
The draw was confirmed on 3 November, so there is no longer a need to describe the groups as provisional. Each day’s opening winners meet that evening for a semi-final place.
| Day | First-round matches |
|---|---|
| Mon 9 Nov | Selby vs Alfie Burden; Barry Hawkins vs Chris Wakelin |
| Tue 10 Nov | Neil Robertson vs Panchaya Channoi; Judd Trump vs Jak Jones |
| Wed 11 Nov | Shaun Murphy vs Ronnie O’Sullivan; Wu Yize vs Chang Bingyu |
| Thu 12 Nov | Zhao Xintong vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh; Kyren Wilson vs Ali Carter |
The tournament’s most eye-catching first-round pairing is arguably Murphy against O’Sullivan. The latter has won this competition four times, more than anybody else, but Murphy is hardly a comfortable opening assignment. Wednesday also pairs the reigning world champion, Wu Yize, with Wuhan Open winner Chang Bingyu.
Tuesday introduces 18-year-old Thai player Panchaya Channoi, who qualified by winning the World Women’s Snooker Championship in May. Her meeting with Robertson is an interesting illustration of what a champion-only invitation event can offer beyond established tour rivalries.
Champion of Champions Schedule and ITV Coverage
Afternoon play begins at 13:00 GMT from Monday to Thursday. Each day’s second best-of-seven match follows the opener; the winners return for a best-of-11 group final at 19:00. Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November stage the two semi-finals, both at 19:00.
Sunday’s best-of-19 final is split into sessions starting at 13:00 and 19:00. Coverage is scheduled for ITV4 and ITVX in the UK, making the event accessible without a separate sports television subscription. The venue is Leicester’s Mattioli Arena. Fans following only evening sessions should remember that each group final has already been shaped by two earlier matches, with potentially surprising results.
Who Has the Best Route to the Trophy?
Selby’s opening group contains Burden, Hawkins and Wakelin. Trump must navigate Robertson’s quarter of the draw, whereas Murphy and O’Sullivan cannot both survive Wednesday. Zhao, Kyren Wilson and Ali Carter make Thursday another demanding route to the final.
Selby captured the 2025 title and put the emotional appeal of returning home neatly: “to defend the title in my hometown makes it even more meaningful.” Home support helps the atmosphere, not the scoreboard.
Champion of Champions Odds and Betting Markets
With the draw confirmed, several opening-round matches offer interesting betting opportunities, particularly Selby’s title defence and the clash between Murphy and O’Sullivan.
| Betting market | Selection |
|---|---|
| Tournament winner | Mark Selby |
| Group 4 winner | Judd Trump |
| Match winner | Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Shaun Murphy |
| Match winner | Zhao Xintong vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh |
Use our UK betting sites directory to compare relevant snooker coverage.
Prize Money and Tournament Format
