The Champion of Champions is a premier non-ranking professional snooker tournament that brings together the world’s most elite cueists who have secured a title over the preceding 12 months. As of 2026, the reigning champion is Mark Selby, who captured his first title in the event by defeating Judd Trump 10–5 in the November 2025 final at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. Established in 1978 and revitalized by Matchroom Sport in 2013, the tournament is widely considered one of the most prestigious invitations in the sport, second only to the Triple Crown events, due to its exclusive “winners-only” qualification criteria.
In this comprehensive guide, you will discover the intricate qualification rules that define the field, the lucrative prize money structure, and a deep historical overview of the tournament’s evolution. We also provide essential practical information for the upcoming 2026 Champion of Champions, including venue details, ticket prices, and a full FAQ section to address every aspect of this high-stakes competition.
Tournament Format and Qualification Rules
The Champion of Champions follows a unique “Group” format designed for maximum drama. The 16-player field is divided into four groups of four. Each group plays to a winner in a single day, consisting of two best-of-7 semi-finals in the afternoon and a best-of-11 group final in the evening. The four group winners then advance to the multi-session semi-finals and final.
Qualification is strictly performance-based. The primary way to secure a spot is by winning a World Snooker Tour event during the previous year. The hierarchy of qualification is as follows:
- Defending Champion (Mark Selby for 2026)
- World Champion (Zhao Xintong, 2025 winner)
- Triple Crown Winners (UK Championship and Masters)
- Major Ranking Event Winners
If there are fewer than 16 unique winners, the field is “topped up” using the world rankings, ensuring that only the absolute best players in the world take to the table.
Mark Selby: The 2025 Triumph
The 2025 edition saw a historic performance from Leicester’s own “Jester from Leicester,” Mark Selby. Entering the tournament as a local favorite, Selby navigated a difficult group including Mark Williams and Stephen Maguire before overcoming Neil Robertson in a grueling semi-final.
In the final against Judd Trump, Selby displayed his trademark tactical grit and heavy scoring. After a close afternoon session, Selby pulled away in the evening, finishing the match with a high break of 138—the highest of the tournament. The 10–5 victory earned him the £150,000 top prize and finally added one of the few missing trophies to his illustrious mantle.
History of the Event
The Champion of Champions has two distinct eras. It was first held in 1978, won by Ray Reardon, but struggled for financial stability and was abandoned after 1980. Matchroom Sport, led by Barry Hearn, revived the concept in 2013 to replace the Premier League Snooker series.
Since its revival, the event has been synonymous with Ronnie O’Sullivan, who holds a record four titles (2013, 2014, 2018, and 2022). The move to the Mattioli Arena in Leicester has further established the tournament as a staple of the autumn snooker calendar, known for its high-production value and “big-match” atmosphere.
Past Winners (Matchroom Era)
- 2025: Mark Selby
- 2024: Mark Williams
- 2023: Mark Allen
- 2022: Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2021: Judd Trump
Prize Money Breakdown
The tournament features one of the most attractive prize funds on the non-ranking circuit, totaling £440,000. Because the field is so small and elite, even players who lose in the first round receive a significant payout.
| Finishing Position | Prize Money |
| Winner | £150,000 |
| Runner-Up | £60,000 |
| Semi-Finalists | £30,000 |
| Group Finalists (QF) | £17,500 |
| Group Semi-Finalists (L16) | £12,500 |
Practical Information and Planning
For fans planning to attend the 2026 event, the tournament is one of the most accessible “Major” feel events in the UK.
- Dates: November 9 – 15, 2026.
- Venue: Mattioli Arena, Leicester, England.
- Ticket Prices: Individual session tickets typically start at £15, while all-day tickets range from £30 to £65. Premium and Hospitality packages are available for the final weekend, often exceeding £100.
- How to Get There: Leicester is centrally located in the UK with excellent rail links from London St Pancras (approx. 1 hour). The Mattioli Arena is a short taxi ride from the city center.
- What to Expect: A dark, atmospheric arena with “flat” seating around a single table, providing every spectator with an unobstructed view of the action.
Qualification and participants
How players qualify
To compete in the Champion of Champions, a player must have won at least one of the specific tournaments that World Snooker designates for that season as “Champion of Champions‑eligible.” These events are usually a mix of ranking‑titles and high‑profile invitation‑style competitions, and the list of qualifying events can vary slightly from year to year depending on the tour schedule and sponsorship arrangements. The cut‑off date is typically a few weeks before the tournament, after which the list of champions is frozen and invited to the field.
If there are more than 16 qualified champions, the tournament uses a “priority‑order” system—often based on ranking points or the prestige of the title won—to trim the field down to the standard 16 places. In cases where there are too few champions to fill the bracket, the organisers can invite additional players, such as recent finalists, high‑ranked contenders, or previous‑year participants, to keep the draw full. This keeps the event exclusive while still allowing some flexibility in case the season has produced a limited number of different winners.
Notable past participants
Because the qualification is tied to winning major events, the Champion of Champions has consistently featured the biggest names in the sport. Past participants have included Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Mark Williams, and Kyren Wilson, among others. Many of these players have appeared in the event multiple times, reflecting their ability to win titles across several seasons.
The list of participants also changes over time as younger stars emerge: players such as Jack Lisowski, Yan Bingtao, and Luca Brecel have entered the frame as they picked up their first significant titles. This constant mix of established legends and rising contenders helps the tournament feel both prestigious and dynamic. For fans, the field‑building phase is often as exciting as the competition itself, since the release of the 16‑player list signals which top‑tier players will be facing one‑another in a compact, high‑stakes bracket.
Format and structure
Tournament draw
The Champion of Champions uses a 16‑player knockout format, with the draw usually split into four groups of four players each in the early stages. The seeding is based on the players’ World Snooker Tour rankings or the order of title‑winning priority, which helps to distribute the top‑ranked players across different groups. The draw is made public in the weeks before the tournament, allowing fans to see potential early‑round matchups and the route each player must take to reach the final.
Each group plays a mini‑round‑robin or a straight‑duel‑style stage, depending on the year’s rules, with the top‑two performers from each group advancing to an eight‑player bracket. From there, the tournament shifts into a straight knockout, with quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and a final decided in the customary snooker‑match format. The exact number of frames and the “first‑to” scoring can vary, but the structure always aims to keep the field small and the matches decisive.
Match length and scoring
In the group stage, matches are typically played as best‑of‑frame contests, often best‑of‑5 or best‑of‑7, designed to produce a clear winner while not exhausting the players in this condensed schedule. The knockout‑stage matches are longer, usually best‑of‑9 in the quarter‑finals and best‑of‑11 in the semi‑finals and final, although the final can be extended to best‑of‑19 in certain years to give the championship match a more traditional‑final feel.
Frames are decided under standard snooker rules, with the highest‑score‑wins principle and the usual foul‑penalty system. The tournament often features a live‑odds environment and frequent breaks‑of‑147, centuries, and competitive 70‑plus statements, since the field is packed with players who regularly score heavily. The organisers may also introduce special‑prize categories for the highest break of the tournament or the best aggregate score, which adds extra layers of competition beyond simply winning matches.
Where and when it is held
Venue and location
The modern Champion of Champions is staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London, one of the most iconic indoor venues in the United Kingdom and a frequent host of major sporting and cultural events. The hall’s central location in South Kensington, its large capacity, and its historic setting make it ideal for a high‑profile, ticketed‑events model that attracts both local fans and overseas visitors. The venue’s acoustics, lighting, and staging also support the tournament’s broadcast‑television demands, creating a theatre‑like atmosphere for the players and the audience.
The Royal Albert Hall configuration for snooker includes a main‑stage layout with multiple practice tables backstage, hospitality areas, and media‑production zones. The crowd is seated in tiers around the tables, with good sightlines even from the upper levels, and the setup is designed to maintain a balance between a live‑sporting atmosphere and the need for clean, controlled TV‑audio recording. The hall’s association with the Champion of Champions has helped brand the event as a “stadium‑style” snooker showpiece, distinct from the more intimate club‑style venues of some other tournaments.
Typical schedule
The Champion of Champions is usually scheduled in November each year, often running over five or six days during a mid‑week and weekend window. The exact dates shift slightly from edition to edition depending on the broader World Snooker Tour calendar, including the placement of the UK Championship and other major events. Historically, the tournament has been held in the first half of November, allowing players to transition from the UK‑season‑start events into this invitational before moving into the later‑year ranking slates.
Within the week‑long window, the early days are devoted to the group‑stage matches, with several sessions (day‑time and evening) spread across the schedule. The knockout‑stage sessions—quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and final—tend to be concentrated in the later days, with the final typically taking place on a Saturday or Sunday to maximise television and in‑person‑attendance numbers. The November timing also means the tournament fits neatly into the Northern Hemisphere autumn‑sports calendar, competing for viewership with other live‑sporting events but benefiting from a dedicated snooker‑fan base and broad‑sports‑media coverage.
Prize money and competitions
Winner’s prize and allocation
The Champion of Champions offers one of the most lucrative prize‑pool structures among non‑triple‑crown events, with the winner’s share often in the six‑figure range in British‑pound terms. The total prize fund is distributed across the field, with payouts for making it through the group stage, reaching the semi‑finals and final, and for the eventual champion. The exact figures vary by year, but the event is positioned to rival or exceed many standard‑ranking tournaments in terms of per‑winner value, underlining its status as a top‑tier invitation‑style contest.
In addition to the main prize money, players can earn extra income from appearance‑fees or performance‑bonuses in some seasons, especially if the event is backed by major sponsors or hosted at a high‑prestige venue. For the participants, this means the Champion of Champions can be a significant source of earnings within a short period, given the fast‑paced knockout structure and limited number of matches required to reach the later stages. The financial incentive also encourages the very best players to prioritise participation when their schedules allow.
Break‑prize incentives
The tournament frequently includes special‑prize categories for high‑scoring breaks, such as the highest break of the event or the first break‑of‑147 achieved. These prizes can be several thousand pounds and are often sponsored by watch brands, car manufacturers, or betting‑partners aligned with the event. The presence of these bonuses intensifies the focus on break‑building, since players know that a single long‑run‑score can yield both prestige and additional money.
Organisers also sometimes introduce crowd‑engagement prizes, such as votes on “best match” or “moment of the tournament,” which are awarded to the player or players involved. These initiatives help to build fan‑involvement and give the event a more interactive, entertainment‑oriented feel. Combined with the main‑draw winnings, break‑prizes, and appearance‑fees, the Champion of Champions creates a layered reward‑structure that motivates both the participants and the broadcast‑producers to deliver high‑quality, high‑drama snooker.
Past winners and records
Notable champions
Since its revival in 2013, the Champion of Champions has produced a series of memorable champions, including several players who have lifted the trophy more than once. Ronnie O’Sullivan, widely regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time, has claimed the title multiple times, demonstrating his ability to dominate tightly‑packed, winner‑only fields. Judd Trump, Mark Allen, and Neil Robertson have also added their names to the roll‑of‑honour, often after dramatic finals that featured multiple century‑breaks and high‑pressure clearance‑frames.
Each new winner adds to the event’s legacy, and some players have used the tournament as a springboard into strong seasonal‑form runs. For example, a first‑time Champion of Champions winner has sometimes gone on to perform well in the UK Championship or the World Championship later in the same season, suggesting that the confidence and rhythm built in this compact format can carry over into longer‑race events. The roll‑of‑honour thus serves both as a historical record and as a guide to which players are peaking at the right time in the calendar.
Record‑holding performers
Beyond the list of champions, several players have set records in the Champion of Champions for factors such as number of matches won, consecutive‑final appearances, and highest‑break tallies. Ronnie O’Sullivan again stands out, with multiple highest‑break awards and the longest‑run of consecutive tournament‑appearances for a top‑ranked player. Other players have accumulated the most frames‑won or the most century‑breaks over the years, reflecting the intensity of the competition and the consistently high‑level of snooker on show.
The tournament’s relatively short history means that many records are still within reach of current‑era stars, making the event an attractive target for players looking to cement their legacy. A young top‑10 player who wins the Champion of Champions, even once, can quickly associate their name with the event and gain extra visibility in the wider snooker‑entertainment ecosystem. For fans, following these records allows them to track which players are performing at the highest level in the most exclusive winner‑only competition on the tour.
How to watch and attend
Broadcasting and streaming
The Champion of Champions is televised worldwide, with major snooker‑broadcast partners such as the BBC, ITV, Eurosport, or other regional sports‑networks holding the rights depending on the year and location. In the United Kingdom, the event often appears on free‑to‑air television for key sessions, especially the final, while other matches are shown on pay‑TV or streaming platforms. Outside the UK, local broadcasters and global‑streaming services such as dedicated sports‑apps or event‑specific OTT platforms may carry the coverage, sometimes with local‑language commentary.
For fans who cannot attend in person, online‑streaming subscriptions tied to the main broadcasters typically offer live‑stream and on‑demand viewing, allowing viewers to watch matches on phones, tablets, or smart TVs. These services often include extra features such as multiple‑camera angles, slow‑motion replays, and player‑stat overlays, which enhance the viewing experience. The broadcaster‑package for the Champion of Champions is usually positioned as part of the broader snooker‑season package, meaning that many fans already have access through existing sports‑subscriptions.
Ticketing and in‑person experience
Attending the Champion of Champions at the Royal Albert Hall involves purchasing tickets through the venue’s official box‑office or authorisedticket partners, with prices varying by session, seating‑tier, and proximity to the stage. General‑admission and mid‑tier seats are usually the most affordable, while premium‑level tickets placed closest to the main table and in the lower‑level tiers can be significantly more expensive, especially for the final‑day sessions. Discounts or early‑bird offers are sometimes available if fans book several weeks in advance.
When attending in person, spectators can expect a formal‑stadium‑style event with clear seat‑numbers, security checks, and a time‑lapse‑style running order between matches. The hall’s layout means that spectators can watch from above and around the tables, and the atmosphere is generally quieter than at some club‑style events, favouring concentration‑friendly crowd‑behaviour. To get the most out of the experience, fans are advised to arrive early, check the published session‑start times, and be prepared for the possibility of extended‑frame‑times if the players produce a high‑break‑filled match.
Practical information and planning
Dates and venue details
The Champion of Champions typically runs for five or six days in November, with the group‑stage matches spread over the first three or four days and the knockout‑stage sessions scheduled for the final days of the week. The exact dates change each year based on the World Snooker Tour schedule, but the tournament is usually announced several months in advance, giving fans and players time to plan travel and accommodation. The full schedule, including session‑times and match‑order, is released closer to the event via the official World Snooker website and the Royal Albert Hall ticketing pages.
The Royal Albert Hall is located in South Kensington, London, and is easily accessible via public transport, including the London Underground (Piccadilly, District, and Circle lines) and national‑rail services to nearby stations such as South Kensington and Knightsbridge. The hall also has on‑site and nearby‑parking options, although these are limited and can be expensive, so many visitors opt for public transport or hotel‑shuttle services. For those coming from outside the UK, London airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick provide direct rail‑and‑bus links to central‑London stations within a short train‑ride.
Costs and what to expect
Ticket prices for the Champion of Champions vary by session and seat category, but general‑admission tickets for group‑stage matches often start in the mid‑range of the venue’s pricing‑scale, while final‑day and premium‑level tickets can be near the top of the bracket. Prices are typically listed in British pounds, and booking‑fees or dynamic‑pricing mechanisms may apply depending on demand and availability. Concessions or reduced‑rate tickets are sometimes offered for children, students, or seniors, subject to the venue’s policies in that year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the defending Champion of Champions?
The current title holder is Mark Selby, who won the 2025 tournament by defeating Judd Trump 10–5 in the final. This was Selby’s first time lifting this particular trophy in his home city of Leicester.
When and where is the 2026 Champion of Champions taking place?
The tournament is scheduled for November 9–15, 2026. It will be held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, which has become the permanent home for the event due to its excellent facilities and central location.
What happens if there are fewer than 16 unique tournament winners?
If the number of unique winners is less than 16, the remaining spots are filled using the World Snooker official rankings at the time of the draw. This ensures the most consistent players of the season are included.
Is the Champion of Champions a ranking tournament?
No, it is a non-ranking invitational event. While it is one of the most prestigious titles on the circuit, the prize money earned does not count toward a player’s official world ranking position.
What is the prize money for the winner?
The winner of the 2026 Champion of Champions will receive £150,000. The total prize fund for the 16 players is approximately £440,000, with even first-round losers receiving a significant payout.
Where can I watch the tournament on TV?
In the UK, the tournament is traditionally broadcast live on ITV4. Global fans can usually stream the action via Matchroom.Live or through various international sports networks like Eurosport.
Are tickets available for the 2026 final?
Tickets for the final weekend are highly sought after and often sell out months in advance. Fans are encouraged to book through the official Matchroom Snooker website as soon as they go on sale in early 2026.
Can I see the 147 maximum break history of the event?
While 147s are rare in this short-format group stage, the Champion of Champions has seen incredible high-scoring sessions. The tournament offers a specific High Break Prize for the player who compiles the highest century of the week.
Final Thoughts
The Champion of Champions stands as the definitive litmus test for snooker’s elite. By bringing together only those who have tasted victory in the preceding 12 months, the tournament bypasses the early rounds of traditional ranking events to deliver “all-star” matchups from the very first frame. The 2025 edition cemented this reputation as Mark Selby delivered a masterclass in his hometown of Leicester, defeating World No. 1 Judd Trump 10–5 to claim his maiden title in the event and the £150,000 top prize.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Champion of Champions is already one of the most anticipated fixtures on the sporting calendar. Scheduled to return to the Mattioli Arena from November 9 to 15, 2026, the event will once again feature a 16-player field comprising the sport’s most recent champions, including Selby as the defending champion and Zhao Xintong as the 2025 World Champion. For fans and players alike, the tournament remains a prestigious pursuit of “The Champion of Champions” mantle—a title that signifies not just talent, but the proven ability to win under the highest pressure.
To Read More: Manchester Independent