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2024 Championship League (invitational)

The 2024 Championship League Invitational (officially the 2024 BetVictor Championship League Invitational) was a professional nonranking snooker tournament, which took place from 2 January 2024 to 13 March 2024 at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England.

John Higgins was the defending champion, having won the tournament for the fourth time after beating Judd Trump 31 in the final of the 2023 event. He was defeated 30 by Joe O'Connor in the Winners' Group semifinals.

There were three maximum breaks achieved during the tournament, by Kyren Wilson in Group 3, by John Higgins in Group 5, and by Joe O'Connor in Group 7. This is only the third time that three maximums have been made in an event, the first being at the 2012 UK Championship, and the second at the 2017 German Masters.

Mark Selby won the tournament, beating Joe O'Connor 31 in the final.

Format

A total of 25 players were initially invited to the event, with the matches played behind closed doors without an audience. Players earned prize money for every won, as well as being semifinalists, runnerup, and winner of each group, with more money involved in the Winners' Group. Since 2010, all matches were played as the best of five frames.

The tournament was played in a roundrobin format, consisted of eight groups of seven players. The top four players in each group qualified for a playoff, with the winner entering the Winners' Group. The bottom two players in each group were eliminated, and the remaining four moved to the next group, where they were joined by three more players. This format was played for each group, from one to seven. In each group, the players were ranked by the number of matches won, then by most frames won, and then by least frames lost. If two players were tied by these criteria, the player who won the match between them was ranked higher in the table. The group playoff semifinals were contested between the 1st and 4th place players in the table, and between the 2nd and 3rd place players in the table. The Winners' Group was played at the end, and its playoff winner became champion of the tournament.

Groups 1 and 2 were played from 2 to 5 January. Groups 3, 4, and 5 were played from 5 to 10 February. Groups 6 and 7 were played from 26 to 29 February, and the Winners' Group was played on 12 and 13 March. The champion takes a place in the Champion of Champions.

The event was broadcast by DAZN in Germany, Spain, the United States and Brazil; Fox Sports in Australia; Nova in Czechia and Slovakia; Premier in the Philippines; Rigour Media in China; Viaplay in the Baltics, Iceland and the Netherlands; Viasat in Scandinavia; and by Matchroom.live in all other territories. It was also streamed live on the MatchroomMultiSport YouTube channel.

Withdrawals

There were a number of players who were originally invited to participate, who withdrew and were replaced by others. Most notable among these were Mark Allen, Zhang Anda, Zhou Yuelong, Hossein Vafaei, Jack Lisowski, Judd Trump, and Si Jiahui. There were other changes as players moved between groups, as noted in the group sections below.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2024 Championship League is as follows:

  • Groups 1–7
  • Winner: £3,000
  • Runner-up: £2,000
  • Semi-final: £1,000
  • Frame-win (league stage): £100
  • Frame-win (play-offs): £300
  • Highest break: £500
  • Winners' Group
  • Winner: £10,000
  • Runner-up: £5,000
  • Semi-final: £3,000
  • Frame-win (league stage): £200
  • Frame-win (play-offs): £300
  • Highest break: £1,000
  • Maximum possible tournament total: £205,000 <small>(if all match results are 32)</small>
  • Minimum possible tournament total: £152,800 <small>(if all match results are 30)</small>

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 2 and 3 January 2024. There were 19 century breaks made in Group 1, the highest being 140 made by both Chris Wakelin and Kyren Wilson. Stuart Bingham won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Group 1 league matches

2 January

  • Kyren Wilson 3–0 Stuart Bingham
  • Ryan Day 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Kyren Wilson 3–0 Chris Wakelin
  • Robert Milkins 0–3 Noppon Saengkham
  • Ryan Day 3–1 Stuart Bingham
  • Chris Wakelin 3–2 Noppon Saengkham
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ryan Day
  • Robert Milkins 1–3 Gary Wilson
  • Ryan Day 3–2 Chris Wakelin
  • Stuart Bingham 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Robert Milkins 0–3 Chris Wakelin
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Noppon Saengkham

3 January

  • Robert Milkins 1–3 Stuart Bingham
  • Gary Wilson 3–2 Noppon Saengkham
  • Robert Milkins 3–2 Ryan Day
  • Gary Wilson 3–2 Chris Wakelin
  • Ryan Day 3–2 Noppon Saengkham
  • Chris Wakelin 2–3 Stuart Bingham
  • Kyren Wilson 3–1 Robert Milkins
  • Stuart Bingham 3–2 Noppon Saengkham
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Gary Wilson

Group 1 table

Group 1 play-offs

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 4 and 5 January 2024. There were 17 century breaks made in Group 2, the highest being 142 made by Ali Carter. Chris Wakelin won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Note: Matthew Selt moved from Group 5 to Group 2.

Group 2 league matches

4 January

  • Mark Selby 1–3 Kyren Wilson
  • Ali Carter 3–0 Gary Wilson
  • Mark Selby 3–1 Ryan Day
  • Chris Wakelin 3–0 Matthew Selt
  • Gary Wilson 3–0 Ryan Day
  • Kyren Wilson 3–1 Matthew Selt
  • Mark Selby 1–3 Matthew Selt
  • Ali Carter 0–3 Chris Wakelin
  • Ryan Day 2–3 Matthew Selt
  • Kyren Wilson 3–0 Chris Wakelin
  • Ali Carter 3–0 Ryan Day
  • Mark Selby 3–1 Gary Wilson

5 January

  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ali Carter
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Chris Wakelin
  • Ali Carter 3–2 Matthew Selt
  • Ryan Day 2–3 Chris Wakelin
  • Gary Wilson 3–0 Matthew Selt
  • Kyren Wilson 3–1 Ryan Day
  • Mark Selby 3–0 Ali Carter
  • Mark Selby 3–1 Chris Wakelin
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Gary Wilson

Group 2 table

Group 2 play-offs

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 5 and 6 February 2024. There were 26 century breaks made in Group 3, the highest being 147 made by Kyren Wilson in his league match against Tom Ford, the fifth maximum break of his career. Mark Selby won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Note: John Higgins replaced Ali Carter in Group 3. Carter moved from Group 3 to Group 6.

Group 3 league matches

5 February

  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Selby 3–2 Tom Ford
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 John Higgins
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Xiao Guodong
  • Mark Selby 2–3 John Higgins
  • Kyren Wilson 3–0 Xiao Guodong
  • Neil Robertson 3–1 Xiao Guodong
  • Tom Ford 0–3 Gary Wilson
  • John Higgins 2–3 Xiao Guodong
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Gary Wilson
  • John Higgins 2–3 Tom Ford
  • Mark Selby 3–1 Neil Robertson

6 February

  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Tom Ford
  • Mark Selby 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Tom Ford 0–3 Xiao Guodong
  • John Higgins 3–0 Gary Wilson
  • Mark Selby 3–2 Xiao Guodong
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 John Higgins
  • Neil Robertson 3–0 Tom Ford
  • Neil Robertson 3–0 Gary Wilson
  • Mark Selby 1–3 Kyren Wilson

Group 3 table

Group 3 play-offs

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 7 and 8 February 2024. There were 18 century breaks made in Group 4, the highest being 143 made by John Higgins. Neil Robertson won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Group 4 league matches

7 February

  • Kyren Wilson 3–1 Barry Hawkins
  • John Higgins 3–2 Jimmy Robertson
  • Neil Robertson 0–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Ricky Walden 0–3 Xiao Guodong
  • Neil Robertson 3–0 Jimmy Robertson
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Xiao Guodong
  • Barry Hawkins 1–3 Jimmy Robertson
  • John Higgins 1–3 Ricky Walden
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Jimmy Robertson
  • Neil Robertson 3–0 John Higgins
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Ricky Walden
  • Barry Hawkins 3–1 Xiao Guodong

8 February

  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Ricky Walden
  • John Higgins 3–2 Xiao Guodong
  • Ricky Walden 3–0 Jimmy Robertson
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 John Higgins
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Kyren Wilson
  • Jimmy Robertson 3–2 Xiao Guodong
  • Barry Hawkins 3–0 Ricky Walden
  • John Higgins 3–1 Barry Hawkins
  • Neil Robertson 3–1 Xiao Guodong

Group 4 table

Note: Barry Hawkins and Neil Robertson finished with equal points and frames after all the league matches were completed. Hawkins won the match between them and so finished above Robertson in the table.

Group 4 play-offs

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 9 and 10 February 2024. There were 19 century breaks made in Group 5, the highest being 147 made by John Higgins in his semi-final match against Fan Zhengyi, the 13th maximum break of his career. Higgins won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Note: Fan Zhengyi replaced Matthew Selt in Group 5. Selt moved from Group 5 to Group 2.

Group 5 league matches

9 February

  • Barry Hawkins 3–1 Joe Perry
  • Fan Zhengyi 3–0 Kyren Wilson
  • Ricky Walden 2–3 David Gilbert
  • John Higgins 3–0 Joe Perry
  • Barry Hawkins 3–0 Ricky Walden
  • John Higgins 3–0 Fan Zhengyi
  • Joe Perry 2–3 Fan Zhengyi
  • Kyren Wilson 3–0 David Gilbert
  • Barry Hawkins 3–1 Fan Zhengyi
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 John Higgins
  • Barry Hawkins 3–0 David Gilbert
  • Joe Perry 2–3 Ricky Walden

10 February

  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Ricky Walden
  • John Higgins 3–2 David Gilbert
  • David Gilbert 2–3 Fan Zhengyi
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Ricky Walden 1–3 Fan Zhengyi
  • John Higgins 0–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Joe Perry 0–3 David Gilbert
  • John Higgins 3–2 Ricky Walden
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Joe Perry

Group 5 table

Note: Kyren Wilson and David Gilbert finished with equal points and frames after all the league matches were completed. Wilson won the match between them and so finished above Gilbert in the table.

Group 5 play-offs

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 26 and 27 February 2024. There were 15 century breaks made in Group 6, the highest being 142 made by Ricky Walden. Kyren Wilson won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Note: Ali Carter replaced John Higgins in Group 6. Higgins moved from Group 6 to Group 3. Carter then withdrew and was replaced in the group by Elliot Slessor. Barry Hawkins also withdrew and was replaced by Pang Junxu.

Group 6 league matches

26 February

  • Fan Zhengyi 3–1 Elliot Slessor
  • Ricky Walden 0–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Kyren Wilson 3–1 Sam Craigie
  • Pang Junxu 0–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Fan Zhengyi
  • Pang Junxu 3–1 Joe O'Connor
  • Sam Craigie 0–3 Ricky Walden
  • Joe O'Connor 1–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Pang Junxu 3–0 Ricky Walden
  • Fan Zhengyi 1–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Elliot Slessor
  • Sam Craigie 3–2 Fan Zhengyi

27 February

  • Sam Craigie 3–2 Pang Junxu
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Ricky Walden
  • Sam Craigie 3–0 Joe O'Connor
  • Ricky Walden 1–3 Fan Zhengyi
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Pang Junxu 3–1 Fan Zhengyi
  • Elliot Slessor 1–3 Sam Craigie
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Pang Junxu
  • Elliot Slessor 3–2 Ricky Walden

Group 6 table

Group 6 play-offs

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 28 and 29 February 2024. There were 16 century breaks made in Group 7, the highest being 147 made by Joe O'Connor in his league match against Elliot Slessor, the first maximum break of his career and the 200th in professional snooker. O'Connor won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Note: Ronnie O’Sullivan played in the first day's matches, then subsequently withdrew and did not compete further. He was not replaced by another player, and the group continued as a six-player group with the matches already played against O'Sullivan omitted.

Group 7 league matches

28 February

  • Pang Junxu 0–3 Jak Jones
  • Joe O'Connor 2–3 Jordan Brown
  • Joe O'Connor 3–0 Sam Craigie
  • Jak Jones 3–2 Elliot Slessor
  • Pang Junxu 3–2 Jordan Brown
  • Jak Jones 3–0 Sam Craigie
  • Pang Junxu 0–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Jordan Brown 3–2 Sam Craigie

Results not counted after O'Sullivan's withdrawal:

  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–2 Sam Craigie
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–2 Elliot Slessor
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 0–3 Jak Jones
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 2–3 Joe O'Connor

29 February

  • Pang Junxu 2–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Jordan Brown 1–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Jordan Brown 1–3 Jak Jones
  • Pang Junxu 3–0 Sam Craigie
  • Joe O'Connor 2–3 Jak Jones
  • Elliot Slessor 3–1 Sam Craigie
  • Joe O'Connor 3–2 Elliot Slessor

Matches not played:

  • Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan v Jordan Brown

Group 7 table

Group 7 play-offs

Winners' Group

The Winners' Group was played on 12 and 13 March 2024. There were 16 century breaks made in the Winners' Group, the highest being 143 made by Neil Robertson. Mark Selby won the group and the tournament.

Winners' Group league matches

12 March

  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Stuart Bingham
  • Mark Selby 3–0 Joe O'Connor
  • John Higgins 3–2 Stuart Bingham
  • Neil Robertson 3–0 Chris Wakelin
  • Mark Selby 1–3 John Higgins
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Neil Robertson
  • Chris Wakelin 1–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Stuart Bingham
  • Mark Selby 3–0 Kyren Wilson
  • John Higgins 3–0 Joe O'Connor
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Chris Wakelin
  • Mark Selby 0–3 Stuart Bingham

13 March

  • John Higgins 2–3 Chris Wakelin
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Kyren Wilson 3–2 Joe O'Connor
  • Mark Selby 3–1 Chris Wakelin
  • Mark Selby 3–1 Neil Robertson
  • John Higgins 3–1 Kyren Wilson
  • Chris Wakelin 1–3 Stuart Bingham
  • John Higgins 3–0 Neil Robertson
  • Stuart Bingham 0–3 Joe O'Connor

Winners' Group table

Winners' Group play-offs

Final

Century breaks

A total of 146 century breaks were made during the tournament.

<small>Note: Bold = highest break in the indicated group.</small>

Winnings

Notes

References

External links