2024 Championship League (invitational)
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Dates | 2 January – 2 March 2024 |
Venue | Morningside Arena |
City | Leicester |
Country | England |
Organisation | Matchroom Sport |
Format | Non-ranking event |
Total prize fund | £205,000 |
Winner's share | £10,000 (plus bonuses) |
Defending champion | John Higgins (SCO) |
The 2024 Championship League Invitational (officially the 2024 BetVictor Championship League Invitational for sponsorship reasons) is a professional non-ranking snooker tournament, which is taking place from 2 January 2024 to 2 March 2024 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, England.
John Higgins is the defending champion, having won the tournament for the fourth time after beating Judd Trump 3–1 in the final of the 2023 event.[1]
Format
25 professionals take part. There is no audience. Players earn money for every frame won, and there are also prizes for being a semi-finalist, runner-up, and winner of each group, with more money involved in the winners' group. Since 2010 all matches are the best-of-five frames. The competition runs over eight groups, each consisting of seven players.
From the league stage of the first seven groups the top four qualify for a play-off, the winner of which qualifies for the Winners' Group. The bottom two players of each league are eliminated and the remaining four move to the next group, where they are joined by three more players until the seventh group.
In each group the players are ranked by number of matches won, then by most frames won, and then by least frames lost. If two players are equal by these criteria, then the player who won the match between them is ranked higher in the table.[2]
In the first phase, Group 1 was played on 2 and 3 January, and Group 2 was played on 4 and 5 January.[6] In the second phase, Group 3 will be played on 5 and 6 February, Group 4 will be played on 7 and 8 February, and Group 5 will be played on 9 and 10 February.[11] In the third phase, Group 6 will be played on 26 and 27 February, Group 7 will be played on 28 and 29 February, and the Winners' Group will be played on 1 and 2 March.[16]
The group winners play in the final group with the champion taking a place in the Champion of Champions.
Prize fund
The breakdown of prize money for the 2024 Championship League is as follows:[2]
- 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 (if all match results are 3–2)
- Minimum possible tournament total: £152,800 (if all match results are 3–0)
Group 1
Group 1 was played on 2 and 3 January 2024.[3][17] There were 19 century breaks made in Group 1, the highest being 140 made by both Chris Wakelin and Kyren Wilson.[18] Stuart Bingham won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.[19]
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
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ryan Day (WAL) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 11 | +6 | Qualification to Group 1 play-off |
2 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) | 6 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | |
3 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | |
4 | Gary Wilson (ENG) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 14 | +1 | |
5 | Chris Wakelin (ENG) | 6 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 14 | −2 | Advances into Group 2 |
6 | Noppon Saengkham (THA) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 15 | −2 | Eliminated from the competition |
7 | Robert Milkins (ENG) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 17 | −11 |
Group 1 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
Ryan Day (WAL) | 2 | |||||
Gary Wilson (ENG) | 3 | |||||
Gary Wilson (ENG) | 0 | |||||
Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 3 | |||||
Kyren Wilson (ENG) | 0 | |||||
Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 3 | |||||
Group 2
Group 2 was played on 4 and 5 January 2024.[3][20] There were 17 century breaks made in Group 2, the highest being 142 made by Ali Carter.[18] Chris Wakelin won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.[21]
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
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mark Selby (ENG) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | Qualification to Group 2 play-off |
2 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 9 | +4 | |
3 | Chris Wakelin (ENG) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 | |
4 | Ali Carter (ENG) | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | |
5 | Gary Wilson (ENG) | 6 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 | Advances into Group 3 |
6 | Matthew Selt (ENG)[a] | 6 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | −6 | Eliminated from the competition |
7 | Ryan Day (WAL) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 18 | −12 |
Group 2 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
Mark Selby (ENG) | 3 | |||||
Ali Carter (ENG) | 1 | |||||
Mark Selby (ENG) | 2 | |||||
Chris Wakelin (ENG) | 3 | |||||
Kyren Wilson (ENG) | 1 | |||||
Chris Wakelin (ENG) | 3 | |||||
Group 3
Group 3 will be played on 5 and 6 February 2024.[7][22]
Group 3 league matches
5 February
- Neil Robertson v Kyren Wilson
- Mark Selby v Barry Hawkins
- Neil Robertson v Ali Carter
- Gary Wilson v Tom Ford
- Mark Selby v Ali Carter
- Kyren Wilson v Tom Ford
- Neil Robertson v Tom Ford
- Barry Hawkins v Gary Wilson
- Ali Carter v Tom Ford
- Kyren Wilson v Gary Wilson
- Ali Carter v Barry Hawkins
- Mark Selby v Neil Robertson
6 February
- Kyren Wilson v Barry Hawkins
- Mark Selby v Gary Wilson
- Barry Hawkins v Tom Ford
- Ali Carter v Gary Wilson
- Mark Selby v Tom Ford
- Kyren Wilson v Ali Carter
- Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins
- Neil Robertson v Gary Wilson
- Kyren Wilson v Mark Selby
Group 3 table
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mark Selby (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Ali Carter (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | Gary Wilson (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Neil Robertson (AUS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Barry Hawkins (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Tom Ford (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group 3 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
1st place player from table | ||||||
4th place player from table | ||||||
1st semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd place player from table | ||||||
3rd place player from table | ||||||
Group 4
Group 4 will be played on 7 and 8 February 2024.[7][23]
Group 4 league matches
7 February
12 matches on day 1 (order of play to be decided)
8 February
9 matches on day 2 (order of play to be decided)
Group 4 table
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Losing finalist from Group 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 1st semi-final loser from Group 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | 2nd semi-final loser from Group 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | 5th place from table of Group 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Judd Trump (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Jack Lisowski (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Zhou Yuelong (CHN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group 4 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
1st place player from table | ||||||
4th place player from table | ||||||
1st semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd place player from table | ||||||
3rd place player from table | ||||||
Group 5
Group 5 will be played on 9 and 10 February 2024.[7][24]
Group 5 league matches
9 February
12 matches on day 1 (order of play to be decided)
10 February
9 matches on day 2 (order of play to be decided)
Group 5 table
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Losing finalist from Group 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 1st semi-final loser from Group 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | 2nd semi-final loser from Group 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | 5th place from table of Group 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | David Gilbert (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Fan Zhengyi (CHN)[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Joe Perry (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group 5 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
1st place player from table | ||||||
4th place player from table | ||||||
1st semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd place player from table | ||||||
3rd place player from table | ||||||
Group 6
Group 6 will be played on 26 and 27 February 2024.[12][25]
Group 6 league matches
26 February
12 matches on day 1 (order of play to be decided)
27 February
9 matches on day 2 (order of play to be decided)
Group 6 table
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Losing finalist from Group 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 1st semi-final loser from Group 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | 2nd semi-final loser from Group 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | 5th place from table of Group 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Ricky Walden (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Hossein Vafaei (IRN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | John Higgins (SCO) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group 6 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
1st place player from table | ||||||
4th place player from table | ||||||
1st semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd place player from table | ||||||
3rd place player from table | ||||||
Group 7
Group 7 will be played on 28 and 29 February 2024.[12][26]
Group 7 league matches
28 February
12 matches on day 1 (order of play to be decided)
29 February
9 matches on day 2 (order of play to be decided)
Group 7 table
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Losing finalist from Group 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 1st semi-final loser from Group 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | 2nd semi-final loser from Group 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | 5th place from table of Group 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Jimmy Robertson (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Si Jiahui (CHN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group 7 play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
1st place player from table | ||||||
4th place player from table | ||||||
1st semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd place player from table | ||||||
3rd place player from table | ||||||
Winners' group
The winners from the seven groups will participate in the Winners' group, which will be played on 1 and 2 March 2024. [12][27]
Winners' group league matches
1 March
12 matches on day 1 (order of play to be decided)
2 March
9 matches on day 2 (order of play to be decided)
Winners' group table
Pos | Player | Pld | W | L | FF | FA | FD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Chris Wakelin (ENG) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | Group 3 winner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | Group 4 winner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Group 5 winner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Group 6 winner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Group 7 winner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Winners' group play-offs
Semi-finals Best of 5 frames | Final Best of 5 frames | |||||
1st place player from table | ||||||
4th place player from table | ||||||
1st semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd semi-final winner | ||||||
2nd place player from table | ||||||
3rd place player from table | ||||||
Century breaks
A total of 36 century breaks have been made so far during the tournament.[18]
Note: Bold = highest break in the indicated group.
- 142 (2), 101 – Ali Carter
- 140 (1), 130, 128, 111, 100 – Kyren Wilson
- 140 (1), 110, 105, 103 – Chris Wakelin
- 136, 130, 129, 122, 105, 102, 102, 100 – Ryan Day
- 132, 129, 123, 121, 120, 119, 115 – Mark Selby
- 126 – Noppon Saengkham
- 122, 121, 104, 102, 100 – Gary Wilson
- 109, 107, 104 – Matthew Selt
- 100 – Stuart Bingham
Winnings
No. | Player[2][c] | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | W | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chris Wakelin (ENG) (23) | 1,450 | 6,100 | Q | 7,550 | |||||
2 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) (26) | 6,100 | Q | 6,100 | ||||||
3 | Gary Wilson (ENG) (17) | 4,400 | 1,200 | 5,600 | ||||||
4 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) (9) | 2,850 | 2,600 | 5,450 | ||||||
5 | Mark Selby (ENG) (5) | 4,900 | 4,900 | |||||||
6 | Ryan Day (WAL) (20) | 3,300 | 600 | 3,900 | ||||||
7 | Ali Carter (ENG) (10) | 3,000 | 3,000 | |||||||
8 | Noppon Saengkham (THA) (22) | 1,300 | 1,300 | |||||||
9 | Matthew Selt (ENG) (29)[a] | 900 | 900 | |||||||
10 | Robert Milkins (ENG) (14) | 600 | 600 | |||||||
11 | Neil Robertson (AUS) (7) | |||||||||
12 | Barry Hawkins (ENG) (15) | |||||||||
13 | Tom Ford (ENG) (18) | |||||||||
14 | Judd Trump (ENG) (2) | |||||||||
15 | Jack Lisowski (ENG) (16) | |||||||||
16 | Zhou Yuelong (CHN) (21) | |||||||||
17 | David Gilbert (ENG) (32) | |||||||||
18 | Fan Zhengyi (CHN) (33)[b] | |||||||||
19 | Joe Perry (ENG) (27) | |||||||||
20 | Ricky Walden (ENG) (25) | |||||||||
21 | Hossein Vafaei (IRN) (19) | |||||||||
22 | John Higgins (SCO) (12) | |||||||||
23 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) (1) | |||||||||
24 | Jimmy Robertson (ENG) (36) | |||||||||
25 | Si Jiahui (CHN) (28) | |||||||||
Total prize money: | 20,000 | 19,300 | 39,300 |
Green: Won the Group. |
Bold: Highest break in the Group. |
Q: Qualified for the Winners' Group. |
Numbers in parentheses: World ranking prior to tournament start, 2 January 2024. |
All prize money in GBP. |
Notes
- ^ a b Zhang Anda replaced Mark Allen who withdrew from Group 2. Zhang also withdrew later and Matthew Selt moved up from Group 5.[5]
- ^ a b Fan Zhengyi replaced Matthew Selt in Group 5. Selt moved from Group 5 up to Group 2.[10]
- ^ Table updated at end of play on January 5.
References
- ^ "Higgins beats Trump in League final". World Snooker Tour. 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Championship League Invitational phase 1 (groups 1 & 2)". World Snooker Tour. 22 May 2022. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Championship League-Group 1". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Championship League-Group 2". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ [3][4][5]
- ^ a b c d "Championship League Invitational phase 2 (groups 3, 4 & 5)". World Snooker Tour. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Championship League-Group 3". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Championship League-Group 4". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Championship League-Group 5". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ [7][8][9][10]
- ^ a b c d "Championship League Invitational phase 3 (groups 6, 7 & W)". World Snooker Tour. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Championship League-Group 6". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Championship League-Group 7". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Championship League-Winners Group". snooker.org. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ [12][13][14][15]
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 1". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "World Snooker – Live Scores". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "Ball-run Bingham seals first spot in Winners' Group". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. 3 January 2024. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 2". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Wakelin downs hometown boy Selby to win Group 2". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. 5 January 2024. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 3". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 4". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 5". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 6". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Group 7". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Championship League Snooker: Winners Group". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2023.