2024 Champion of Champions

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2024 Grosvenor Casinos
Champion of Champions
2024 CoC logo.png
Tournament information
Dates11–17 November 2024 (2024-11-11 2024-11-17)
Venue Toughsheet Community Stadium
City Bolton
CountryEngland
Organisation Matchroom Sport
FormatNon-ranking event
Total prize fund£440,000
Winner's share£150,000
Highest breakFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL) (140)
Final
ChampionFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)
Runner-upFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xiao Guodong  (CHN)
Score10–6
2023
2025

The 2024 Champion of Champions (officially the 2024 Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions [1] ) was a professional snooker tournament that took place between 11 and 17 November 2024 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton, England. It was the 14th edition of the Champion of Champions since the tournament was first staged in 1978. It featured 16 participants, primarily winners of significant tournaments since the previous year's event.

Contents

As an invitational tournament, it carried no world ranking points. It followed the 2024 International Championship and preceded the 2024 UK Championship. The winner received £150,000 from a total prize fund of £440,000. [2]

Mark Allen was the defending champion, having defeated Judd Trump 103 in the previous final, [3] [4] but he failed to defend the title, losing 36 to Xiao Guodong in the semifinals.

Mark Williams won the tournament, beating Xiao 106 in the final. [5] There were 25 century breaks made in the tournament, the highest break of the event was a 140 made by Williams in the group 3 final. [6]

Format

The 16 players were divided into four groups of four. The top four seeds were each assigned to a separate group with the next four seeds assigned in opposite order to those groups, so seed 1 with seed 8, seed 2 with seed 7 and so on. The bottom 8 seeds were randomly assigned to play one of the top seeds in the first match. Each day, one group played two best of seven frame matches, and the two winners played a best of 11 frame group final. The four group finalists plaed in the best of 11 frame semifinals, and the final was a best of 19 frame match played over two sessions . [7]

The event was broadcast by ITV in the United Kingdom; by AMC in Hungary; by Fox Sports in Australia; by Mola in Indonesia; by Nova in the Czech Republic and Slovakia; by Sky in New Zealand; by StarHub in Singapore; by Sportklub in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia and North Macedonia; by VTM in Belgium; by Viaplay in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuana, Iceland, the Netherlands and Poland; by Viasat in Denmark, Sweden and Norway; and by Matchroom Sport in all other territories. [8] [9]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for this event is shown below: [2]

  • Winner: £150,000
  • Runner-up: £60,000
  • Semi-final: £30,000
  • Group runner-up: £17,500
  • Group semi-final: £12,500

Qualification

Players qualified for the event by winning events throughout the previous year. Events shown below in grey are for players who had already qualified for the event. [8] [10]

Qualification table
TournamentDate of tournament finalWinner
2023 Champion of Champions 19 November 2023Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)
2023 UK Championship 3 December 2023Flag of England.svg  Ronnie O'Sullivan  (ENG)
2024 Masters 14 January 2024Flag of England.svg  Ronnie O'Sullivan  (ENG)
2024 World Championship 6 May 2024Flag of England.svg  Kyren Wilson  (ENG)
2024 World Grand Prix 21 January 2024Flag of England.svg  Ronnie O'Sullivan  (ENG)
2024 German Masters 4 February 2024Flag of England.svg  Judd Trump  (ENG)
2024 Players Championship 25 February 2024Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)
2024 Championship League (invitational) 13 March 2024Flag of England.svg  Mark Selby  (ENG)
2024 Tour Championship 7 April 2024Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)
2024 Championship League (ranking) 3 July 2024Flag of England.svg  Ali Carter  (ENG)
2024 Wuhan Open 12 October 2024Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xiao Guodong  (CHN)
2024 International Championship 10 November 2024Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Junhui  (CHN)
2023 Scottish Open 17 December 2023Flag of England.svg  Gary Wilson  (ENG)
2024 English Open 22 September 2024Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Neil Robertson  (AUS)
2024 Welsh Open 18 February 2024Flag of England.svg  Gary Wilson  (ENG)
2024 Northern Ireland Open 27 October 2024Flag of England.svg  Kyren Wilson  (ENG)
2024 British Open 29 September 2024Flag of England.svg  Mark Selby  (ENG)
2024 World Women's Championship 17 March 2024Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Bai Yulu  (CHN)
2024 World Championship (runner-up)6 May 2024Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Jak Jones  (WAL)
2024 Shanghai Masters 21 July 2024Flag of England.svg  Judd Trump  (ENG)
2024 World Seniors Championship 12 May 2024Flag of Brazil.svg  Igor Figueiredo  (BRA)
2023 Shoot Out [a] 9 December 2023Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)
World Ranking Top-UpN/AFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Luca Brecel  (BEL) [b]
World Ranking Top-UpN/AFlag of England.svg  Shaun Murphy  (ENG)
Player also qualified by winning another tournament
Note: Qualification table is based on previous edition as well as confirmed players. No official qualification table is available and possible qualification by a unique winner of either the invitational World Masters of Snooker or the ranking Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters is unclear.

Summary

Group stage

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 11 November. [11]

In the group semifinals, defending champion Mark Allen defeated reigning World Seniors Champion Igor Figueiredo 42, making breaks of 102 and 107, while World Championship runnerup Jak Jones defeated reigning Scottish Open and Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson by the same scoreline of 42, making breaks of 106 and 132. [12] [13]

In the group final, Jones won the first three frames , making a break of 137 in the process, to leave Allen 03 behind. Allen recovered after that, winning five frames in a row to lead 53, and eventually defeated Jones 64, with Allen achieving a high break of 104. After the match, Allen commented: "The start wasn't good from me, I was all at sea. After that I didn't miss too much. I felt like I upped the tempo and played some good stuff even though I could have lost a couple of frames. It could have gone four all but it went 53 so after that all you have to do is hold yourself together then." He added: "I love this event, it has always been one of my favourites on the calendar and I want to defend the title." [12] [13]

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 12 November. [11]

In the group semifinals, Mark Williams beat reigning World Women's Champion Bai Yulu 41 in what was Williams' first win ever in the Champion of Champions. Reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson defeated 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel, who was invited as a topup from the rankings, by the same 41 scoreline. [14] [15]

In the group final, Wilson and Williams shared the first four frames to be tied 22 at the midsession interval. After resumption of play, Williams moved up to 53 to be one frame away from victory, making a 140 break in the seventh frame, before Wilson regained parity at 55, making a 123 break in the ninth frame, to force a deciding frame which Williams eventually won to defeat Wilson 65. This was Williams' first ever win against Wilson, having lost all seven of their previous encounters. After the match, Williams commented: "I can’t really be hitting it much better when I’m practising. It doesn’t come out so much on the match table, but a bit of it came out there. I played well there and beat him 65. He’s one of the best players. [...] I’m pushing these top players close. I don’t know how I am, but lets see how long it can continue." [14] [15]

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 13 November. [11]

In the group semifinals, world number one Judd Trump whitewashed Ding Junhui, who had won the International Championship the previous week, while reigning English Open champion Neil Robertson defeated Ali Carter 43. [16] [17]

In the group final, Robertson led Trump 31 at the midsession interval before Trump regained parity at 33. Robertson then went 53 ahead, winning a protracted eighth frame, that lasted almost an hour, on the final pink . Trump then claimed the ninth frame to come back to 45 but Robertson won a tense tenth frame to defeat Trump 64 for his first win against the Englishman since the 2020 UK Championship final. After the match, Robertson said: "It was an incredible game. Judd showed all of the qualities he’s had throughout his whole career. His safety play and discipline was incredible. I matched it with him and stayed with him." [16] [17]

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 14 November. [11]

In the group semifinals, Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong came back from 03 behind against reigning UK and Masters champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, making three breaks of over 50, including a 130 in frame 4, to force a close decider which he eventually won to defeat O'Sullivan 43. Mark Selby defeated Shaun Murphy, who was invited as a topup from the rankings, 42. [18] [19]

In the group final, Selby led Xiao 41 after five frames, making a break of 120 in the third, before Xiao won three consecutive frames without Selby scoring a point to even out the scoreline at 44. Regaining the lead, Selby won the ninth frame to go 54 ahead but Xiao took the tenth after a long safety exchange on the colours to again level the scores at 55. After both players had had scoring opportunities in a close deciding frame that included a rerack , Xiao fluked the final yellow and cleared to the pink to defeat Selby 65. After the match, Xiao commented: "I didn't think I could win. In the last frame I was a lucky boy and I feel sorry for Mark. There was pressure because the game was close, but I enjoyed it, I was relaxed. Winning in Wuhan has helped me a lot. [...] I have changed my mindset now and I'm enjoying it." [18] [19]

Semi finals

The first semifinal between defending champion Mark Allen and Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong was played on 15 November as the best of 11 frames. [11]

Xiao made breaks of 83 and 71 to lead Allen 31 at the midsession interval. After the interval, Allen took the next two frames to restore equality at 33, but Xiao won the following two frames to regain his twoframe advantage at 53. The ninth frame came down to the colours. Xiao managed to develop the pink from his shot on the blue and cleared up to the final black for a 63 victory over the defending champion. With this win, he became the first Chinese player to reach the final of the Champion of Champions. After the match, Xiao said: "I will just enjoy watching tomorrow's game now. I don't care if I play Mark [Williams] or Neil [Robertson]. They are both legendary players. I will just enjoy it. That's it." [20] [21]

The second semifinal was played on 16 November as the best of 11 frames. Mark Williams faced Neil Robertson. [11]

After winning the first two frames to lead Robertson 20, Williams escaped from a snooker in the third frame on the last red on his second hitandhope attempt, fluking the red and then clearing the table to lead 30. After winning the fourth frame as well, Williams led Robertson 40 at the midsession interval. Williams went on to win the match 62, making a 132 break in the 6th frame. After the match Williams commented: "I'm really pleased, I am hitting the ball very well. My safety was good, I created chances and potted a couple of crazy balls. Perhaps I should give myself more credit because I am taking it to these youngsters and I'm in another big final. My allround game is better than ever and that's why I am still competing with the top players. I came here with no expectations so there is no pressure on me tomorrow." [22] [23]

Final

Mark Williams (pictured in 2014) won his first Champion of Champions title, beating Xiao Guodong 10-6 Mark Williams at Snooker German Masters (Martin Rulsch) 2014-01-30 01.jpg
Mark Williams (pictured in 2014) won his first Champion of Champions title, beating Xiao Guodong 106
Xiao Guodong (pictured in 2015) beat Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, and Mark Allen to reach the final Xiao Guodong at Snooker German Masters (DerHexer) 2015-02-04 06.jpg
Xiao Guodong (pictured in 2015) beat Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, and Mark Allen to reach the final

The final was played on 17 November as the best of 19 frames, played over two sessions . [11]

In the afternoon session, Williams took the first five frames, but Xiao responded to win the next four, making two century breaks. The score was 54 to Williams going into the evening session. [24] In the evening session, Williams went on to win 106, securing his first Champion of Champions title. After the match, Williams commented: "I can't believe it, I'm stood here just about to pick that trophy up and I don't know how I'm doing it really, but I'm sticking in there. The interval came at the perfect time for me because if it [had] carried on, he [Xiao] was probably going to run away with it. I'm lost for words really. I'm over the moon." [5] Xiao said: "The crowd was very nice and I'd also like to thank the Chinese fans who watched me play during the night time. I played a legend today and I learned a lot. I want Ronnie [ O'Sullivan ], Mark [Williams] and John [ Higgins ] to play for another ten or twenty years!" [25]

Tournament draw

The draw for the tournament is shown below. [7] Numbers in parentheses after the players' names denote the top eight seeded players, and players in bold denote match winners. [26] [11]

Group semi-finals
(last 16)
Best of 7 frames
Group finals
(quarter-finals)
Best of 11 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 11 frames
Final
Best of 19 frames
        
Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)(1)4
Flag of Brazil.svg  Igor Figueiredo  (BRA)2
Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)(1)6
Group 1
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Jak Jones  (WAL)4
Flag of England.svg  Gary Wilson  (ENG)(8)2
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Jak Jones  (WAL)4
Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)(1)3
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xiao Guodong  (CHN)6
Flag of England.svg  Ronnie O'Sullivan  (ENG)(5)3
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xiao Guodong  (CHN)4
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xiao Guodong  (CHN)6
Group 4
Flag of England.svg  Mark Selby  (ENG)(4)5
Flag of England.svg  Mark Selby  (ENG)(4)4
Flag of England.svg  Shaun Murphy  (ENG)2
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Xiao Guodong  (CHN)6
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)(6)10
Flag of England.svg  Kyren Wilson  (ENG)(3)4
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Luca Brecel  (BEL)1
Flag of England.svg  Kyren Wilson  (ENG)(3)5
Group 3
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)(6)6
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)(6)4
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Bai Yulu  (CHN)1
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)(6)6
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Neil Robertson  (AUS)2
Flag of England.svg  Ali Carter  (ENG)(7)3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Neil Robertson  (AUS)4
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Neil Robertson  (AUS)6
Group 2
Flag of England.svg  Judd Trump  (ENG)(2)4
Flag of England.svg  Judd Trump  (ENG)(2)4
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Junhui  (CHN)0

Final

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: Marcel Eckardt
Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton, England, 17 November 2024
Xiao Guodong
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
610 Mark Williams (6)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Afternoon: 2573, 5879, 091, 077, 1165, 6855, 1012 (101), 761, 1108 (110)
Evening: 4112 (104), 3471, 760, 12125, 7537, 195, 178
(frame 9) 110Highest break104 (frame 10)
2Century breaks1

Century breaks

A total of 25 century breaks were made during the tournament. [6]

Notes

  1. This is the second time the Shoot Out tournament was played in calendar year 2023, with the January 2023 edition falling within the 202223 season.
  2. Luca Brecel won a non-ranking tournament in the previous season, but it was not considered to be an automatic qualifying event for this edition, and was invited as an official "topup" on world rankings.

References

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  4. "Champion of Champions: Mark Allen beats Judd Trump 10-3 in Bolton final". BBC Sport . 19 November 2023. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Williams wins first Champion of Champions title". BBC Sport . 17 November 2024. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
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  14. 1 2 "Williams Pips Wilson in Thriller". World Snooker Tour . 12 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
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