The Champion of Champions returns to Leicester this week, bringing together the season’s standout performers for one of snooker’s most prestigious invitationals — but with Ronnie O’Sullivan absent, the door is wide open for a new name to lift the trophy.
Champions of Champions
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Absence
Part of the furniture will be missing in Leicester this coming week for the Champion of Champions…
The greatest of them all and four-time winner of this event, Ronnie O’Sullivan has been present in all but two of the past 12 editions. The two he missed he qualified for but chose to withdraw. He very nearly got in through the proverbial ‘back door’ from his world ranking here, but World Seniors Champion and amateur Alfie Burden rightfully got his place.
Who Won The Champion of Champions Last Year?
This season has been unbelievable so far with 14 maximum breaks, two in one match by O’Sullivan, and eight different winners of rankers or invitationals, including the oldest in history.
That man is Mark Williams, who returns to defend the title he won in Bolton last year, becoming the seventh different winner of the Championship since 2013.
He missed the event in Nanjing last week due to a respiratory illness, so whether he can back up his wonderful display at the Xi’an Grand Prix in mid-October remains to be seen.
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Analysing the Draw: The Top Half
The top half with Williams looks a good place to start as it’s the most open and weaker than the bottom.
Mark Selby
Selby has a record to forget in this event, never making a final in 12 appearances, despite reaching the quarters or semis on nine occasions. Not sure he’s one to side with, even as the hometown favourite, especially with a tricky opener against last week’s semi-finalist Stephen Maguire.
Neil Robertson
Robertson won this in 2015 and 2019, and made the final again in 2020, so he warrants plenty of respect. He opens with another Leicester lad, Shoot-Out champion Tom Ford, and is priced accordingly.
John Higgins vs Xiao Guodong
John Higgins would have wanted a rest following a terrific run to the final of the International Championship on Sunday, but at least his opener isn’t until Thursday.
Higgins has a strong record here, making it past the first round best-of-seven in eight of his last nine appearances, with his title win coming in 2016.
However, his opponent Xiao Guodong could be one to watch, and perhaps to back.
Why Xiao Guodong Appeals
Xiao took this event by storm last year and looks capable of going one better this time around.
He’s had a relatively quiet campaign, playing in only five tournaments so far, and comes here fresher than Higgins after a last 64 exit in Nanjing to Zak Surety.
It’s arguable whether Xiao prefers China-based events, as he’s already landed one, the Wuhan Open, for the second year in succession at the end of August.
Last year in this event, he opened with O’Sullivan, coming back from 3–0 down to win 4–3, then beat Selby in the quarters and Allen in the semis before losing to Mark Williams in the final.
This looks a good time to face Higgins, who might be mentally exhausted, and Xiao already beat the Scot in Shanghai earlier this season.
Plain and simple — I’d rather have Xiao at 16/1 than Higgins at 11/1.
Xiao’s scoring has been a menace this season, averaging a century every 4.7 frames he wins. He’s in the right side of the draw to do some damage in the East Midlands.
Analysing the Draw: Bottom Half
There’s a brutal quarter in the bottom half containing Kyren Wilson, Zhao Xintong, Jack Lisowski, and Mark Allen.
How do you pick one from there? Well, I’m going to try — and it’s Mark Allen.
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Why Mark Allen Is Worth Backing
The Northern Irishman comes alive in this stellar event. A two-time winner (2020, 2023), a runner-up (2015), and a semi-finalist in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2024, he’s made at least the semi-final in seven of his last eight appearances — incredible consistency.
Maybe it’s the ITV cameras he enjoys, as he’s also a former winner of the Players Championship and the World Grand Prix.
Allen missed the International Championship after losing in qualifying — perhaps a blessing in disguise. While most of this field battled it out and travelled to and from China, he stayed home in Antrim, avoiding over 30 hours of travel.
There’s plenty of encouragement in his season so far — semi-finals at the Wuhan and Northern Ireland Opens, and a 12th ranking title at the English Open.
Opening Match: Allen vs Zhao Xintong
Allen opens with World Champion Zhao, who finally showed signs of life in Nanjing by reaching the semis. Allen enjoys the underdog role and has a strong head-to-head record against similar players — never lost to Zhao, six straight wins over Lisowski, and an even record with Wilson.
Confidence and Form
Off the table, Allen is in a great place after marrying in June, and it seems to have relaxed his mindset on the table as well.
This is a prime event for Allen, and he rarely disappoints here. At 14/1, he’s well worth a bet.
Champions of Champions Tips & Predictions
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Xiao Guodong – 16/1 (Ladbrokes/Coral) – 0.50pt each-way
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Mark Allen – 14/1 (Betfred/Ladbrokes/Coral) – 0.50pt each-way
