The updated draw and match schedule for the 2021 BetVictor Championship League world ranking event is now available.
Click here for the Match Schedule
Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams and defending champion Kyren Wilson will be among those battling for the trophy in the event which starts on July 18th.
Note that Ng On Yee and Zhou Yuelong have pulled out of the event, replaced by Saqib Nasir and Joshua Thomond respectively.
For details of how to watch CLICK HERE
Zhou Yuelong withdrawal is maybe not too unexpected, but On Yee was really looking forward to start playing on the Main Tour and her withdrawal is almost certainly the result of ongoing travel restrictions. As such, it’s pretty worrying for her as well as for Marco Fu as the covid-19 situation in the UK doesn’t look like it’s improving any time soon.
Anyway, here is the “programme” for phase 1:
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
The covid situation in the UK is improving. In fact, next week most of the internal restrictions here will be removed, although there are still travel issues. Most likely, Zhou and Ng were either hoping to be drawn in one of the later groups, or hoping for an easier path back to the UK.
But yes it does mean Ng misses out on possibly her only chance to be on a TV table, and Zhou’s struggle to reach the top-16 continues. I am yet to be convinced whether March Fu intends to play in many events, although paradoxically the short matches might actually suit his condition.
What a pity. On Yee was the one I was looking forward to…