As the 2024 Champion of Champions event draws closer, excitement is building for another exhilarating week of world-class snooker at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton, from November 11-17. With 13 top players already confirmed, the final spots in the star-studded line-up will be determined soon.
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The highest ranked player(s) on the World Snooker two-year world ranking list, following the conclusion of the International Championship on November 10, will qualify for the remaining spot(s) in the Champion of Champions. This marks the final cutoff before the competition begins on November 11. Players who win the Northern Ireland Open or International Championship will earn a place, if they are not already qualified.
Among those already confirmed for the 2024 edition is defending champion Mark Allen, alongside other iconic names in the sport including Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Gary Wilson, and the legendary Ronnie O’Sullivan. With a roster brimming with champions, the stage is set for a week of remarkable performances and unforgettable moments on the green baize.
Confirmed Players Defending Champion, Mark Allen World Champion, Kyren Wilson UK Championship & Masters Champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan World Number One, Judd Trump Championship League Snooker Invitational Champion, Mark Selby Tour Championship winner, Mark Williams Championship League Snooker Ranking Champion, Ali Carter Scottish Open & Welsh Open Champion, Gary Wilson English Open Champion, Neil Robertson Women’s World Champion, Bai Yulu World Championship Runner-Up, Jak Jones Wuhan Open Champion, Xiao Guodong World Seniors Champion, Igor Figueiredo
The tournament format will kick off with four-player groups competing across four days, from Monday, November 11 to Thursday, November 14. The group winners will then progress to the semi-finals on Friday, November 15, and Saturday, November 16, culminating in the grand final on Sunday, November 17. The final, played over two sessions and 19 frames, promises to be an unmissable spectacle.
Event Schedule The action-packed week will commence with sessions from Monday, November 11th, to Thursday, November 14th. Doors will open at 12:15 for the afternoon session, followed by an evening session starting at 18:15. On Friday, November 15th, and Saturday, November 16th, VIP guests will be welcomed at 17:30, with general admission opening at 18:15 for the evening session. The final showdown on Sunday, November 17th, will see doors opening at 12:15 for the afternoon session, followed by VIP doors at 17:30 and general admission at 18:15 for the evening session.
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Where To Watch The 2024 Champion of Champions will be broadcast live across the globe on major networks, ensuring snooker fans everywhere can experience the excitement of this prestigious event.
Broadcast List · ITV – UK · AMC Network – Hungary · Fox Sports – Australia · Moia TV – Indonesia · Nova – Czech Republic & Slovakia · Sky Network – New Zealand · Starhub – Singapore · Sporklub – Croatia & Ex-Yugo · VTM – Belgium · Viaplay – Baltics, Iceland, Netherlands, & Poland · Viasat – Scandinavia
For territories not covered by these broadcasters, fans can watch the 2024 Champion of Champions via Matchroom.Live, where you can sign up for a monthly pass.
So apparently, Eurosport/Discovery+ will no show it which seems to be the case nowadays for most of the events shown on ITV. Grrr…. not many options for me here in Greece then…
The WPBSA has announced its eight amateur player nominations who will compete at this season’s Shoot Out from 4-7 December 2024.
Won last season by Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, the ranking event will once again be staged at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester with 128 players in the line-up. As usual it will feature a unique set of rules, with all matches played over a maximum of ten minutes, and a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and ten seconds for the last five.
Eight talented amateurs have been nominated to compete in the event by the WPBSA:
Vladislav Gradinari (Moldova), age 16, current EBSA Under-16 Champion and Under-18 Finalist
Riley Powell (Wales), age 16, EBSA Under-16 Finalist
Sophie Nix (Scotland), age 16, current World Women’s Snooker Under-21 Ranked No.1
Joel Connolly (Ireland), age 17, Irish Under-21 Champion
Sion Stuart (Wales), age 15, Welsh Under-16 Champion
Daniel Boyes (England), age 16, English Under-18 Champion
Steven Wardropper (Scotland), age 16, Scottish Under-16 Champion
Joe Shannon (Ireland), age 13, Irish Under-16 Champion
The WPBSA Group continues to work alongside its global partners to deliver inspirational opportunities for elite juniors to showcase their talent on the World Snooker Tour.
So all the under-16 champions from the four UK “Nations” plus Ireland are in there. Why not some junior champion from an European country? Or from an Asian country? Once again the UK-centered nature of WPBSA/WST is showing here. You will tell me that making the trip to the UK for playing maybe just a frame isn’t worth it but then traveling from Ireland, or even Scotland to Leicester is not easier or shorter than traveling from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany or France …
I’m happy with the inclusion of Sophie Nix in that field though. I wouldn’t fancy her chances just yet on the main tour but this event is peculiar. In just one frame everything can happen.
Just a cave-at note: in recent posts, including the two cited above, WST/WPBSA has used the word “confirmed” a lot. This is a bit (a lot?) misleading. I would be VERY surprised if it transpired that Ronnie has confirmed his participation in the Shoot-out, an event he really dislikes. The only thing that is “confirmed” is the players eligibility, not their actual participation.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 