Here is the report shared by WST:
Si Fights Back To Win Group
Si Jiahui came from 2-0 down in the final to defeat Leicester’s Joe O’Connor 3-2 on his home turf and win Group 3 at the BetVictor Championship League Invitational.
The afternoon saw the round robin phase of the group conclude, with Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong finishing top ahead of Yuan Sijun in second, O’Connor in third and Si in fourth. Si had to beat O’Connor his last match to edge into the semis and he did just that by a 3-1 scoreline.
A break of 73 in the deciding frame from Si was enough for him to beat Xiao 3-2, while O’Connor top scored with 125 in a 3-1 defeat of Yuan.
The final saw O’Connor charge to the verge of victory, but breaks of 65 and 97 helped Si take the last three frames and earn his progression. He will return to Leicester in February for the next phase.
Xiao will join Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Gary Wilson, Ben Woollaston and Matthew Selt in a star studded group 4, which begins tomorrow.
I can’t comment on this leg of the 2025/26 CLS, my attention yesterday being mainly on the ongoing 2026 German Masters qualifiers. Maybe my memory is failing me but I can’t remember such a strong presence of the Chinese players in this event in the previous years.
Group 4 starts today with, amongst others, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong in the field. It’s probably not by chance that those three enter the competition at this stage. Whatever the outcome for them tomorrow, it’s very valuable practice ahead of the 2026 Masters.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
1.Rankings
I remember German masters was flat draw back then (only tiered format in this 2years)
If players have to fight for points, they to focus qualifiers and not Championship League.
2.Chinese New Year
It was January last year! The Champion League was near the period of new year. (perhaps they wished stay a bit longer then to other matches
Last year.
If they lose the german master qual in Dec.2024, they can simply return home.
else they can stay a bit longer then go for German Masters.)
german master/ world open qual in Dec.2024->German Masters (27/1~2/2) new year(29/1)->Welsh Open qual(4/2~6/2)-> Welsh Open(10-16)
This year(2026)…
German Masters (26/1~1/2)-> Grand prix (H.K.) (3-8/2)-> C.L.winning group + world open qual. (England) (10-12/2)->player championship(17-22/2)->Welsh Open(23/2~1/3)
quite packed but if they to stay with their families this new year(17/2), they can do that after the player championship(if they decide to withdraw it)