John Higgins became the last player to qualify for the Championship League climax after winning Group Seven in Coventry on Tuesday.
The Scot placed second after the round-robin phase with four victories from his six encounters before inflicting a 3-2 defeat on Michael Holt in the last four.
The final at the Ricoh Arena was a more one-sided affair as he whitewashed Mark Selby with a high break of 55.
Higgins, who will feature at the last stage of the tournament for the fourth time in his career, joins David Gilbert, Anthony McGill, Mark Davis, Barry Hawkins, Judd Trump, and Ryan Day in the Winners’ Group – which takes place on Wednesday and Thursday.
The 41 year-old told Championship League Snooker: “Beating somebody like Mark in the final is great. I am made up to get through and have a chance of doing well in the Winners’ Group.”
“I was playing well before the turn of the year but have lost three first rounds since, so to come and win any match gives you a bit of confidence which I can hopefully take on with a few busy months coming up.
“They are all class players in the Winners’ Group but I will go in, give it my all and try and do well.”
Prize money in the Winners’ Group now increases with £200 per frame won in the league, £300 per frame in the knockout stages, and £10,000 for the eventual champion.
The winner will also gain an invitation into the lucrative Champion of Champions next season.
In such a short format it is difficult to predict any outcome but, as a three-time victor and the only previous winner left in the mix, reigning champion Trump will arguably begin the showdown as the favourite.
