Jimmy White
Non-Ranking, Snooker Headlines

Jimmy White guaranteed spot at prestigious invitational event

Jimmy White has secured an invite to the Champion of Champions next month in Bolton.

White, the reigning world seniors champion, had been quite far down the list when the qualifying criteria was initially set.

However, Judd Trump’s triumph at the Wuhan Open on Sunday means there are enough repeat winners from the last 12 months to safeguard the Whirlwind’s place in the 16-player field.

Jimmy White, who turned 61 in May, last played in the Champion of Champions in 2020 when he lost to Neil Robertson in the first round.

His only other previous appearance was in 2019 when he led Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-0 only to be denied what would have been a famous victory in a decider.

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The Champion of Champions is promoted by Matchroom Sport, who decide on the qualifying criteria each season.

White’s inclusion brings the total number of guaranteed spots in this year’s edition of the prestigious invitational to 14.

There are two more slots available, with Snooker Shoot Out champion Chris Wakelin and six reds world champion Ding Junhui provisionally set to receive the final invites.

The upcoming Northern Ireland Open and International Championship ranking events will provide players not already qualified with a last opportunity to do so, though.

Among the high-profile players who are in danger of missing out is Neil Robertson, who won the Champion of Champions in 2015 and 2019.

The Australian has endured a disappointing spell on the main tour, failing to get his hands on a trophy since September of 2022.

Former runners-up Kyren Wilson and Stuart Bingham are other notable names who will be hoping to claim silverware in the next few weeks.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, meanwhile, is the reigning winner following his record fourth success in the competition a year ago.

The Rocket will be among the favourites for glory again this year alongside the likes of Judd Trump, Luca Brecel, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.

The 2023 Champion of Champions takes place from November 13th to 19th at Toughsheet Community Stadium.

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Provisional Champion of Champions Lineup

PlayerWinner
1Ronnie O’Sullivan2022 Champion of Champions
2023 Shanghai Masters
2Luca Brecel2023 World Snooker Championship
3Judd Trump2023 Masters
2023 Wuhan Open
2023 English Open
4Mark Allen2022 UK Championship
2023 World Grand Prix
5Ali Carter2023 German Masters
6Shaun Murphy2023 Tour Championship
2023 Players Championship
2023 Championship League (R)
7John Higgins2023 Championship League (I)
8Mark Selby2023 WST Classic
2022 English Open
2023 World Snooker Championship RU
9Barry Hawkins2023 European Masters
10Gary Wilson2022 Scottish Open
11Robert Milkins2023 Welsh Open
12Mark Williams2023 British Open
13Baipat Siripaporn2023 World Women’s Snooker Championship
14Jimmy White2023 World Seniors Championship
15*Chris Wakelin2023 Snooker Shoot Out
16*Ding Junhui2023 Six Red World Championship
*Spots 15 and 16 are subject to change depending on who wins the Northern Ireland Open and the International Championship.

Featured photo credit: World Seniors Snooker
Photographer: Andy Chubb

4 Comments

  1. Jay Brannon

    Nobody will get in on their ranking this year. That’s a rarity.

    Hector Nunns posted on his X feed tonight an apology for an article that featured untrue remarks and defamatory comments over the ‘Macau Five’. This surprised me ad don’t think Nunns has any previous for this type of copy. He doesn’t explain why he decided to compose an article with so many false remarks.

  2. Jay Brannon

    Hector is now leaving snooker journalism.

  3. Jakob Kidde Sauntved

    Why do you assume the remarks were false just because he had to retract them? English defamation law is extremely strict by world standards and if the players he relied on as sources weren’t willing to back up their statements publicly he had no proof of his claims. I see no reason not to trust the veracity of his original article.

    • Jay Brannon

      I’m saying that Hector said he’d made defamatory remarks. I do think there’s something fishy about the whole affair.

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