Snooker in 2025 cues off with the return of the invitational version of the Championship League, played at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
There was already a ranking event version of this competition staged at the beginning of the campaign with Ali Carter emerging victoriously at the same venue.
But it’s back to the tournament’s original format – contested behind closed doors – over the course of the next month or so.
What is Championship League Snooker?
Championship League Snooker was launched in 2008 and has been played every year since then.
Joe Perry was the inaugural champion while Leicester’s own Mark Selby was the most recent winner, triumphing on home turf about ten months ago.
John Higgins is the record four-time winner of the event, while world number one Judd Trump and Martin Gould are the other multiple champions.
The likes of Kyren Wilson, Ding Junhui, and Stuart Bingham have also etched their names onto this trophy in the past.
Prize Money
Groups 1–7
Winner: £3,000
Runner-up: £2,000
Semi-final: £1,000
Frame-win (league stage): £100
Frame-win (play-offs): £300
Highest break: £500
Winners’ Group
Winner: £10,000
Runner-up: £5,000
Semi-final: £3,000
Frame-win (league stage): £200
Frame-win (play-offs): £300
Highest break: £1,000
There are seven groups comprising seven players in each, with the seven winners advancing to a final group that will determine the overall champion.
In each group, the players first contest a round robin stage before four players advance to the knockout semi-finals.
All the semi-finalists, except the player who wins the group, plus the fifth-placed runner from the round robin get another opportunity in the subsequent group.
Those who finish sixth and seventh in the round robin are eliminated each time.
In total, 25 players are expected to participate in the 2025 Championship League Snooker draw.
Who is in Group 1?
Group 1 of the event takes places on Friday and Saturday, with World Championship runner-up Jak Jones and four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day involved.
Top 16 members Chris Wakelin and Gary Wilson are joined by Hossein Vafaei, Pang Junxu, and Elliot Slessor.
Marquee names like Trump, Wilson, and Ronnie O’Sullivan are expected to join the fray in one of the later groups.
The player who lasts the distance in the Championship League Snooker draw will gain an invitation to the lucrative Champion of Champions at the end of the year.
What is the schedule?
With a busy calendar, this year’s Championship League Snooker will be completed in a much shorter timeframe.
All seven qualifying groups take place in January with the final Winners’ Group scheduled for the start of February.
Group 1: January 3–4
Chris Wakelin
Gary Wilson
Jak Jones
Hossein Vafaei
Pang Junxu
Ryan Day
Elliot Slessor
Group 2: January 6–7
Ali Carter
Si Jiahui
Robert Milkins
Group 3: January 8–9
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Kyren Wilson
Mark Selby
Group 4: January 10–11
Barry Hawkins
Stuart Bingham
Jackson Page
Group 5: January 20–21
Judd Trump
Tom Ford
Neil Robertson
Group 6: January 22–23
David Gilbert
Jack Lisowski
Noppon Saengkham
Group 7: January 24–25
Xiao Guodong
Zhou Yuelong
Matthew Selt
Winners’ Group: February 3–4
How to watch Championship League Snooker
Fans can watch the action unfold globally, with comprehensive live coverage available on two tables throughout the tournament.
Table One will be streamed live on the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel and available to UK viewers as well as on Rigour in China and Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Iceland.
Table Two will be streamed live on the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube channel, accessible to fans worldwide.
According to WST, a full broadcast schedule will be announced shortly.
Featured photo credit: CLS
