The criteria for the 2025 edition of the Champion of Champions has finally been revealed, but it has already caused a sprinkling of controversy.
The long-running annual tournament sees winners from the various tours from the previous 12-month period compete against one another for a lucrative prize.
As an invitational event promoted by Matchroom Sport, the official criteria for qualification is rarely announced early – presumably in an effort to guarantee that the biggest names are involved.
So despite the fact that the 2025 Champion of Champions takes place in just a few weeks time (November 10-16), it’s not really surprising that the reveal as to who would be participating has come this late.
In the past, the selection process has ruffled some feathers and it seems like that’s the case again this year.
Who is definitely in the 2025 Champion of Champions draw?
The majority of the field consists of the winners of all the most important tournaments across the last year or so.
Mark Williams returns as the defending champion having got his hands on the trophy for the first time in 2024 by beating Xiao Guodong in the final.
UK champion Judd Trump, Masters winner Shaun Murphy, and world champion Zhao Xintong will be joined by Neil Robertson – a winner of the so-called fourth major in Saudi Arabia in the summer.
Xiao is back for a second crack having successfully defended his Wuhan Open crown, while fellow Chinese potters Lei Peifan and Bai Yulu are also involved after their respective victories in the Scottish Open and the World Women’s Championship.
Marquee names Mark Selby, John Higgins, Kyren Wilson, and Mark Allen have been invited as well after getting their hands on silverware in the most recent period.
Stephen Maguire is back at a Champion of Champions for the first time since 2021 courtesy of his triumph at the ranking event version of Championship League Snooker.
According to the tournament’s official website, Tom Ford is also in the draw thanks to his maiden ranking glory at the Snooker Shoot Out.
Who hasn’t been invited yet?
All those names tally to 14, leaving two spots available in the 16-player lineup that will compete at Mattioli Arena in Leicester next month.
This week’s Northern Ireland Open is seemingly going to provide the last opportunity for players to win a tournament and secure an invitation.
That already comes somewhat of a surprise given how the upcoming International Championship is being staged on the eve of the Champion of Champions and has been included in the criteria in the past.
The remaining ticket looks set to be awarded to the highest-ranked player on the WST two-year rankings, which is world number five Ronnie O’Sullivan.
All of that potentially leaves world seniors champion Alfie Burden out of the equation with the veteran Londoner set to miss out.
If accurate, this would mark the first time since 2018 that the world seniors champion wouldn’t be invited, the validity of which Jason Francis from the World Seniors Snooker Tour has immediately questioned.
The situation has been exacerbated somewhat by a graphic that was shown live on ITV – host broadcaster for the Champion of Champions – during the British Open final that showed Burden in the lineup and just one spot left to be filled.
“Just to be clear on the Alfie Burden Champion of Champions situation as a lot of misinformation being spread,” Francis wrote on social media platform X.
“The 2025 [World Seniors] champs was played under an agreement between WST and WSS [World Seniors Snooker].”
“That agreement means the winner goes on to the Champion of Champions invitees list. That has always been the case.
“Up until today, Alfie was in at number 22 as shown on the ITV graphic. Number 21 was the women’s world champion who is in.
“The issue today is that Alfie has been removed from all publicity and a new criteria has been published with no mention of him.
“The world seniors champion has a contractual right to be on that list, so I am sure it is merely an oversight they will correct.
“Alfie has spoken to me today. He has also spoken to Jason Ferguson [WPBSA chairman] who confirmed to him the same understanding and position as me.
“Alfie should be in this even if there is a new winner in Northern Ireland according to their own previous criteria.”
The apparent late shift on how the criteria was devised can probably be simply explained by the promoter’s obvious desire to get O’Sullivan in the lineup.
The Rocket hasn’t picked up a trophy since his World Grand Prix triumph at the start of 2024, narrowly missing out on the Saudi Arabia Masters crown to Robertson in August.
O’Sullivan is a record four-time winner of the Champion of Champions and the promoters would understandably prefer for him to be in the running, albeit the 49 year-old has refused an invitation to compete twice before.
If he refuses again, that could open the door for Burden to get into the draw after all should there be a repeat winner in Belfast at the weekend.
But even that’s not clear as it could also go to the next highest-ranked player instead, which is Ding Junhui, depending on what the promoters decide.
Either way and as in previous years, the entire thing has been messily delivered.
2025 Champion of Champions Lineup
1. Mark Williams
2. Zhao Xintong
3. Judd Trump
4. Shaun Murphy
5. Neil Robertson
6. Mark Allen
7. Kyren Wilson
8. John Higgins
9. Xiao Guodong
10. Mark Selby
11. Lei Peifan
12. Stephen Maguire
13. Bai Yulu
14. Tom Ford
15. Highest ranked player (Ronnie O’Sullivan)
16. Northern Ireland Open winner
Source: Champion of Champions website
Featured photo credit: WST
Glad to see Mark Williams will be playing as I miss him from the NI tournament . I love the snooker and Williams is my favourite followed by Jack Lisowski and John Higgins . I like Ronnie but he often goes AWOL. Like Mark Selby too . Will the November tournament be on our TV
Depends on your location, but the broadcaster in the UK+Ireland for the Champion of Champions will be ITV.
It’s a bit of a quagmire but the rocket is box office and PR….however the “Champion of Champions” really should include champions of designated tournaments before ranking players? Even Ronnie O’Sullivan?!
The criteria should be laid out swiftly following the conclusion of last year’s event.
Either only Tour championships title holders and highest ranked players qualifies getting rid of none tour events holders, ie World Seniors and Womens World or only title holders pre agreed. The inclusion of Womens World but not the Senior Champion makes this a mockery.