The conclusion of the Northern Ireland Open on Sunday means that the blockbuster lineup for the 2025 Champion of Champions is complete.
The popular invitational tournament that boasts mostly winners from the recent 12-month period will take place next month at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
A late announcement regarding the criteria for this year’s edition was released last week, sparking some controversy with a place being awarded via the world rankings list.
It was also revealed then that, in the event of there not being a repeat champion, the Northern Ireland Open would provide the last champion’s ticket.
And so it is Jack Lisowski who bags the 16th and final Champion of Champions spot after securing a memorable maiden piece of silverware in Belfast.
Who is 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.
Leicester’s own Tom Ford is also in the draw thanks to his first ranking glory at the Snooker Shoot Out while Jack Lisowski will similarly make his maiden appearance after winning at the Waterfront Hall.
What about Ronnie O’Sullivan?
Ronnie O’Sullivan, meanwhile, gets the remaining invitation as the highest-ranked player who didn’t win anything during the last year.
The current world number five reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters where he was beaten in a deciding frame by Robertson.
The 49 year-old’s last title, though, was won way back at the start of 2024 with his success at the World Grand Prix.
O’Sullivan is a record four-time winner of the Champion of Champions, and the Rocket is a ticket-selling beast that tournament promoter Matchroom Sport was evidently desperate to shoehorn in.
The criteria has been met with mixed reaction, with many questioning the validity of letting O’Sullivan in at the expense of others who actually got their hands on a trophy.
The upcoming International Championship for example, which is being staged the week before the visit to Leicester, has been peculiarly wiped from the qualifying criteria.
Alfie Burden additionally misses out in cruel fashion despite being the reigning world seniors champion, which has earned a spot in the draw at every Champion of Champions since 2019.
It isn’t completely guaranteed that O’Sullivan will accept his invitation given how he has twice refused it in the past and his recent history of withdrawals generally.
That could open the door for Burden again, but Ding Junhui would be the next highest ranked player who is not qualified and it’s unclear whether or not the position could be filled by the Chinese star instead.
The full draw for the tournament will be officially announced shortly.
When is the 2025 Champion of Champions?
The prestigious event, which last year boasted a top prize of £150,000, will run from November 10th to November 16th with ITV broadcasting live across the UK and Ireland.
2025 Champion of Champions Lineup
1. Mark Williams
(Champion of Champions, Xi’an Grand Prix)
2. Zhao Xintong
(World Championship)
3. Judd Trump
(UK Championship)
4. Shaun Murphy
(Masters)
5. Neil Robertson
(World Grand Prix, Saudi Arabia Masters)
6. Mark Allen
(Snooker Championship, English Open)
7. Kyren Wilson
(German Masters, Players Championship, Shanghai Masters)
8. John Higgins
(World Open, Tour Championship)
9. Xiao Guodong
(Wuhan Open)
10. Mark Selby
(Welsh Open, Championship League Snooker)
11. Lei Peifan
(Scottish Open)
12. Stephen Maguire
(Championship League Snooker)
13. Bai Yulu
(World Women’s Championship)
14. Tom Ford
(Snooker Shoot Out)
15. Ronnie O’Sullivan
(World ranking top-up)
16. Jack Lisowski
(Northern Ireland Open)
Featured photo credit: WST
I’m a massive O’Sullivan fan but the way he’s been manufactured into the line-up leaves a mildly sour taste. At least its not at the expense of anyone winning main tour events, but I do feel Alfie Burden is right to feel a little peeved given past criteria used for the event’s line-up.