Ronnie O’Sullivan has been handed a potential route into the 2026 Champion of Champions after the World Seniors Championship was added to the tournament’s qualifying criteria.
O’Sullivan won the World Seniors Championship for the first time in May, and that success could now earn him an invitation to the prestigious event in Leicester.
The Champion of Champions website has added the 2026 World Seniors Championship to its list of qualifying tournaments.
However, O’Sullivan will only receive the invitation if there is a repeat winner at either the Shenzhen Open or Northern Ireland Open.
Both events are due to conclude in October, with the winners set to fill the two remaining places in the 16-player field.
If either tournament is won by a player who has already qualified, O’Sullivan will be handed the resulting invitation courtesy of his world seniors success.
And if there are repeat winners in both Shenzhen and Belfast, O’Sullivan will get one of the two remaining places, with the other going to the highest-ranked player not already qualified.
As things stand, that player would be Neil Robertson.
The development provides a lifeline for O’Sullivan, who was previously one of the most notable names left outside the line-up despite being the record four-time Champion of Champions winner.
The 50-year-old lifted the trophy in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2022 and would be a major addition to the field if he accepts an invitation.
There is, however, no guarantee that O’Sullivan would take up the opportunity.
The Rocket withdrew from the Champion of Champions in 2015 and 2023 despite being the reigning champion on both occasions.
This year’s edition of the prestigious event will be staged at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from November 9 to 15, with a winner’s cheque of £150,000 up for grabs.
Mark Selby will be the defending champion, the Leicester man having got his hands on the silverware for the first time with a 10-5 final defeat of Judd Trump in 2025.
The likes of Trump, world champion Wu Yize, world number one Zhao Xintong, and Masters champion Kyren Wilson are also set to feature.
Others who will likely be involved include top 16 members Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, and Chris Wakelin.
Murphy hasn’t actually won anything in the last 12-month span, but the Magician will get in as the Crucible runner-up as there have been so many repeat winners on the circuit during that time.
Chang Bingyu will make his debut in the event after winning last month’s Wuhan Open, while there will be second appearances for Jak Jones, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, and Alfie Burden.
Un-Nooh won’t be the only Thai in the field as countrywoman Panchaya Channoi seems set for a maiden bow as well courtesy of her success at the World Women’s Championship.
Ali Carter also recently secured his berth after winning a seventh career ranking title with a 9-6 triumph over Mark Williams in the English Open final at the Brentwood Centre.
That leaves the Shenzhen Open and Northern Ireland Open as the two events still to be decided under the qualifying criteria.
The 2026 International Championship additionally takes place before this year’s Champion of Champions, but it does not feature in the qualifying criteria.
The addition of the World Seniors Championship means that O’Sullivan now has a clearer route into the field, while Robertson could also benefit if both remaining ranking events produce repeat winners.
Former Champion of Champions winners John Higgins and Mark Williams are among the other high-profile players who are similarly yet to qualify.
2026 Champion of Champions Qualifying Criteria:
Confirmed players in bold
Champions of Champions 2025: Mark Selby
World Championship 2026: Wu Yize
UK Championship 2025: Mark Selby
The Masters 2026: Kyren Wilson
167 Riyadh Season Snooker Champs 2025: Zhao Xintong
World Grand Prix 2026: Zhao Xintong
Players Championship 2026: Zhao Xintong
Tour Championship 2026: Zhao Xintong
German Masters 2026: Judd Trump
International Championship 2025: Wu Yize
World Open 2026: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
China Open 2026: Mark Selby
Wuhan Open 2026: Chang Bingyu
Shenzhen Open 2026: TBC
Northern Ireland Open 2026: TBC
Welsh Open 2026: Barry Hawkins
English Open 2026: Ali Carter
Scottish Open 2025: Chris Wakelin
British Open 2026: Jak Jones
Championship League Snooker Ranking 2026: Jak Jones
Women’s World Championship 2026: Panchaya Channoi
Shoot Out 2025: Alfie Burden
World Championship Runner-Up 2026: Shaun Murphy
Shanghai Masters 2026: Mark Selby
Championship League Snooker Invitational 2026: Judd Trump
World Seniors Championship 2026: Ronnie O’Sullivan
Highest Ranked Player not yet qualified on 26 October, 2026: TBC
Featured photo credit: depositphotos.com
