2026 Championship League (invitational)

2026 BetVictor
Championship League Invitational
Tournament information
Dates2 January – 11 February 2026 (2026-01-02 – 2026-02-11)
VenueLeicester Arena
CityLeicester
CountryEngland
OrganisationMatchroom Sport
FormatNon-ranking event
Total prize fund£205,000
Winner's share£10,000 (plus bonuses)
Defending champion Mark Selby (ENG)

The 2026 Championship League Invitational (officially the 2026 BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational) is an upcoming professional non-ranking snooker tournament that will take place from 2 January to 11 February 2026 at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England. Part of the 2025–26 snooker season, it is the 20th edition of the invitational version of the tournament, which was first staged in 2008.

Mark Selby is the defending champion, having retained the title at the 2025 event by defeating Kyren Wilson 3‍–‍0 in the final.

Overview

The tournament will take place from 2 January to 11 February 2026 at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England.[1][2]

Mark Selby is the defending champion, defeating Kyren Wilson 3‍–‍0 in the final of the 2025 event.[3]

Format

A total of 25 players are initially invited to the event, with the matches played behind closed doors without an audience. Players earn prize money for every frame won, as well as being semi‑finalists, runners‑up, and winners of each group, with more money involved in the Winners' Group. Since 2010, all matches have been played as the best of five frames.

The tournament is played in a round‑robin format, consisting of eight groups of seven players. The top four players in each group qualify for a play‑off, with the winner entering the Winners' Group. The bottom two players in each group are eliminated, and the remaining four moved to the next group, where they are joined by three more players. This format is played for each group, from one to seven. In each group, the players are ranked by the number of matches won, then by most frames won, and then by least frames lost. If two players are tied by these criteria, the player who wins the match between them is ranked higher in the table. The group play‑off semi‑finals are contested between the 1st and 4th place players in the table, and between the 2nd and 3rd place players in the table. The Winners' Group is played at the end, and its play‑off winner becomes champion of the tournament.[4][5][6]

Groups 1 to 4 will be played from 2 to 9 January. Groups 5 to 7 will played from 19 to 24 January. The Winners' Group will be played on 10 and 11 February. The champion will take a place in the 2026 Champion of Champions.[15][24][26]

Broadcasters

The event will be broadcast by Eurasian Broadcasting in Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States; Fox Sports in Australia; Nova Sport in Czechia and Slovakia; Rigour Media in China; PCCW in Hong Kong; Viaplay in Iceland and the Netherlands; Reddentes in Thailand; Sky NZ in New Zealand (on 10 and 11 February); TV3 in the Baltics; Viasat in Scandinavia; and by Matchroom.live in all other territories. Additionally, table one will be streamed live on the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel available in the United Kingdom, with table two being available worldwide on the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube channel.[5]

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2026 Championship League is as follows:[4][5]

  • 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
  • Maximum possible tournament total: £205,000 (if all match results are 3‍–‍2)
  • Minimum possible tournament total: £152,800 (if all match results are 3‍–‍0)

Group 1

Group 1 will be played on 2 and 3 January 2026.[16][25]

Group 1 league matches

2 January

  • Chris Wakelin v Elliot Slessor
  • Joe O'Connor v Hossein Vafaei
  • Chris Wakelin v Tom Ford
  • Pang Junxu v Jackson Page
  • Elliot Slessor v Joe O'Connor
  • Hossein Vafaei v Jackson Page
  • Pang Junxu v Tom Ford
  • Chris Wakelin v Joe O'Connor
  • Tom Ford v Jackson Page
  • Elliot Slessor v Hossein Vafaei
  • Chris Wakelin v Pang Junxu
  • Joe O'Connor v Jackson Page

3 January

  • Elliot Slessor v Jackson Page
  • Chris Wakelin v Hossein Vafaei
  • Joe O'Connor v Pang Junxu
  • Tom Ford v Hossein Vafaei
  • Chris Wakelin v Jackson Page
  • Elliot Slessor v Tom Ford
  • Pang Junxu v Hossein Vafaei
  • Joe O'Connor v Tom Ford
  • Elliot Slessor v Pang Junxu

Group 1 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1  Chris Wakelin (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
2  Elliot Slessor (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Tom Ford (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
4  Pang Junxu (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Joe O'Connor (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Hossein Vafaei (IRN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Jackson Page (WAL) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 1 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[7][16]

Group 1 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Group 2

Group 2 will be played on 4 and 5 January 2026.[17]

Group 2 league matches

4 January

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

5 January

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Group 2 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Losing finalist from group 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1st semi-final loser from group 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2nd semi-final loser from group 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5th place from table of group 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Gary Wilson (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Ali Carter (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  David Gilbert (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 2 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[8][17]

Group 2 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Group 3

Group 3 will be played on 6 and 7 January 2026.[18]

Group 3 league matches

6 January

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

7 January

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Group 3 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Losing finalist from group 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1st semi-final loser from group 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2nd semi-final loser from group 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5th place from table of group 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Xiao Guodong (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Si Jiahui (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Yuan Sijun (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 3 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[9][18]

Group 3 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Group 4

Group 4 will be played on 8 and 9 January 2026.[19]

Group 4 league matches

8 January

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

9 January

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Group 4 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Losing finalist from group 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1st semi-final loser from group 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2nd semi-final loser from group 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5th place from table of group 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Kyren Wilson (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Neil Robertson (AUS) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Zhao Xintong (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 4 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[10][19]

Group 4 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Group 5

Group 5 will be played on 19 and 20 January 2026.[20]

Group 5 league matches

19 January

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

20 January

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Group 5 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Losing finalist from group 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1st semi-final loser from group 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2nd semi-final loser from group 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5th place from table of group 4 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Mark Selby (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Wu Yize (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 5 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[11][20]

Group 5 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Group 6

Group 6 will be played on 21 and 22 January 2026.[21]

Group 6 league matches

21 January

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

22 January

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Group 6 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Losing finalist from group 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1st semi-final loser from group 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2nd semi-final loser from group 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5th place from table of group 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Jak Jones (WAL) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Jack Lisowski (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Zhang Anda (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 6 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[12][21]

Group 6 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Group 7

Group 7 will be played on 23 and 24 January 2026.[22]

Group 7 league matches

23 January

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

24 January

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Group 7 table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Losing finalist from group 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 1st semi-final loser from group 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 2nd semi-final loser from group 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 5th place from table of group 6 0 0 0 0 0 0
5  Zhou Yuelong (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
6  Lei Peifan (CHN) 0 0 0 0 0 0
7  Jimmy Robertson (ENG) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Group 7 results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[13][22]

Group 7 play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Winners' Group

The Winners' Group will be played on 10 and 11 February 2026.[23]

Winners' Group league matches

10 February

Order of play for the 12 matches to be decided.

11 February

Order of play for the 9 matches to be decided.

Winners' Group table

Pos Player Pld W L FF FA FD
1 Group 1 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Group 2 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Group 3 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Group 4 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Group 5 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Group 6 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Group 7 winner 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Winners' Group results from snooker.org and championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk[14][23]

Winners' Group play-offs

 
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames		Final
Best of 5 frames
 
      
 
 
 
 
 1st place player from table
 
 
 
 4th place player from table
 
 1st semi-final winner
 
 
 
 2nd semi-final winner
 
 2nd place player from table
 
 
 3rd place player from table
 

Winnings

No. Player[4] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 W Total
1  Chris Wakelin (ENG) (14)
2  Elliot Slessor (ENG) (20)
3  Tom Ford (ENG) (28)
4  Pang Junxu (CHN) (27)
5  Joe O'Connor (ENG) (26)
6  Hossein Vafaei (IRN) (32)
7  Jackson Page (WAL) (33)
8  Gary Wilson (ENG) (17)
9  Ali Carter (ENG) (21)
10  David Gilbert (ENG) (24)
11  Xiao Guodong (CHN) (11)
12  Si Jiahui (CHN) (16)
13  Yuan Sijun (CHN) (31)
14  Kyren Wilson (ENG) (2)
15  Neil Robertson (AUS) (3)
16  Zhao Xintong (CHN) (9)
17  Mark Selby (ENG) (6)
18  Wu Yize (CHN) (13)
19  Stuart Bingham (ENG) (18)
20  Jak Jones (WAL) (19)
21  Jack Lisowski (ENG) (22)
22  Zhang Anda (CHN) (23)
23  Zhou Yuelong (CHN) (30)
24  Lei Peifan (CHN) (29)
25  Jimmy Robertson (ENG) (34)
Total prize money:
Green: Won the Group.
Bold: Highest break in the Group.
Q: Qualified for the Winners' Group.
Numbers in parentheses: World ranking prior to tournament start, 2 January 2026.
All prize money in GBP.[a]
Players receive prize money for frames won in voided matches
even though they do not count in the group tables.

Notes

  1. ^ Source (championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk) does not include high-break prize money in totals.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Tournaments 2025–26". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Calendar 2025/2026". snooker.org. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Selby retains league title and makes 147". World Snooker Tour. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Championship League Snooker". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "2026 BetVictor Championship League Snooker invitational event returns: everything you need to know". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  6. ^ "BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational returns in January". World Snooker Tour. 22 December 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 1". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 2". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 3". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 4". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 5". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 6". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Championship League-Group 7". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Championship League-All Groups". snooker.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  15. ^ [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
  16. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 1". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 2". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 3". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  19. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 4". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  20. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 5". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  21. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 6". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  22. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Group 7". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  23. ^ a b c "Championship League Snooker: Winners' Group". championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  24. ^ [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
  25. ^ a b "Championship League Group 1 matches". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
  26. ^ [25]
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