Snooker tournament
The 2023 Championship League was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place from 26 June to 21 July 2023 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester , England. The event featured 128 players and was played as three rounds of round-robin groups of four, before a best-of-five final. It was the fourth edition of the ranking version of the Championship League , and the first ranking tournament of the 2023–24 season .
Luca Brecel was the reigning champion, having defeated Lu Ning 3–1 in the final of the previous ranking edition of the tournament. However, he opted not to enter the draw for the tournament and consequently was not defending the title. Other notable players choosing not to enter the draw were Mark Selby , Jack Lisowski , John Higgins , Mark Allen and Ding Junhui .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] Ronnie O'Sullivan , Neil Robertson and Marco Fu .[ 4]
Shaun Murphy won the tournament, defeating Mark Williams 3–0 in the final to claim his twelfth ranking title.[ 5] [ 6]
The 2023 Championship League took place from 26 June to 21 July 2023 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester , England.[ 7] [ 8] table setup in the arena. The groups were contested using a round-robin format, with six matches played in each group. All matches in group play were played as best of four frames, with three points awarded for a win and one point for a draw. Group positions were determined by points scored, frame difference and then head-to-head results between players who were tied. Places that were still tied were then determined by the highest break
The 32 players that topped the group tables qualified for the group winners' stage, consisting of eight groups of four players.[ 9] [ 10] 2023 Champion of Champions .
There were 20 players not currently on the professional tour who were entered into the draw as follows:
Prize fund
The breakdown of prize money for the tournament is shown below.[ 7]
Stage One Winner: £3,000
Runner-up: £2,000
Third place: £1,000
Fourth place: £0
Stage Two Winner: £4,000
Runner-up: £3,000
Third place: £2,000
Fourth place: £1,000
Stage Three Winner: £6,000
Runner-up: £4,000
Third place: £2,000
Fourth place: £1,000
Final Winner: £20,000
Runner-up: £10,000
Tournament total : £328,000
Stage One
Stage One consisted of 32 groups, each containing four players.[ 8] [ 1] [ 2]
Order of play
Group 1
Group 1 was played on 10 July. Michael Holt Group A .[ 11]
Matches
Scott Donaldson 1–3 Michael Holt
Rod Lawler 0–3 Alfie Burden
Scott Donaldson 1–3 Alfie Burden
Rod Lawler 3 –1 Michael HoltAlfie Burden 0–3 Michael Holt
Scott Donaldson 2–2 Rod Lawler
Table
Group 2
Group 2 was played on 11 July. Judd Trump Group B .[ 12]
Matches
Judd Trump 3 –0 Reanne EvansXu Si 3 –0 Jimmy WhiteJudd Trump 3 –0 Jimmy WhiteXu Si 2–2 Reanne Evans Jimmy White 1–3 Reanne Evans
Judd Trump 2–2 Xu Si
Table
Group 3
Group 3 was played on 26 June. Ashley Carty Group C .[ 13]
Matches
Craig Steadman 2–2 Ashley Carty Sean McAllister 3 –1 Adam DuffyCraig Steadman 2–2 Adam Duffy Sean McAllister 2–2 Ashley Carty Adam Duffy 0–3 Ashley Carty
Craig Steadman 2–2 Sean McAllister
Table
Group 4
Group 4 was played on 12 July. Shaun Murphy Group D .[ 14]
Matches
Shaun Murphy 3 –0 Andrew PagettTian Pengfei 3 –1 Lukas KleckersShaun Murphy 3 –1 Lukas KleckersTian Pengfei 3 –1 Andrew PagettLukas Kleckers 3 –0 Andrew PagettShaun Murphy 3 –1 Tian Pengfei
Table
Group 5
Group 5 was played on 29 June. Kyren Wilson Group E .[ 15]
Matches
Kyren Wilson 3 –0 Josh MulhollandAndy Hicks 1–3 Louis Heathcote
Kyren Wilson 3 –0 Louis HeathcoteAndy Hicks 3 –1 Josh MulhollandJosh Mulholland 0–3 Louis Heathcote
Kyren Wilson 3 –1 Andy Hicks
Table
Group 6
Group 6 was played on 30 June. Mark Williams Group F .[ 16]
Matches
Mark Williams 3 –0 Daniel HoloydaDylan Emery 3 –0 Ken DohertyMark Williams 3 –1 Ken DohertyDylan Emery 3 –1 Daniel HoloydaKen Doherty 3 –0 Daniel HoloydaMark Williams 3 –0 Dylan Emery
Table
Group 7
Group 7 was played on 6 July. Long Zehuang Group G .[ 17]
Matches
Ali Carter 2–2 Ryan Davies Jackson Page 2–2 Long Zehuang Ali Carter 1–3 Long Zehuang
Jackson Page 3 –1 Ryan DaviesLong Zehuang 3 –0 Ryan DaviesAli Carter 2–2 Jackson Page
Table
Group 8
Group 8 was played on 7 July. Robert Milkins Group H .[ 18]
Matches
Robert Milkins 3 –0 Alex TaubmanDominic Dale 3 –1 Muhammad AsifRobert Milkins 2–2 Muhammad Asif Dominic Dale 3 –1 Alex TaubmanMuhammad Asif 3 –1 Alex TaubmanRobert Milkins 3 –0 Dominic Dale
Table
Group 9
Group 9 was played on 14 July. John Astley Group H .[ 19]
Matches
Gary Wilson 2–2 Ma Hailong John Astley 3 –1 Mink NutcharutGary Wilson 2–2 Mink Nutcharut John Astley 2–2 Ma Hailong Mink Nutcharut 2–2 Ma Hailong Gary Wilson 1–3 John Astley
Table
Group 10
Group 10 was played on 28 June. Michael White Group G .[ 20]
Matches
Ryan Day 2–2 Jiang Jun Michael White 3 –1 Himanshu JainRyan Day 3 –0 Himanshu JainMichael White 3 –1 Jiang JunHimanshu Jain 0–3 Jiang Jun
Ryan Day 1–3 Michael White
Table
Group 11
Group 11 was played on 27 June. Martin O'Donnell Group F .[ 21]
Matches
Hossein Vafaei 1–3 Fergal Quinn
Aaron Hill 0–3 Martin O'Donnell
Hossein Vafaei 2–2 Martin O'Donnell Aaron Hill 3 –0 Fergal QuinnMartin O'Donnell 3 –1 Fergal QuinnHossein Vafaei 3 –1 Aaron Hill
Table
Group 12
Group 12 was played on 12 July. Sanderson Lam Group E .[ 14]
Matches
Barry Hawkins 3 –1 Jamie O'NeillZhang Anda 1–3 Sanderson Lam
Barry Hawkins 2–2 Sanderson Lam Zhang Anda 3 –1 Jamie O'NeillSanderson Lam 3 –1 Jamie O'NeillBarry Hawkins 2–2 Zhang Anda
Table
Group 13
Group 13 was played on 13 July. David Gilbert Group D .[ 22]
Matches
David Gilbert 2–2 Ishpreet Singh Chadha Yuan Sijun 3 –0 Sean O'SullivanDavid Gilbert 3 –0 Sean O'SullivanYuan Sijun 3 –0 Ishpreet Singh ChadhaSean O'Sullivan 0–3 Ishpreet Singh Chadha
David Gilbert 3 –1 Yuan Sijun
Table
Group 14
Group 14 was played on 14 July. Liu Hongyu Group C .[ 19]
Matches
Ricky Walden 1–3 Liu Hongyu
David Lilley 3 –1 Peng YisongRicky Walden 2–2 Peng Yisong David Lilley 0–3 Liu Hongyu
Peng Yisong 1–3 Liu Hongyu
Ricky Walden 2–2 David Lilley
Table
Group 15
Group 15 was played on 4 July. Matthew Stevens Group B .[ 23]
Matches
Stuart Bingham 2–2 Duane Jones Matthew Stevens 3 –1 Allan TaylorStuart Bingham 1–3 Allan Taylor
Matthew Stevens 3 –0 Duane JonesAllan Taylor 2–2 Duane Jones Stuart Bingham 3 –1 Matthew Stevens
Table
Group 16
Group 16 was played on 3 July. Ben Woollaston Group A .[ 24]
Matches
Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Peter Lines
Ben Woollaston 3 –0 Liam GrahamJimmy Robertson 3 –1 Liam GrahamBen Woollaston 3 –0 Peter LinesLiam Graham 2–2 Peter Lines Jimmy Robertson 2–2 Ben Woollaston
Table
Group 17
Group 17 was played on 5 July. Zhou Yuelong Group A .[ 25]
Matches
Zhou Yuelong 3 –0 Chris TottenAshley Hugill 3 –1 Oliver BrownZhou Yuelong 0–3 Oliver Brown
Ashley Hugill 1–3 Chris Totten
Oliver Brown 2–2 Chris Totten Zhou Yuelong 3 –0 Ashley Hugill
Table
Group 18
Group 18 was played on 11 July. Joe Perry Group B .[ 12]
Matches
Joe Perry 2–2 Stuart Carrington Jamie Clarke 3 –1 Andy LeeJoe Perry 3 –0 Andy LeeJamie Clarke 3 –1 Stuart CarringtonAndy Lee 0–3 Stuart Carrington
Joe Perry 3 –0 Jamie Clarke
Table
Group 19
Group 19 was played on 10 July. Noppon Saengkham Group C .[ 11]
Matches
Noppon Saengkham 3 –0 Ross MuirMark Davis 3 –0 Jenson KendrickNoppon Saengkham 3 –1 Jenson KendrickMark Davis 2–2 Ross Muir Jenson Kendrick 2–2 Ross Muir Noppon Saengkham 2–2 Mark Davis
Table
Group 20
Group 20 was played on 8 July. James Cahill Group D .[ 26]
Matches
Matthew Selt 3 –0 Sydney WilsonJames Cahill 3 –0 Andres PetrovMatthew Selt 3 –0 Andres PetrovJames Cahill 0–3 Sydney Wilson
Andres Petrov 2–2 Sydney Wilson Matthew Selt 0–3 James Cahill
Table
Group 21
Group 21 was played on 27 June. Chris Wakelin Group E .[ 21]
Matches
Chris Wakelin 3 –0 Liam PullenOliver Lines 2–2 Anton Kazakov Chris Wakelin 3 –1 Anton KazakovOliver Lines 2–2 Liam Pullen Anton Kazakov 1–3 Liam Pullen
Chris Wakelin 0–3 Oliver Lines
Table
Group 22
Group 22 was played on 28 June. Robbie Williams Group F .[ 20]
Matches
Joe O'Connor 1–3 Alfie Davies
Robbie Williams 2–2 Zak Surety Joe O'Connor 3 –0 Zak SuretyRobbie Williams 3 –1 Alfie DaviesZak Surety 3 –0 Alfie DaviesJoe O'Connor 1–3 Robbie Williams
Table
Group 23
Group 23 was played on 7 July. Sam Craigie Group G .[ 18]
Matches
Fan Zhengyi 3 –0 Ahmed Aly ElsayedSam Craigie 3 –0 Fergal O'BrienFan Zhengyi 2–2 Fergal O'Brien Sam Craigie 3 –0 Ahmed Aly ElsayedFergal O'Brien 3 –0 Ahmed Aly ElsayedFan Zhengyi 2–2 Sam Craigie
Table
Group 24
Group 24 was played on 6 July. Pang Junxu Group H .[ 17]
Matches
Pang Junxu 3 –0 Stan MoodyWu Yize 2–2 Hammad Miah Pang Junxu 3 –1 Hammad MiahWu Yize 3 –1 Stan MoodyHammad Miah 2–2 Stan Moody Pang Junxu 3 –1 Wu Yize
Table
Group 25
Group 25 was played on 8 July. Si Jiahui Group H .[ 26]
Matches
Si Jiahui 3 –1 Haydon PinheyMark Joyce 2–2 Mohamed Ibrahim Si Jiahui 2–2 Mohamed Ibrahim Mark Joyce 3 –0 Haydon PinheyMohamed Ibrahim 2–2 Haydon Pinhey Si Jiahui 3 –0 Mark Joyce
Table
Group 26
Group 26 was played on 5 July. Jak Jones Group G .[ 25]
Matches
Jak Jones 2–2 Dean Young Jamie Jones 3 –0 Rebecca KennaJak Jones 3 –0 Rebecca KennaJamie Jones 2–2 Dean Young Rebecca Kenna 2–2 Dean Young Jak Jones 3 –1 Jamie Jones
Table
Group 27
Group 27 was played on 30 June. Barry Pinches Group F .[ 16]
Matches
Jordan Brown 2–2 Joshua Thomond Julien Leclercq 1–3 Barry Pinches
Jordan Brown 2–2 Barry Pinches Julien Leclercq 3 –1 Joshua ThomondJoshua Thomond 1–3 Barry Pinches
Jordan Brown 0–3 Julien Leclercq
Table
Group 28
Group 28 was played on 4 July. Anthony Hamilton Group E .[ 23]
Matches
Anthony Hamilton 3 –0 Xing ZihaoBen Mertens 2–2 Ryan Thomerson Anthony Hamilton 2–2 Ryan Thomerson Ben Mertens 2–2 Xing Zihao Ryan Thomerson 1–3 Xing Zihao
Anthony Hamilton 2–2 Ben Mertens
Table
Group 29
Group 29 was played on 29 June. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh Group D .[ 15]
Matches
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3 –0 Florian NüßleElliot Slessor 3 –1 Victor SarkisThepchaiya Un-Nooh 3 –1 Victor SarkisElliot Slessor 0–3 Florian Nüßle
Victor Sarkis 0–3 Florian Nüßle
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3 –0 Elliot Slessor
Table
Group 30
Group 30 was played on 26 June. Daniel Wells Group C .[ 13]
Matches
Graeme Dott 0–3 Andrew Higginson
David Grace 0–3 Daniel Wells
Graeme Dott 1–3 Daniel Wells
David Grace 2–2 Andrew Higginson Daniel Wells 3 –0 Andrew HigginsonGraeme Dott 3 –1 David Grace
Table
Group 31
Group 31 was played on 13 July. Cao Yupeng Group B .[ 22]
Matches
Cao Yupeng 3 –0 Steven HallworthLyu Haotian 2–2 Ian Burns Cao Yupeng 3 –0 Ian BurnsLyu Haotian 3 –0 Steven HallworthIan Burns 3 –1 Steven HallworthCao Yupeng 3 –1 Lyu Haotian
Table
Group 32
Group 32 was played on 3 July. Xiao Guodong Group A .[ 24]
Matches
Xiao Guodong 2–2 Rory McLeod Martin Gould 2–2 Alexander Ursenbacher Xiao Guodong 3 –1 Alexander UrsenbacherMartin Gould 2–2 Rory McLeod Alexander Ursenbacher 3 –0 Rory McLeodXiao Guodong 3 –0 Martin Gould
Table
Stage Two
Stage Two consisted of eight groups, each containing four players.[ 9] [ 1] [ 2]
Order of play
Group A
Group A was played on 19 July. Xiao Guodong Group 1 .[ 27]
Matches
Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Michael Holt Xiao Guodong 2–2 Ben Woollaston Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Ben Woollaston Xiao Guodong 2–2 Michael Holt Ben Woollaston 0–3 Michael Holt
Zhou Yuelong 0–3 Xiao Guodong
Table
Group B
Group B was played on 20 July. Cao Yupeng Group 2 .[ 28]
Matches
Judd Trump 3 –1 Matthew StevensJoe Perry 0–3 Cao Yupeng
Judd Trump 2–2 Cao Yupeng Joe Perry 2–2 Matthew Stevens Cao Yupeng 2–2 Matthew Stevens Judd Trump 2–2 Joe Perry
Table
Group C
Group C was played on 18 July. Noppon Saengkham Group 2 .[ 29]
Matches
Noppon Saengkham 3 –0 Liu HongyuDaniel Wells 1–3 Ashley Carty
Noppon Saengkham 2–2 Daniel Wells Ashley Carty 1–3 Liu Hongyu
Daniel Wells 2–2 Liu Hongyu Noppon Saengkham 3 –1 Ashley Carty
Table
Group D
Group D was played on 19 July. Shaun Murphy Group 1 .[ 27]
Matches
Shaun Murphy 3 –1 James CahillDavid Gilbert 2–2 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh Shaun Murphy 3 –0 Thepchaiya Un-NoohDavid Gilbert 3 –0 James CahillThepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–2 James Cahill Shaun Murphy 2–2 David Gilbert
Table
Group E
Group E was played on 17 July. Chris Wakelin Group 1 .[ 30]
Matches
Kyren Wilson 3 –0 Sanderson LamChris Wakelin 3 –0 Anthony HamiltonKyren Wilson 3 –0 Anthony HamiltonChris Wakelin 2–2 Sanderson Lam Anthony Hamilton 3 –0 Sanderson LamKyren Wilson 1–3 Chris Wakelin
Table
Group F
Group F was played on 17 July. Mark Williams Group 2 .[ 30]
Matches
Mark Williams 3 –0 Barry PinchesRobbie Williams 2–2 Martin O'Donnell Mark Williams 3 –0 Martin O'DonnellRobbie Williams 3 –0 Barry PinchesMartin O'Donnell 3 –1 Barry PinchesMark Williams 3 –0 Robbie Williams
Table
Group G
Group G was played on 20 July. Sam Craigie Group 2 .[ 28]
Matches
Jak Jones 2–2 Long Zehuang Sam Craigie 3 –0 Michael WhiteJak Jones 1–3 Michael White
Sam Craigie 2–2 Long Zehuang Michael White 2–2 Long Zehuang Jak Jones 1–3 Sam Craigie
Table
Group H
Group H was played on 18 July. Robert Milkins Group 1 .[ 29]
Matches
Robert Milkins 3 –0 John AstleyPang Junxu 1–3 Si Jiahui
Robert Milkins 2–2 Si Jiahui Pang Junxu 2–2 John Astley Si Jiahui 1–3 John Astley
Robert Milkins 2–2 Pang Junxu
Table
Stage Three
Stage Three consisted of two groups, each containing four players.[ 10] [ 1] [ 2]
Group 1
Group 1 was played on 21 July. Shaun Murphy [ 5]
Matches
Shaun Murphy 2–2 Xiao Guodong Robert Milkins 2–2 Chris Wakelin Shaun Murphy 3 –1 Chris WakelinRobert Milkins 2–2 Xiao Guodong Chris Wakelin 3 –1 Xiao GuodongShaun Murphy 2–2 Robert Milkins
Table
Group 2
Group 2 was played on 21 July. Mark Williams [ 5]
Matches
Mark Williams 2–2 Sam Craigie Noppon Saengkham 3 –0 Cao YupengMark Williams 3 –1 Cao YupengNoppon Saengkham 2–2 Sam Craigie Cao Yupeng 0–3 Sam Craigie
Mark Williams 3 –1 Noppon Saengkham
Table
Final
Century breaks
A total of 101 century breaks were made in the tournament.[ 2] [ 31] [ 32] [ 33]
145, 141, 134, 133, 122 – Cao Yupeng [ 34]
140, 132, 111, 105 – Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
140, 114 – Ma Hailong
140 – Sean McAllister
138, 104, 102, 102 – Zhang Anda
137 – Robbie Williams
136, 128, 121, 119, 101 – Mark Williams
135, 123, 113, 101 – David Gilbert
135 – Pang Junxu
134, 128, 118, 111, 102, 100 – Kyren Wilson
134 – Michael Holt
133, 133, 110, 106, 100 – Shaun Murphy
132, 106 – Yuan Sijun
132 – Ian Burns
131 – Ben Mertens
131 – Gary Wilson
131 – Martin O'Donnell
129 – Allan Taylor
128, 102 – Joe Perry
128 – John Astley
126 – Oliver Lines
124, 101 – Michael White
123, 109, 101 – Xiao Guodong
123, 100 – Noppon Saengkham
120, 119, 109, 109, 103, 102 – Judd Trump
120 – Hossein Vafaei
117 – Jackson Page
117 – Sam Craigie
116 – Adam Duffy
116 – Muhammad Asif
116 – Lukas Kleckers
115, 110, 103 – Anthony Hamilton
115 – Lyu Haotian
114, 103 – Chris Wakelin
113, 107, 105 – Zhou Yuelong
112, 106, 104 – Matthew Selt
112 – Mark Joyce
111 – Craig Steadman
111 – Peng Yisong
111 – Matthew Stevens
110, 102, 101 – Fan Zhengyi
109 – Jamie Jones
108 – Dylan Emery
105 – Ken Doherty
105 – Stuart Bingham
105 – Mark Davis
104 – Alexander Ursenbacher
104 – Ross Muir
104 – Si Jiahui
103, 102 – Julien Leclercq
103 – Victor Sarkis
100 – Stan Moody
100 – Daniel Wells
Notes
^ a b c d e f Replacement for a withdrawn player.
^ a b Unranked player who won a Stage 1 group but did not progress further.
^ Neil Robertson [ 4] Liam Highfield were due to play in Group 3 but they both withdrew and were replaced by Craig Steadman and Sean McAllister respectively.^ Asjad Iqbal was due to play in Group 5 but he withdrew and was replaced by Josh Mulholland.^ Rory Thor was due to play in Group 6 but he withdrew and was replaced by Daniel Holoyda.^ Marco Fu was due to play in Group 27 but he withdrew and was replaced by Joshua Thomond.^ Ronnie O'Sullivan [ 4] Michael Holt .^ a b Gary Wilson and Mink Nutcharut finished Group 9 equal on points and frame difference. Their head-to-head was a draw. Wilson took third place in the group over Nutcharut due to having made a higher break (131) in the group.^ a b Ryan Day and Jiang Jun finished Group 10 equal on points and frame difference. Their head-to-head was a draw. Day took second place in the group over Jiang due to having made a higher break (96) in the group.^ a b Allan Taylor and Stuart Bingham finished Group 15 equal on points and frame difference. Taylor won their head-to-head and so took second place in the group over Bingham.^ a b James Cahill and Matthew Selt finished Group 20 equal on points and frame difference. Cahill won their head-to-head and so topped the group over Selt.^ a b Martin Gould and Rory McLeod finished Group 32 equal on points and frame difference. Their head-to-head was a draw. Gould took third place in the group over McLeod due to having made a higher break (84) in the group.^ a b Xiao Guodong and Michael Holt finished Group A equal on points and frame difference. Their head-to-head was a draw. Xiao topped the group over Holt due to having made a higher break (109) in the group.^ a b Zhou Yuelong and Ben Woollaston finished Group A equal on points and frame difference. Their head-to-head was a draw. Zhou took third place in the group over Woolaston due to having made a higher break (113) in the group.
References
External links
Non-ranking events Ranking events Winners
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