The qualified field for the 2023 Champion of Champions at the Bolton Stadium Hotel, the University of Bolton Stadium from Monday 13th November to Sunday 19th November, live on ITV, is almost complete with just one more WST ranking event before a stacked field descends on Bolton.
Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, World Champion Luca Brecel, UK Champion Mark Allen and in-form Masters and recent Northern Ireland Open champion Judd Trump are confirmed at the blockbuster Bolton event, with tickets on general sale now.
The tournament begins with a quartet of four-man groups played over four days from Monday, 13 November to Thursday, 16 November. The winner of each group progresses to the semi-finals which are played on Friday, 17 November, and Saturday, 18 November before the final on Sunday, 19 November is played over two sessions and a best of 19 frames.
Judd Trump heads to Bolton as the form-player of the World Snooker Tour, after victory in Belfast over Chris Wakelin sealed a third-successive ranking event title in October, following successes in the English Open and Wuhan Open.
Victory for Trump in Northern Ireland confirmed runner-up Chris Wakelin’s place in the 16-player field, having landed the Shoot Out in January. Repeat winners down the qualifying schedule means a Champion of Champions debut is incoming for the 31-year-old.
Jimmy White returns to the Champion of Champions after three years following a record-extending fourth World Seniors Championship title victory over Alfie Burden at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield back in May.
Women’s World Champion Baipat Siripaporn makes her Champion of Champions debut, having defeated China’s Bai Yulu in her home of Bangkok, Thailand to earn a spot at one of snooker’s premier invitational events.
Six-red World Champion Ding Junhui is currently in-line to land the final spot in the qualified field, subject to the result of the International Championship in Tianjin, China between November 5th-12th. A repeat winner from any of the previously qualified players will confirm the Chinese star’s attendance in the Bolton spectacle. With two-time winner Neil Robertson and former finalist Kyren Wilson among those yet to confirm their spot, extra pressure has been added to the final event.
FULL QUALFIED LIST
Ronnie O’Sullivan (England) – Champion of Champions, Shanghai Masters
Mark Allen (Northern Ireland) – UK Championship, World Grand Prix
Judd Trump (England) – The Masters, Wuhan Open, English Open 2023, Northern Ireland Open
Luca Brecel (Belgium) – World Championship
Ali Carter (England) – German Masters
Shaun Murphy (England) – Players Championship, Tour Championship, Championship League Snooker Ranking
John Higgins (Scotland) – Championship League Snooker Invitational
Mark Selby (England) – WST Classic, English Open 2022, World Championship Runner-Up
Barry Hawkins (England) – European Masters
Gary Wilson (England) – Scottish Open
Robert Milkins (England) – Welsh Open
Mark Williams (Wales) – British Open
Baipat Siripaporn (Thailand) – Women’s World Championship
Jimmy White (England) – World Seniors Championship
Chris Wakelin (England) – Shoot Out
Tickets for the 2023 Champion of Champions are on sale now with limited availability. Tickets start from £15 a session with fans also offered the opportunity to experience one of snooker’s finest spectacles in VIP from £100. VIP includes front two-row seats, a premium two course meal, free programme on arrival, drinks voucher, access to the practice table viewing area, and much more.
New for this year, fans will be given the option of a front two-row seat for the opening four days with our gold seating from £25 per session. Gold seats are only available during the group stage. VIP tickets are available for the semi-finals and final.
VIP Includes:
– Front two-row seat
– Waiter service in hospitality
– Premium Hot Lunch and Dinner pre-session
– Dessert during mid-session interval
– Snooker Star Meet & Greet
– Programme on Arrival
– Commentary earpiece
– Drinks voucher
– Photo with the Champion of Champions trophy
– Private Bar
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