2021 Championship League (invitational)


The 2021 Championship League Invitational was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament, that took place from in the Ballroom, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England. It is the 16th staging of the tournament.
On the first day of the tournament Stuart Bingham made the eighth career maximum break. He accomplished the feat in the second frame of his Group 1 win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Kyren Wilson was the defending champion, having defeated Judd Trump 3–1 in the final of the ranking edition of the tournament.
Wilson successfully defended the title, coming from 0–2 down in his last Winners group game, the semi-final and the final to win all three matches 3–2. He defeated Mark Williams 3–2 in the final to win the tournament.

Tournament format

The Championship League event sees 25 professionals take part, with players earning prize money for every frame won. Matches are best of five frames, and the league is played from January to April 2021.
The competition runs over eight groups, each consisting of seven players. From each group the top four qualify for a play-off, and the winners of the first seven play-offs qualify for the winners group. The bottom two players of each group are eliminated and the remaining four move to the next group, where they are joined by three more players until the seventh group. The winners play in the final group, and the winner of the Winners' Group play-off takes the title and a place at the 2021 Champion of Champions.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2021 Championship League is shown below.
;Groups 1–7
  • Winner: £3,000
  • Runner-up: £2,000
  • Semi-final: £1,000
  • Frame-win : £100
  • Frame-win : £300
  • Highest break: £500
;Winners' Group
  • Winner: £10,000
  • Runner-up: £5,000
  • Semi-final: £3,000
  • Frame-win : £200
  • Frame-win : £300
  • Highest break: £1,000
  • Tournament total: £182,700

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 4 and 5 January 2021. Zhou Yuelong won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

John Higgins 3–2 Stuart Bingham
  • Michael Holt 1–3 Thepchaiya Un-NoohJohn Higgins 3–0 Gary Wilson
  • Zhou Yuelong 2–3 Graeme DottStuart Bingham 3–2 Michael Holt
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Graeme DottJohn Higgins 3–1 Michael Holt
  • Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–3 Zhou Yuelong
  • Michael Holt 1–3 Gary WilsonStuart Bingham 3–0 Thepchaiya Un-NoohGary Wilson 3–2 Zhou YuelongJohn Higgins 3–2 Graeme Dott
  • Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–3 Graeme Dott
  • Stuart Bingham 2–3 Zhou YuelongThepchaiya Un-Nooh 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Michael Holt 0–3 Zhou YuelongStuart Bingham 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Michael Holt 1–3 Graeme Dott
  • John Higgins 0–3 Zhou YuelongStuart Bingham 3–1 Graeme DottJohn Higgins 3–0 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 6 and 7 January 2021. Graeme Dott won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Kyren Wilson 3–1 Scott DonaldsonMatthew Selt 3–1 Gary Wilson
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Graeme Dott
  • Stuart Bingham 2–3 John Higgins
  • Matthew Selt 1–3 Scott Donaldson
  • Graeme Dott 2–3 John Higgins
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Matthew SeltGary Wilson 3–1 Stuart BinghamMatthew Selt 3–1 Graeme DottScott Donaldson 3–0 Gary WilsonGraeme Dott 3–2 Stuart Bingham
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 John Higgins
  • Gary Wilson 1–3 John HigginsScott Donaldson 3–1 Stuart Bingham
  • Gary Wilson 1–3 Graeme Dott
  • Matthew Selt 1–3 Stuart BinghamScott Donaldson 3–2 Graeme DottMatthew Selt 3–0 John HigginsKyren Wilson 3–2 Stuart Bingham
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Gary Wilson
  • Scott Donaldson 1–'''3 John Higgins'''

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 8 and 9 January 2021. John Higgins won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Mark Selby 3–1 Zhao Xintong
  • Tom Ford 1–3 Kyren WilsonZhao Xintong 3–2 John Higgins
  • Matthew Selt 0–3 Scott Donaldson
  • Mark Selby 0–3 Tom FordJohn Higgins 3–1 Scott Donaldson
  • Zhao Xintong 2–3 Tom FordKyren Wilson 3–2 Matthew Selt
  • Tom Ford 2–3 John HigginsMark Selby 3–0 Kyren WilsonJohn Higgins 3–0 Matthew SeltZhao Xintong 3–2 Scott DonaldsonKyren Wilson 3–2 Scott Donaldson
  • Mark Selby 0–3 Matthew Selt
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 John Higgins
  • Tom Ford 0–3 Matthew SeltMark Selby 3–2 John HigginsTom Ford 3–1 Scott DonaldsonZhao Xintong 3–2 Matthew Selt
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Scott Donaldson
  • Zhao Xintong 1–'''3 Kyren Wilson'''

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 8 and 9 February 2021. Judd Trump won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Judd Trump 3–0 Mark WilliamsMark Selby 3–1 Jack LisowskiJudd Trump 3–2 Tom FordKyren Wilson 3–1 Barry Hawkins
  • Jack Lisowski 1–3 Mark Williams
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Tom Ford
  • Judd Trump 2–3 Jack Lisowski
  • Mark Selby 0–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Jack Lisowski 0–3 Tom FordMark Selby 3–2 Mark WilliamsBarry Hawkins 3–2 Tom Ford
  • Judd Trump 1–3 Kyren WilsonMark Selby 3–0 Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Williams 1–3 Barry HawkinsMark Selby 3–1 Tom FordJack Lisowski 3–1 Barry HawkinsMark Williams 3–2 Tom FordKyren Wilson 3–0 Jack LisowskiJudd Trump 3–0 Barry Hawkins
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Mark WilliamsJudd Trump 3–0 Mark Selby
;Note
Zhao Xintong, who had qualified from group 3, withdrew from the tournament prior to group 4 play.

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 10 and 11 February 2021. Kyren Wilson won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Joe Perry
  • Barry Hawkins 1–3 Ali CarterRonnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Mark Williams
  • Joe Perry 2–3 Ali Carter
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Kyren WilsonMark Williams 3–1 Barry HawkinsRonnie O'Sullivan 3–1 Ali Carter
  • Barry Hawkins 1–3 Joe Perry
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ali CarterRonnie O'Sullivan 3–1 Mark SelbyKyren Wilson 3–2 Mark Williams
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Barry Hawkins
  • Mark Williams 0–3 Joe PerryKyren Wilson 3–1 Barry Hawkins
  • Mark Williams 1–3 Ali CarterKyren Wilson 3–2 Joe Perry
  • Mark Selby 0–3 Ali Carter
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 1–3 Mark WilliamsMark Selby 3–1 Joe Perry
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 1–'''3 Barry Hawkins'''

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 12 and 13 February 2021. Ali Carter won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

David Gilbert 3–0 Liang WenboAnthony McGill 3–2 Joe Perry
  • Liang Wenbo 2–3 Li Hang
  • Mark Williams 0–3 Ali Carter
  • David Gilbert 2–3 Anthony McGillMark Williams 3–1 Li Hang
  • Anthony McGill 1–3 Liang Wenbo
  • Joe Perry 0–3 Ali CarterAnthony McGill 3–1 Li HangDavid Gilbert 3–2 Joe PerryAli Carter 3–1 Li HangMark Williams 3–2 Liang Wenbo
  • Mark Williams 0–3 Joe Perry
  • David Gilbert 0–3 Ali CarterJoe Perry 3–1 Li HangAnthony McGill 3–2 Ali CarterDavid Gilbert 3–2 Li Hang
  • Mark Williams 2–3 Anthony McGillAli Carter 3–2 Liang WenboMark Williams 3–1 David Gilbert
  • Joe Perry 2–3 Liang Wenbo
;Note
Ronnie O'Sullivan, who had qualified from group 5, withdrew from the tournament prior to group 6 play.

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 30 and 31 March 2021. Mark Williams won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group.

Matches

Yan Bingtao 3–1 Kurt Maflin
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Joe PerryMark Williams 3–1 Kurt MaflinDavid Gilbert 3–1 Anthony McGill
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Yan Bingtao
  • Mark Williams 2–3 Anthony McGillNeil Robertson 3–2 Kurt MaflinDavid Gilbert 3–2 Joe Perry
  • Neil Robertson 0–3 Mark WilliamsYan Bingtao 3–1 Joe PerryMark Williams 3–1 David GilbertAnthony McGill 3–1 Kurt Maflin
  • Anthony McGill 1–3 Joe PerryYan Bingtao 3–1 David GilbertMark Williams 3–2 Joe Perry
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 David GilbertYan Bingtao 3–1 Mark Williams
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Anthony McGillDavid Gilbert 3–0 Kurt MaflinYan Bingtao 3–1 Anthony McGillJoe Perry 3–2 Kurt Maflin

Winners' Group

The Winners' Group was played on 1 and 2 April 2021. Kyren Wilson defended his Championship League title, defeating Mark Williams 3–2 in the final.

Matches

  • Judd Trump 1–3 Zhou YuelongJohn Higgins 3–1 Mark Williams
  • Zhou Yuelong 2–3 Graeme Dott
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ali CarterJohn Higgins 3–1 Graeme DottJudd Trump 3–0 Ali CarterJohn Higgins 3–0 Zhou YuelongKyren Wilson 3–2 Mark WilliamsJudd Trump 3–1 John Higgins
  • Mark Williams 2–3 Graeme Dott
  • Judd Trump 2–3 Kyren Wilson
  • Zhou Yuelong 1–3 Ali CarterMark Williams 3–1 Ali Carter
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Graeme Dott
  • Judd Trump 1–3 Mark WilliamsJohn Higgins 3–0 Kyren Wilson
  • Judd Trump 0–3 Graeme DottJohn Higgins 3–0 Ali CarterKyren Wilson 3–2 Zhou YuelongGraeme Dott 3–0 Ali CarterMark Williams 3–1 Zhou Yuelong

Century breaks

Total: A total of 147 century breaks were made during the tournament.147, 136, 132, 127, 112 Stuart Bingham144, 137, 137, 133, 109, 108, 101 Mark Selby144, 110, 104, 100 Zhao Xintong143, 142, 142, 136, 135, 133, 132, 130, 129, 128, 126, 126, 124, 123, 121, 116, 113, 110, 107, 105, 103, 100, 100 Kyren Wilson143, 138, 103 Gary Wilson142, 131, 131, 113, 101 Tom Ford
''Bold: highest break in the indicated group.''

Winnings

Green: Won the group. Bold: Highest break in the group. All prize money in GBP.
Parenthesis: Ranking prior to tournament start, 4 January 2021.
Notes
Zhao Xintong withdrew from the tournament prior to group 4 play.
Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the tournament prior to group 6 play.