2026 Championship League (invitational)


The 2026 Championship League Invitational is a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that is taking 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 30 in the final.
The tournament has produced five maximum breaks, made respectively by Chris Wakelin in his Group 1 match against Pang Junxu, Matthew Selt in his Group 4 match against Xiao Guodong, Xiao in his Group 6 match against Oliver Lines, Wu Yize in his Group 6 match against Lines, and Zhao Xintong in his Group 6 semi-final against Jak Jones. Wakelin, Selt, Wu, and Zhao all made their first maximums in professional competition, while Xiao made his third. They were the recordextending 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st maximums of the season.

Overview

The tournament is taking place from 2 January to 11 February 2026 at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England. Mark Selby is the defending champion, having defeated Kyren Wilson 30 in the final of the 2025 event.

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 won, as well as being semifinalists, runnersup, 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 roundrobin format, consisting of eight groups of seven players. The top four players in each group qualify for a playoff, 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 playoff semifinals 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 playoff winner becomes champion of the tournament.
Groups 1 to 4 were played from 2 to 9 January; Groups 5 to 7 were played from 19 to 24 January; and the Winners' Group will be played on 10 and 11 February. The champion will take a place in the 2026 Champion of Champions.

Broadcasters

The event is being 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 ; TV3 in the Baltics; Viasat in Scandinavia; and by Matchroom.live in all other territories. Additionally, table one is being 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.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2026 Championship League is as follows:
  • 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
  • Maximum possible tournament total: £205,000
  • Minimum possible tournament total: £152,800

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 2 and 3 January 2026. At the end of the first day Joe O'Connor and Jackson Page led the table, both with three wins out of four. Tom Ford won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Chris Wakelin made the first maximum break of his professional career in the first frame of his 3–2 league match win against Pang Junxu. It was the 17th maximum of the current season and the 234th official 147.

Group 1 league matches

2 January

3 January

  • Elliot Slessor 2–3 Jackson PageChris Wakelin 3–2 Hossein Vafaei
  • Joe O'Connor 1–3 Pang JunxuTom Ford 3–0 Hossein VafaeiChris Wakelin 3–2 Jackson Page
  • Elliot Slessor 1–3 Tom Ford
  • Pang Junxu 2–3 Hossein VafaeiJoe O'Connor 3–2 Tom FordElliot Slessor 3–0 Pang Junxu

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 4 and 5 January 2026. Ali Carter withdrew and was replaced by Noppon Saengkham. At the end of the first day Gary Wilson led the table with three wins out of four. Elliot Slessor won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Slessor also made the highest break in the group, a 138.

Group 2 league matches

4 January

Elliot Slessor 3–0 Noppon SaengkhamGary Wilson 3–2 David GilbertJoe O'Connor 3–1 Jackson Page
  • Chris Wakelin 0–3 Gary Wilson
  • David Gilbert 2–3 Noppon SaengkhamElliot Slessor 3–1 Joe O'ConnorChris Wakelin 3–1 Jackson Page
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Noppon Saengkham
  • Elliot Slessor 0–3 David GilbertChris Wakelin 3–1 Joe O'ConnorJoe O'Connor 3–2 Noppon SaengkhamGary Wilson 3–0 Jackson Page

5 January

  • David Gilbert 2–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Gary Wilson 0–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Jackson Page 0–3 Noppon Saengkham
  • Chris Wakelin 1–3 Elliot SlessorGary Wilson 3–2 Joe O'ConnorChris Wakelin 3–2 David Gilbert
  • Elliot Slessor 0–3 Jackson PageDavid Gilbert 3–1 Jackson Page
  • Chris Wakelin 1–'''3 Noppon Saengkham'''

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 6 and 7 January 2026. Noppon Saengkham withdrew due to competing in the 2026 German Masters qualifying and was replaced by Antoni Kowalski. Si Jiahui won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Chris Wakelin made the highest break in the group, a 140.

Group 3 league matches

6 January

Xiao Guodong 3–0 Si Jiahui
  • Chris Wakelin 1–3 Yuan SijunJoe O'Connor 3–0 Antoni KowalskiXiao Guodong 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Si Jiahui 1–3 Yuan SijunChris Wakelin 3–1 Antoni KowalskiXiao Guodong 3–2 Yuan SijunGary Wilson 3–2 Joe O'Connor
  • Chris Wakelin 2–3 Si Jiahui
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Antoni Kowalski
  • Xiao Guodong 0–3 Joe O'ConnorYuan Sijun 3–2 Antoni Kowalski

7 January

Xiao Guodong 3–2 Chris Wakelin
  • Si Jiahui 1–3 Antoni Kowalski
  • Joe O'Connor 2–3 Yuan SijunChris Wakelin 3–2 Gary WilsonSi Jiahui 3–2 Gary WilsonXiao Guodong 3–0 Antoni Kowalski
  • Chris Wakelin 0–3 Joe O'ConnorGary Wilson 3–1 Yuan SijunSi Jiahui 3–1 Joe O'Connor

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 8 and 9 January 2026. Joe O'Connor and Yuan Sijun both withdrew, due to competing in the 2026 German Masters qualifying. They were replaced by Ben Woollaston and Matthew Selt respectively. Selt won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Selt also made the first maximum break of his professional career in his league match loss to Xiao Guodong. It was the 18th maximum of the current season and the 235th official 147.

Group 4 league matches

8 January

Kyren Wilson 3–2 Zhao XintongNeil Robertson 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Ben Woollaston 0–3 Matthew Selt
  • Zhao Xintong 0–3 Xiao Guodong
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Matthew SeltKyren Wilson 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Xiao Guodong 1–3 Ben WoollastonZhao Xintong 3–2 Gary Wilson
  • Kyren Wilson 2–3 Neil RobertsonXiao Guodong 3–2 Matthew SeltZhao Xintong 3–1 Ben WoollastonGary Wilson 3–1 Matthew Selt

9 January

  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Matthew SeltNeil Robertson 3–2 Zhao XintongGary Wilson 3–0 Ben Woollaston
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Xiao GuodongZhao Xintong 3–2 Matthew SeltKyren Wilson 3–1 Xiao Guodong
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Ben WoollastonXiao Guodong 3–0 Gary WilsonKyren Wilson 3–1 Ben Woollaston

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 19 and 20 January 2026. Kyren Wilson withdrew after playing in the final of the Masters the previous day. He was replaced by Oliver Lines. Mark Selby won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Wu Yize made the highest break in the group, a 143.

Group 5 league matches

19 January

Mark Selby 3–1 Xiao GuodongZhao Xintong 3–2 Wu Yize
  • Neil Robertson 0–3 Zhao XintongStuart Bingham 3–2 Oliver Lines
  • Xiao Guodong 2–3 Wu YizeMark Selby 3–1 Oliver LinesZhao Xintong 3–1 Xiao Guodong
  • Neil Robertson 1–3 Stuart BinghamMark Selby 3–1 Wu Yize
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Oliver LinesXiao Guodong 3–0 Oliver LinesZhao Xintong 3–2 Stuart Bingham

20 January

  • Mark Selby 2–3 Zhao Xintong
  • Wu Yize 1–3 Oliver LinesNeil Robertson 3–2 Mark SelbyXiao Guodong 3–1 Stuart Bingham
  • Neil Robertson 2–3 Wu YizeZhao Xintong 3–2 Oliver LinesMark Selby 3–0 Stuart BinghamNeil Robertson 3–2 Xiao GuodongWu Yize 3–1 Stuart Bingham

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 21 and 22 January 2026. Wu Yize won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Xiao Guodong made the third maximum break of his professional career in his league match loss to Oliver Lines. Wu Yize made the first maximum break of his professional career in his league match against Lines. Zhao Xintong made the first maximum break of his professional career in his semi-final match against Jak Jones. They were the 19th, 20th and 21st maximums of the current season and the 236th, 237th and 238th official maximums.

Group 6 league matches

21 January

  • Jack Lisowski 1–3 Zhang AndaZhao Xintong 3–2 Jak Jones
  • Xiao Guodong 2–3 Oliver LinesWu Yize 3–1 Jack LisowskiJak Jones 3–2 Zhang Anda
  • Zhao Xintong 0–3 Xiao Guodong
  • Jak Jones 1–3 Jack LisowskiWu Yize 3–1 Oliver LinesZhao Xintong 3–1 Zhang Anda
  • Xiao Guodong 1–3 Wu Yize
  • Xiao Guodong 1–3 Jak JonesJack Lisowski 3–2 Oliver Lines

22 January

  • Xiao Guodong 0–3 Zhang AndaZhao Xintong 3–1 Jack Lisowski
  • Zhao Xintong 0–3 Wu YizeJak Jones 3–2 Oliver LinesWu Yize 3–2 Zhang AndaXiao Guodong 3–2 Jack LisowskiZhao Xintong 3–1 Oliver Lines
  • Wu Yize 2–3 Jak JonesZhang Anda 3–1 Oliver Lines

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 23 and 24 January 2026. Zhou Yuelong and Zhao Xintong both withdrew and were replaced by Ryan Day and Xu Si respectively. Zhang Anda won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. Zhang made the highest break in the group, a 140.

Group 7 league matches

23 January

  • Zhang Anda 1–3 Lei PeifanJack Lisowski 3–1 Ryan Day
  • Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Xu SiJak Jones 3–0 Ryan DayZhang Anda 3–0 Xu SiJack Lisowski 3–0 Lei Peifan
  • Jak Jones 2–3 Jimmy Robertson
  • Lei Peifan 0–3 Ryan Day
  • Jak Jones 2–3 Xu Si
  • Jack Lisowski 0–3 Zhang AndaLei Peifan 3–2 Xu Si
  • Jimmy Robertson 1–'''3 Ryan Day'''

24 January

Zhang Anda 3–1 Ryan DayJack Lisowski 3–2 Xu SiJak Jones 3–2 Zhang Anda
  • Lei Peifan 1–3 Jimmy Robertson
  • Jak Jones 1–3 Jack Lisowski
  • Ryan Day 1–3 Xu Si
  • Zhang Anda 1–3 Jimmy Robertson
  • Jak Jones 1–3 Lei Peifan
  • Jack Lisowski 1–'''3 Jimmy Robertson'''

Winners' Group

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

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.

Century breaks

A total of 152 century breaks have been made during the tournament.147, 143, 127, 119, 108, 107, 104, 101 Wu Yize147, 140, 137, 127, 124, 124, 115, 113, 111, 110, 107 Zhao Xintong147, 140, 130, 126, 108 Chris Wakelin147, 136, 134, 134, 131, 128, 121, 118, 110, 107, 105, 101, 100 Xiao Guodong147, 133, 122, 121, 109, 104 Matthew Selt140, 137, 130, 127, 120, 116, 115, 111, 104, 101, 100 Zhang Anda
Note: Bold = highest break in the indicated group.

Winnings

No.Player1234567WTotal
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