The first ranking event of the 2024/25 season is underway, with the BetVictor Championship League running for the next four weeks at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. Here's all the key information...
How does the format work?
The tournament started with 128 players - mainly World Snooker Tour cards holders, and the field topped up by the leading players from the Q School Order of Merit. For phase one, they are split into 32 groups, each of four players. Each group has a player seeded 1-32, 33-64, 65-96 and 97-128.
Each group is played on a round robin basis, with first to three frames winning a match, or if the score is tied 2-2 then the result is a draw. Players score three points for a win and one for a drawn match. Two groups are played each day.
The 32 group winners go through to stage two, which starts on June 28th. They are split into eight groups of four. Those eight winners then progress to stage three on July 3. They are divided into two groups of four, and those two group winners will contest the best-of-five final, with the champion to be crowned on the evening of July 3. To see the group draws, tables and fixtures click here and to see live scores and upcoming matches click here.
What happens if a group is tied?
When players are tied on the same number of points in a group, they are separated using the following criteria, in this order:
1) Most points
2) Net frame difference
3) Result of match between the two players in question (should three or more players be tied then a mini table will be produced using the criteria above).
4) Highest break in the group.
5) If the highest break is also tied, the next highest break made by the players in question will be used.
What's the prize money?
Stage one
Group winner: £3,000
Runner-up: £2,000
Third place: £1,000
Fourth place: £0
Stage two
Group winner: £4,000
Runner-up: £3,000
Third place: £2,000
Fourth place: £1,000
Stage three
Group winner: £6,000
Runner-up: £4,000
Third place: £2,000
Fourth place: £1,000
Final
Winner: £20,000
Runner-up: £10,000
Total prize money: £328,000
How can I watch it?
The whole event is played behind closed doors in Leicester, but you can watch the action online. Tables 1 and 2 will be broadcast around the world with Table 1 available on Matchroom.Live in the UK. Fans in Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Japan, USA and Brazil can watch on DAZN. See where to watch in your country here.
Who has won it before?
The Championship League ranking event has been running for the past four seasons, and was won by Kyren Wilson in 2020, David Gilbert in 2021, Luca Brecel in 2022 and Shaun Murphy in 2023. There is also a separate invitation event which has been ever present on the calendar since 2008 and was won last season by Mark Selby.