Champion of Champions

Well done to Xiao for being successful using the granite style of snooker he got far with in China, in the UK; even if he didn't win the final.

Congratulations to Mark Williams! Still playing snooker to a high standard at the age of 49. But the class of 92 can't go on forever, and with Xiao, Ding, Zhang and Si Jiahui all in the top 16, it's starting to look less British and more Chinese.

Credit to both guys, a fine big win for the old man, and an impressive career week for Xiao.

Controversy has hit the Champion of Champions as the lineup has been announced.

The lineup:

Mark Williams (Wales)
Zhao Xintong (China)
Judd Trump (England)
Shaun Murphy (England)
Neil Robertson (Australia)
Mark Allen (Northern Ireland)
Kyren Wilson (England)
John Higgins (Scotland)
Xiao Guodong (China)
Mark Selby (England)
Lei Peifan (China)
Stephen Maguire (Scotland)
Bai Yulu (China)
Tom Ford (England)
Jack Lisowski (England)
16th: Highest ranked player remaining: Ronnie O'Sullivan or Ding Junhui if Ronnie declines.

People are perplexed why Alfie Burden, the World Seniors winner, is set to miss out on the 16th spot. The Champion of Champions starts on 10th November.

Following the controversy, Alfie Burden has been confirmed as the 16th entrant in the Champion of Champions. One suspects that once the sponsors and organisers knew that Ronnie was going to decline his invitation, and they wouldn't profit from the extra publicity and sales, they caved in to the pressure and instated Alfie.

It's thick enough when they don't have 16 tournament winners and have to improvise to make up the numbers. To exclude one legit choice just for promo purposes defeats the object, IMO.

Correct decision to include Alfie Burden.
He earned it fair and square imo.

ITV will be showing some snooker next year after all. After not renewing their contracts for their other snooker tournaments, and allowing Channel 5 to snap them up, ITV have now renewed their contract to show the Champion of Champions for another 3 years until 2028.

Lei Peifan 4 Tubbs 1

Trump saw off Bai Yulu, but at least she took the opener in a 4-1 loss. Maybe the chasm of the sexes is closing after all.

Trump then saw off Lei Peifan 6-2 to become the first player into Friday's semi-final.