The draw and schedule for the Champion of Champions this month has been released, but due to the packed nature of the World Snooker Tour, how it will play out is still a little up in the air.
The International Championship has returned to the calendar this season, getting underway on Sunday in Tianjin, China and featuring all the biggest names in the sport battling it out for the £175,000 top prize.
The event runs from 5-12 November, with the Champion of Champions starting in Bolton the day after the trophy is awarded in Tianjin.
That poses an obvious problem for anyone who reaches Sunday’s final and is set to be involved on Monday, made all the more difficult by the group format of the Champion of Champions, so not just one match must be rescheduled, but a four-player group.
Monday’s group features three players competing in China – Mark Allen, Mark Selby and Ali Carter – all of whom will have genuine ambitions of reaching the final, and if they did, could not be in Bolton as scheduled.
Organisers confirmed that the Champion of Champions schedule is subject to change and are simply having to wait and see what happens at the International Championship and react accordingly.
Entire groups may have to change days, with decisions made and fans informed as early as possible. It will be sorted out, but fans attending may not know who they are set to see until very late in the day.
Champion of Champions draw and schedule
Group 4 – Monday 13th November
Mark Allen vs Jimmy White
Mark Selby vs Ali Carter
Group 2 – Tuesday 14 November
Luca Brecel vs Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams vs Rob Milkins
Group 1 – Wednesday 15 November
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs International Championship winner/Ding Junhui
John Higgins vs Chris Wakelin
Group 3 – Thursday 16 November
Judd Trump vs Baipat Siripaporn
Shaun Murphy vs Gary Wilson
The winners of each match meet in the group final on the same day to progress to the semi-finals.
The International Championship could also influence the Champion of Champions as the winner on Sunday will take the final spot in Bolton if they have not already qualified.
If it is a player who has already qualified then Ding Junhui will take the spot in Wednesday’s group, playing Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The schedule may be a bit hectic for a player or two involved in both tournaments, but Judd Trump has proved recently that the busy calendar can be managed.
The 34-year-old has won three tournaments on the spin, claiming the English Open title in Brentwood, Wuhan Open in China and the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, all in October.
He heads to the International Championship looking to make it four titles on the spin, beginning his campaign on Sunday.
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