Champion of Champions reprieve for Neil Robertson as full list of invites confirmed

The latest edition of this prestigious tournament takes place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester between November 9-15.

An annual fixture on the professional circuit since 2013, the Champion of Champions celebrates event winners from the snooker world across the past year.

The competition - which always features exactly 16 players - is essentially a knockout affair, although a quarter of the draw is completed each day (two last 16 matches in the afternoon, the winners returning that night for a quarter-final) before the four remaining contestants return later in the week for the semi-finals.

With more than 16 events on snooker’s top flight, not all title winners are guaranteed a spot, therefore organisers Matchroom Multisport publish a qualification priority list. However, with several repeat winners over the past 12 months, it’s not an issue this time.

And it’s because of this available space that has seen Neil Robertson sneak in through the back door despite having not lifted a top tier trophy since August 2025 at the Saudi Arabia Masters.

The recently completed Northern Ireland Open was the final qualification avenue into the Champion of Champions, but because title winner Kyren Wilson had already qualified through his success at the Masters in January, the 16th and final spot for Leicester went to the highest-placed non-qualifier from the updated world rankings. That goes to world number three Robertson.

Who has qualified for the 2026 Champion of Champions snooker: Full list of invites

Mark Selby is the current Champion of Champions title holder having won the crown for the first time in his career in 2025, and in his home city of Leicester. He is set to defend in a few weeks time.

Selby is one of five players in the 2026 line-up who have the Champion of Champions accolade on their career CVs.

Robertson is a two-time winner (2013 and 2019), meanwhile German Masters champion Judd Trump added this trophy to his collection in 2021. Trump has also been runner-up five times.

The title winner in 2017, Shaun Murphy is back in the field, not through claiming a title over the past year, but by virtue of being this year’s World Championship runner-up - a pathway the organisers have had on their criteria for several years.

The most successful player in Champion of Champions history is four-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan, and the 50-year-old has received an invite due to winning this year’s World Seniors Championship.

Reigning World Champion Wu Yize is set for his debut in this competition; the 23-year-old has actually qualified three times having also won the 2025 International Championship and recent 2026 Shenzhen Open.

Wu is scheduled to be one of three debutants at this year’s staging; reigning World Women’s Champion Panchaya Channoi of Thailand and Wuhan Open Champion Chang Bingyu are the other two.

Selby won four titles during the qualifying cycle, and so did Zhao Xintong with glories at the Riyadh Season Championship, World Grand Prix, Players Championship, and Tour Championship.

Wilson (Masters, Northern Ireland Open), Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (World Open Champion), Chris Wakelin (Scottish Open Champion), Barry Hawkins (Welsh Open Champion), Jak Jones (Championship League Ranking Event Champion, British Open Champion), Ali Carter (English Open Champion), Alfie Burden (Shoot Out Champion) all return to the Champion of Champions fold.

Due to the quick turnaround between tournaments, the winner of the upcoming 2026 International Championship will not be part of this year’s Champion of Champions field, but it is understood they will receive an invite for 2027 - as was the case for Wu last year.

Who missed out on qualifying for the 2026 Champion of Champions snooker?

Five players from the world’s top 16 are set to miss out on the 2026 Champion of Champions, with the highest ranked being world number six John Higgins.

Winner of this crown in 2016, Higgins is first in line should anyone withdraw from the competition, though.

Champion of Champions two years ago, world number eight Mark Williams is not in, nor is two-time winner Mark Allen, although with his ongoing mental health issues, Allen may not have accepted his invite.

Xiao Guodong and Ding Junhui are the other members from snooker’s elite ranking bracket not to be on the guestlist.