Preview: What are the semi-final matches at the 2026 Champion of Champions snooker?

Following the completion of the daily groups earlier in the week, four players - who are all ranked inside the world’s top 12 - remain in pursuit of this year’s Champion of Champions title and a top prize of £150,000.

The best of 11 semi-finals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday night, with the winners advancing to Sunday’s two-session best of 19 title decider.

Chris Wakelin v Neil Robertson (Friday, 19:00GMT)

Appearing in his second Champion of Champions campaign, Wakelin was the first player into the semi-finals as he dropped just three frames in winning Monday's group. The 34-year-old defeated Barry Hawkins, 4-1, and then dethroned title holder Mark Selby, 6-2.

Whilst happy to get through, Wakelin explained that he struggled to find consistency having gone back to using his old cue just days earlier as his new one got warped when travelling to China.

The reigning Scottish Open champion has had a quiet start to the season, with his previous best result a quarter-final showing at the Shenzhen Open.

Robertson - who has not lifted a trophy on the World Snooker Tour since August 2025 - was the final player to earn an invite for this year's event, getting in because of his world ranking.

Like Wakelin, world number three Robertson's term, so far, hasn't been spectacular; after a trio of last eight outings to start with in China, he hadn't made a quarter-final in his last five completed tournaments.

The Australian has a brilliant Champion of Champions record. Winner in 2015 and 2019, he was runner-up in 2020, and this is the eighth time in 13 appearances that he has made it to at least the semi-finals.

In this latest edition, 44-year-old Robertson avoided an upset by defeating world women's champion Panchaya Channoi, 4-2, before compiling a 130 in a 6-3 victory over double title holder Jak Jones in Tuesday's group final.

In terms of their head-to-head record, Robertson has a strong lead, although Wakelin did take their last encounter at the beginning of last month in the Shenzhen last 16.

They have knocked each other out of the last two World Championships at the Crucible.

Shaun Murphy v Kyren Wilson (Saturday from 19:00GMT)

We've got a very tasty second semi-final to look forward to on Saturday evening where something has to give.

Murphy, who qualified for this tournament because of his run to the World Championship final back in the spring, withdrew from the last professional event to prioritise his well-being - and it seems to be paying dividends.

'The Magician' completed back-to-back whitewash wins on Wednesday, winning 10 frames out of 10. This streak started with a 4-0 success over Ronnie O'Sullivan, before going up several levels in a 6-0 crushing of Chang Bingyu during which he totted up two tons, including the highest break of the event, so far, a 142. He also made a 50, 78 and 70.

Winner of this crown in 2017, Murphy's overall Champion of Champions record is streaky with eight first round exits. This is his first semi-final appearance in it since 2018.

His latest final appearance was the Crucible in May where he was pipped to a second world title by Wu Yize, although he nearly made the English Open final in September when Mark Williams came back to oust him in the semi-finals.

Wilson is enjoying a golden spell as the most in-form player in the world, and unlike the other three semi-finalists, has tasted title success this season.

'The Warrior' travelled to Leicester fresh from winning back-to-back ranking event titles in recent weeks at the Northern Ireland Open and International Championship.

After getting past Ali Carter, 4-2, in round one on Thursday afternoon, Wilson returned just a few hours later where he produced a dazzling display in eliminating world number one Zhao Xintong, 6-1, racking up three tons, a 75 and an 86.

Those victories extended Wilson's winning streak to 14 matches on the professional snooker scene.

However, if Wilson is to appear in his second Champion of Champions final - he was denied by O'Sullivan in a deciding frame in 2018 - he will need to end a losing streak he current has against his upcoming opponent.

Murphy has Wilson's number when it comes to their head-to-head record, and he has won their last six encounters, including in the finals of the 2023 Tour Championship and 2025 Masters. He also defeated Wilson 9-1 in the 2020 Welsh Open final, and 17-12 in the semi-finals of the 2021 World Championship.

Wilson's last victory over Murphy on tour came at the 2022 European Masters - a competition he went on to win.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Champion of Champions, visit our tournament information centre here.