Championship League Snooker Invitational 2025: Draw, results, format, prize money, schedule, how to watch

One of the professional snooker circuit’s most unique events, the Championship League Snooker Invitational returns in early 2025 for another edition.

Despite the World Snooker Tour circuit expanding again this season, there is still space on the calendar for this behind-closed-doors, non-ranking, Matchroom-run concept.

Championship League Snooker has been played every season on the professional tour since the 2007/08 campaign. It was a very welcome addition to the sport’s top tier when it was introduced in 2008, arriving at a time when there were only a handful of professional competitions in the immediate pre-Barry Hearn era.

The tournament provided players further exposure, another earning opportunity, and the champion was guaranteed a place in the now defunct Premier League.

Whilst the importance of this event has slipped down the pecking order in recent times, it is still supported by many of the world’s top players, who enjoy the stream of matches, rewards on offer, and the slightly more laid-back playing environment.

In recent years, two variations of Championship League Snooker have been played within the same season following the creation of a ranked version from 2020.

As well as claiming a professional title, the winner of the Championship League Snooker Invitational earns a spot at the next Champion of Champions.

Who is playing in the 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational?

A plethora of star names have entered the 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational, including defending champion Mark Selby.

In an all-Leicester final on home soil last year, Selby defeated Joe O’Connor 3-1 to win this title for the first time.

Seven-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson, world number one Judd Trump, and career Triple Crown winner Neil Robertson have also put their names into the hat.

In total, 25 players are set to feature across the competition.

What is the format for the Championship League Snooker Invitational?

The invitational version of Championship League Snooker has a quirky tournament format consisting of round robin groups followed by a tournament-ending Winners’ Group.

It can take a bit of explaining to fully understand, so we have created a separate article to decipher it all, here.

What are the dates for the 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational? Where is it being held?

The Mattioli Arena in Leicester will again host the Championship League Snooker Invitational, with the tournament starting with Group One from January 3rd - the first professional snooker action of 2025.

There is a condensed schedule for this year’s edition which will be completed in just over a month.

Group One: January 3–4
Group Two: January 6–7
Group Three: January 8–9
Group Four: January 10–11
Group Five: January 20–21
Group Six: January 22–23
Group Seven: January 24–25
Winners’ Group: February 3–4

2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational: Draw, groups, results

Group One (January 3 & 4)

Gary Wilson - Eliminated
Chris Wakelin
Jak Jones
Hossein Vafaei - Group Champion
Ryan Day
Elliot Slessor - Eliminated
Pang Junxu

Group One, day one results: Wakelin 1-3 Gary Wilson. Jak Jones 2-3 Vafaei, Day 3-1 Slessor, Wakelin 0-3 Wakelin, Vafaei 3-1 Slessor, Wilson 2-3 Jones, Wakelin 3-2 Jones, Day 3-2 Pang, Wilson 1-3 Vafaei, Pang 3-1 Slessor, Wakelin 3-2 Vafaei, Jones 3-1 Slessor

Group One, day two results: Wakelin 3-1 Day, Wilson 2-3 Slessor, Jones 0-3 Day, Vafaei 0-3 Pang, Wakelin 1-3 Slessor, Wilson 2-3 Pang, Vafaei 3-0 Day, Jones 3-0 Pang, Wilson 0-3 Day

Playoff semi-finals: Vafaei 3-1 Day, Jones 3-1 Pang

Playoff final: Vafaei 3-1 Jones

Group Two (January 6 & 7)

Jak Jones
Pang Junxu - Eliminated
Ryan Day - Eliminated
Chris Wakelin
Ali Carter
Si Jiahui - Group Champion
Robert Milkins

Group Two, day one results: Carter 3-1 Si, Wakelin 3-0 Milkins, Carter 2-3 Pang, Jones 2-3 Day, Si 3-1 Milkins, Wakelin 3-0 Day, Jones 3-0 Pang, Carter 2-3 Milkins, Pang 0-3 Day, Si 3-2 Wakelin, Carter 2-3 Jones, Milkins 3-1 Day.

Group Two, day two results: Si 3-1 Day, Carter 3-1 Wakelin, Jones 1-3 Milkins, Wakelin 3-1 Pang, Carter 3-2 Day, Si 3-0 Pang, Wakelin 0-3 Jones, Si 3-2 Jones, Pang 3-1 Milkins.

Playoff semi-finals: Si 3-2 Wakelin, Jones 3-1 Carter

Playoff final: Si 3-2 Jones

Group Three (January 8 & 9)

~~Ronnie O’Sullivan - withdrew~~
Kyren Wilson - Group Champion
Mark Selby
Jak Jones
Ali Carter
Chris Wakelin
Robert Milkins - Eliminated

Group Three, day one results: Carter 3-0 Milkins, Wilson 1-3 Selby, O'Sullivan 2-3 Wakelin, Carter 3-0 Jones, Wilson 3-1 O'Sullivan, Selby 3-1 Milkins, O'Sullivan 2-3 Selby, Wakelin 2-3 Jones, Wilson 3-1 Milkins, Carter 0-3 Wakelin, Selby 3-1 Carter, O'Sullivan 3-2 Jones

Group Three, day two fixtures (from 11am across two tables): O’Sullivan 2-3 Milkins, Wilson 3-2 Carter, Selby 3-0 Jones, Wakelin 2-3 Milkins, O’Sullivan VOID Carter, Wilson 3-1 Wakelin, Jones 3-2 Milkins, Selby 3-0 Wakelin, Wilson 3-1 Jones

Ronnie O’Sullivan results in italic were played, but later voided when he withdrew from the group with one match remaining for him to play. More here.

Playoff semi-finals: Selby 1-3 Jones, Wilson 3-2 Carter

Playoff final: Jones 2-3 Wilson

Group Four (January 10 & 11)

Jimmy Robertson - Eliminated
Stuart Bingham
Jackson Page - Eliminated
Jak Jones
Mark Selby - Group Champion
Matthew Selt
Joe O’Connor

Group Four, day one results: Bingham 3-1 Selt, Page 1-3 Robertson, Selby 3-2 Selt, Jones 2-3 O’Connor, Bingham 3-1 Page, Robertson 1-3 O’Connor, Selby 3-1 Jones, Selt 3-1 Page, Bingham 3-2 Robertson, Selby 2-3 O’Connor, Jones 3-1 Selt, Page 0-3 O’Connor

Group Four, day two results: Bingham 3-0 O’Connor, Selt 3-1 Robertson, Jones 2-3 Page, Selby 3-2 Robertson, Selt 3-2 O’Connor, Selby 0-3 Bingham, Jones 3-1 Robertson, Jones 3-0 Bingham, Selby 3-1 Page

Playoff semi-finals: Bingham 2-3 Jones, O’Connor 1-3 Selby

Playoff final: Jones 0-3 Selby

Group Five (January 20 & 21)

Judd Trump
Tom Ford
Neil Robertson - Eliminated
Stuart Bingham - Eliminated
Jak Jones
Matthew Selt - Group Champion
Joe O’Connor

Group Five, day one results: Robertson 3-2 Selt, Trump 3-1 Ford, Jones 3-1 O'Connor, Trump 3-1 Bingham, Selt 2-3 O'Connor, Ford 3-0 Robertson, Trump 3-0 Robertson, Jones 3-0 Bingham, Ford 1-3 Selt, Bingham 3-2 O'Connor, Trump 3-1 Jones, Robertson 0-3 O'Connor

Group Five, day two results: Trump 2-3 Selt, Ford 3-2 O'Connor, Bingham 2-3 Selt, Jones 3-1 Robertson, Trump 3-2 O'Connor, Ford 1-3 Bingham, Jones 3-0 Selt, Jones 3-1 Ford, Robertson 3-1 Bingham

Playoff semi-finals: Trump 3-2 O’Connor, Jones 1-3 Selt

Playoff final: Judd Trump 0-3 Matthew Selt

Group Six (January 22 & 23)

David Gilbert
Jack Lisowski - Eliminated
Noppon Saengkham
Tom Ford - Eliminated
Jak Jones
Joe O’Connor
Judd Trump - Group Champion

Group Six, day one results: Saengkham 3-1 Gilbert, Trump 3-2 Lisowski, O'Connor 3-1 Ford, Trump 3-1 Jones, Gilbert 3-1 Lisowski, O'Connor 3-0 Saengkham, Gilbert 3-1 Trump, Jones 3-1 Ford, Saengkham 3-1 Lisowski, O'Connor 3-0 Jones, Trump 3-0 Ford, O'Connor 3-0 Gilbert

Group Six, day two fixtures: Lisowski 0-3 O'Connor, Trump 3-2 Saengkham, Ford 0-3 Gilbert, Jones 3-1 Saengkham, Trump 1-3 O'Connor, Jones 1-3 Lisowski, Ford 1-3 Saengkham, Jones 1-3 Gilbert, Ford 3-0 Lisowski

Playoff semi-finals: O’Connor 3-2 Saengkham, Trump 3-1 Gilbert

Playoff final: O’Connor 0-3 Trump

Group Seven (January 24 & 25)

Xiao Guodong
Zhou Yuelong
Fan Zhengyi
Joe O’Connor
David Gilbert
Noppon Saengkham
Jak Jones

Winners’ Group (February 3 & 4)

Hossein Vafaei (Group One Champion)
Si Jiahui (Group Two Champion)
Kyren Wilson (Group Three Champion)
Mark Selby (Group Four Champion)
Matthew Selt (Group Five Champion)
Judd Trump (Group Six Champion)
(Group Seven Champion)

What is the prize money on offer at the 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational?

There is a unique prize money payout structure for the Championship League Snooker Invitational which is different to other events on the World Snooker Tour.

On top of normal payouts depending where players finish, there are additional prizes for every frame won.

Groups One to Seven:

Group playoff winner: £3,000
Group playoff runner-up: £2,000
Losing group playoff semi-finalists: £1,000
Per frame won in group playoffs: £300
Per frame won in league play: £100
Highest break prize: £500

Winners’ Group:

Playoff winner: £10,000
Playoff runner-up: £5,000
Losing playoff semi-finalists: £3,000
Per frame won in the playoffs: £300
Per frame won in league play: £200
Highest break prize: £1,000

How can I watch the 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational?

Fans in the UK can watch the action from table one on the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel.

Coverage is on Rigour for fans in China, whilst those in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Iceland can tune in to watch on Viaplay.

Table two is set to be livestreamed on the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube channel.