Snooker’s biggest names are out in force at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena as they battle to become the winners of the inaugural Champion of Champions.
This exciting new snooker tournament, televised live throughout on ITV4, features 16 champions of the previous season competing for a £270,000 prize fund, including £100,000 for the winner.
Ahead of busy period of tournaments in Europe, the sport’s biggest names such as current world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui, John Higgins and Mark Selby will all be vying to be crowned Champion of Champions.
Unlike other tournaments on the world snooker circuit, the Champion of Champions features an exciting new format that includes four mini tournaments comprised of four players each, followed by the big money semi-finals and then the final itself on the concluding Sunday.
Promoted by Matchroom Sport, snooker’s new showpiece event Champion of Champions runs from November 19 to 24 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
It brings together many of the best snooker players on the planet and fans can watch it all live thanks to the extensive coverage provided by ITV4.
Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “The Champion of Champions is an elite competition featuring winners of all the major tournaments throughout the season and we are looking to establish it as a regular ‘best of the best’.
“With unprecedented live coverage on terrestrial UK television, the 888casino Champion of Champions will be bringing snooker of the highest quality to a potentially huge audience, both domestically and around the world.”
With a top prize of £100,000 and current champions of snooker’s major tournaments, including the likes of O’Sullivan, Trump, Selby and Ding, the Champion of Champions is an exciting addition to the snooker season.
ITV Sport will screen extensive live coverage of the inaugural event from Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.
Jill Douglas presents coverage of snooker’s prestigious new big-money tournament on ITV4 and in high-definition on ITV4 HD.
Commentary comes from the veteran Clive Everton, alongside former world number three Neal Foulds and former Masters winner Alan McManus.
With Douglas working for the BBC on the autumn rugby international between Scotland and Australia, Matt Smith will deputise for her in the chair for the two semi-finals on Saturday.
Snooker fans can also watch all the action from the Ricoh Arena throughout the week online via itv.com/itv4 or via the ITV Player app.
Ranking-event Snooker returned to ITV for the first time in 20 years earlier this year when ITV4 screened live coverage of the Haikou World Open.
Barry Hearn added: “We are thrilled to welcome back ITV4 to televise the Champion of Champions. Their coverage of the Haikou World Open was a real success and I’m delighted that ITV have reaffirmed their interest in snooker.
“There is massive support for snooker in the UK so it’s great news for the fans that they can watch this fantastic new tournament on free-to-air broadcast.
The tournament will start with a quartet of four-man groups, with one group played on each day from Tuesday, November 19, until Friday, November 22.
Each group comprises two semi-finals played over seven frames, followed by a final in the evening played over 11 frames.
The four group winners proceed to the best of 11-frame semi-finals, played on Saturday, November 23.
Snooker’s newest showpiece final will be held over two sessions on Sunday, November 24, and the best of 19 frames will decide the winner.
Sixteen champions will compete, but there can only be one Champion of Champions and you can follow all the action live and for free on ITV4 from November 19-24.
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OFFICIAL WEBSITE LIVE SCORES WATCH ONLINE
Tuesday 19th November Group 2 – Semi Finals (Best of 7 frames) Mark Selby 4-2 Shaun Murphy John Higgins 3-4 Stephen Maguire LIVE: 12.45pm-5.15pm ITV4 Group 2 – Final (Best of 11 Frames) Mark Selby 6-3 Stephen Maguire LIVE: 6.45pm-11.15pm ITV4 Wednesday 20th November Group 3 – Semi Finals (Best of 7 frames) Judd Trump 4-1 Marco Fu Ricky Walden 0-4 Stuart Bingham LIVE: 12.45pm-5.15pm ITV4Group 3 – Final (Best of 11 Frames)
Judd Trump 2-6 Stuart Bingham LIVE: 6.45pm-11.15pm ITV4 Thursday 21st November Group 4 – Semi Final (Best of 7 frames) Neil Robertson 4-3 Martin Gould Mark Allen 3-4 Ali Carter LIVE: 12.45pm-5.15pm ITV4 Group 4- Final (Best of 11 Frames) Neil Robertson 6-5 Ali Carter LIVE: 6.45pm-11.15pm ITV4 Friday 22nd November Group 1 – Semi Finals (Best of 7 frames) Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-0 Mark Davis Ding Junhui 4-2 Barry Hawkins LIVE: 12.45pm-5.15pm ITV4 Group 1 – Final (Best of 11 Frames) Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Ding Junhui LIVE: 6.45pm-11.15pm ITV4 Saturday 23rd November Semi Final 1 (Best of 11 frames) Mark Selby 4-6 Stuart Bingham LIVE: 12.45pm-5.15pm ITV4 Semi Final 2 (Best of 11 frames) Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Neil Robertson LIVE: 6.45pm-11.15pm ITV4 Sunday 24th November Champion of Champions Final (Best of 19 frames) Ronnie O’Sullivan v Stuart Bingham LIVE: 12.45pm-5.15pm ITV4 LIVE: 6.45pm-10.00pm ITV4.
Fantastic coverage itv lets see more of it considering there is over 35 tournaments now that barry hearn has taken the helm. Brilliant i love this game i would watch this every day.
Really enjoyed the coverage this week on ITV 4. Top notch pres team, Clive Everton superb on commentary as always. Makes the BBC’s efforts look a little 20th century in my opinion.
Dear Barry Hearn – More live snooker for us please on ITV!
As you have just mentioned billiards perhaps you could show some during the break.
David Haworth