Snooker Champions League Round of 32 produced! China made the cut with Trump becoming the most favourite
On July 15, 2023, Beijing time, the first phase of the World Snooker Champions League announced the end of all competitions, and so far, all the top 32 places have been generated.
Long Zehuang, Liu Hongyu, Zhou Yuelong, Pang Junxu, Si Jiahui, Xiao Guodong and Pang Junxu from the Chinese Legion managed to break through, leaving only Trump, Murphy, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams and Milkins in the top 16 players in the world. And this makes Trump the biggest favorite to win the Champions League.
From July 17 to July 20, the second phase of the Snooker Champions League will officially begin. The competition is divided into eight groups, and the eight players who finish first in the group will advance to the third stage, which is the real pinnacle battle.
All 32 places in the Champions League have been created
After the first phase of the competition, all 32 places in the Champions League have been created.
They are Holt, Trump, Cardy, Murphy, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Long Zehuang, Milkins, Astley, Michael White, Otangna, Lin Binfeng, Gilbert, Liu Hongyu, Stevens as well as Wollaston, Zhou Yuelong, Joe Perry, Sankham, Cahill, Wakelin, Robbie Williams, Craigie, Pang Junxu, Scarfar, Jack Jones, Pincches, Hamilton, Tachaia, Wells, Cao Yupeng and Xiao Guodong.
It is worth mentioning that seven people in the Chinese Legion have successfully qualified, five of the eight players in the world's top sixteen have successfully qualified, and Trump is currently the highest-ranked snooker player, so he is also the biggest favorite to win this Champions League.
Detailed breakdown of the second phase of the Champions League
In the second phase of the Champions League, Kyren Wilson, Lin Binfeng, Wakelin and Hamilton will compete for a place in the quarter-finals in Group E in a group round-robin that kicks off on July 17. In Group F, Mark Williams will compete alongside O'Donnell, Robbie Williams and Pinches. In the group round-robin on July 18, Kadi will compete against Liu Hongyu, Sankham and Wells. In Group H, Astley will compete with Milkins, Scarlet and Pang Junxu for a spot.
In the match that started on July 19, Holt, Xiao Guodong, Wollaston and Zhou Yuelong from Group A competed together. In Group D, Murphy, Gilbert, Tachaia and Cahill competed for a place together. In the tournament, which kicks off on 20 July, Group B's Trump, Stevens, Joe Perry and Cao Yupeng will compete in the same group, while Jack Jones, Michael White, Craigie and Long Zehuang will compete together for a place in the quarterfinals in Group G.
Distribution of prize money in the Champions League and subsequent fixtures
From July 17 to July 20, 2023, the World Snooker Champions League will play its second phase. The players who make it to the round of 32 will be divided into 8 groups of 4 people each, and the player with the highest group points will directly advance to the top eight places. In this stage of the group, the fourth-placed player gets £1,000, the third-placed player gets £3,000, the second-placed player gets £3,000 and the first-placed player gets £4,000.
After the quarter-finals are made, the eight players will be divided into two groups and the match will take place on July 21. In both groups, the fourth-placed player gets £1,000, the second-placed player gets £2,000, the third-placed player gets £4,000 and the first-placed player gets £6,000. In the final title and runner-up battle, the winner will not only receive £20,000, but also qualify for the championship, and the runner-up will receive £10,000.