Wakelin knocks defending champion Selby out of Champion of Champions
The Leicester favourite and 2025 winner falls 6-2 in Monday's group final as Wakelin books the first semi-final spot.
LEICESTER — Defending champion Mark Selby is out of the Champion of Champions on the opening day, beaten 6-2 by Chris Wakelin in Monday evening's Group One final at the Mattioli Arena.
Selby, who lifted the trophy on home soil last year with a 10-5 win over Judd Trump, had earlier edged Alfie Burden 4-3 in the afternoon session. Wakelin, the Scottish Open champion, got there by beating Barry Hawkins 4-1, then pulled away from the home favourite to take the best-of-11 quarter-final 6-2 and claim the first semi-final place of the £440,000 invitational.
Why it matters: The tournament's headline act is gone after one day — Selby was both the defending champion and the local draw in Leicester. Wakelin now waits for Friday's semi-final against whoever comes through Group Two on Tuesday, where Neil Robertson faces Panchaya Channoi and Judd Trump meets Jak Jones. Ronnie O'Sullivan begins his bid for a fifth Champion of Champions crown on Wednesday against Shaun Murphy.
Sources: TNT Sports; snooker.org; Totally Snookered.
