---
title: "Wakelin knocks defending champion Selby out of Champion of Champions"
url: https://sportshorts.net/story/champion-of-champions-selby-crashes-out-to-wakelin
published: 2026-11-10T01:04:14Z
updated: 2026-11-10T01:04:14Z
summary: "Mark Selby's Champion of Champions defence ends on opening day as Chris Wakelin wins their group final 6-2 in Leicester to reach the semi-finals."
author: "SportShorts Desk"
categories: ["Other Sports"]
tags: ["Champion of Champions", "Chris Wakelin", "Mark Selby", "Ronnie O'Sullivan", "Snooker"]
lang: en
---

# 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.*