Champion of Champions under way as Selby edges Burden in Leicester
Defending champion Mark Selby survived a deciding frame against Alfie Burden as the £440,000 invitational opened at the Mattioli Arena.
LEICESTER, England — The Champion of Champions opened on Monday at the Mattioli Arena, where home favourite and defending champion Mark Selby was pushed all the way before beating Snooker Shoot Out champion Alfie Burden 4-3 in the Group One opener.
Sixteen of the past season's title winners are contesting the £440,000 invitational, with £150,000 going to Sunday's champion. Each of the first four days resolves one group: two best-of-seven opening matches in the afternoon, then a best-of-eleven group final in the evening. The final on 15 November is best of 19, played over two sessions, with ITV4 carrying the week live in the UK.
Barry Hawkins and Chris Wakelin complete Group One in Monday's second match, with the winner meeting Selby for a quarter-final place tonight. Tuesday brings Neil Robertson against Thailand's Panchaya Channoi and Judd Trump against Jak Jones, before Ronnie O'Sullivan returns to the event on Wednesday against Shaun Murphy, chasing a record-extending fifth Champion of Champions crown. Thursday rounds out the draw with Zhao Xintong against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Kyren Wilson against Ali Carter.
Why it matters: The Champion of Champions is the only event that gathers a full field of the season's trophy winners, and Selby's title defence comes in his home city — he won this crown here last year with four centuries in a 10-5 final against Trump, and his narrow escape on opening day showed how little margin for error the week allows.
Sources: WST match centre for Selby 4-3 Burden, cross-checked against TNT Sports and the official event guide.
