Championship League Snooker: Both Formats Explained (2026/27)
Published · Mark O'Sullivan
There are two Championship League events, and both are played at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The ranking Championship League opens the season in June and July (Jak Jones won the 2026 edition), and the invitational Championship League runs from 21 December 2026 to 23 January 2027, behind closed doors. Mark Selby has won the invitational three years running.
Both events are run by Matchroom with BetVictor as sponsor, and the groups-then-play-off format is the same idea in each. What differs is who plays, whether ranking points are at stake and when they happen. The Ricoh Arena in Coventry, where the event used to be held, last hosted it in 2017–2019.
The ranking Championship League (summer)
This is the first ranking event of the season and it is open to the whole tour: 128 players.
- Format: stage one has 32 groups of four, stage two 8 groups of four and stage three 2 groups of four, then a final. Group matches are best of four frames (three points for a win, one for a draw); the final is best of five.
- 2026 edition: 22 June to 15 July 2026. Jak Jones beat David Gilbert 3–2 in the final for his first professional title, 16 years after turning pro. The champion's run was worth £33,000 in total, and the title also brings a place in the Champion of Champions.
- How to watch: in 2026 the two tables were streamed on Matchroom's YouTube channels (Matchroom Pool and Matchroom Multi Sport) and on WNT TV, not on the BBC or TNT Sports.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Jak Jones | David Gilbert | 3–2 |
| 2025 | Stephen Maguire | Joe O'Connor | 3–1 |
| 2024 | Ali Carter | Jackson Page | 3–1 |
| 2023 | Shaun Murphy | Mark Williams | 3–0 |
| 2022 | Luca Brecel | Lu Ning | 3–1 |
The invitational Championship League (winter)
The invitational has no ranking points and a field of 25 invited players. Seven groups of seven are played round-robin with a play-off for the top four; each group's play-off winner goes into the Winners' Group, the bottom two are knocked out and the rest carry over to the next group. Matches are best of five frames, and the champion earns a Champion of Champions place.
- 2026/27 dates: Group 1 on 21–22 December 2026, Groups 2 to 5 from 2 to 9 January 2027, then Groups 6 and 7 and the Winners' Group from 18 to 23 January. It stops for the Masters (10–17 January).
- Tickets: none. Like the 2026 edition, it is played behind closed doors.
- How to watch: the 2026 edition was on Matchroom's YouTube channels. Viewing for the 2026/27 edition has not been announced yet.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mark Selby | Wu Yize | 3–1 |
| 2025 | Mark Selby | Kyren Wilson | 3–0 |
| 2024 | Mark Selby | Joe O'Connor | 3–1 |
| 2023 | John Higgins | Judd Trump | 3–1 |
| 2022 | John Higgins | Stuart Bingham | 3–2 |
Selby's three straight wins have all come in his home city of Leicester.
Short matches reward a solid, repeatable cue action. If that is the part of your own game you want to tighten, start with our snooker tips for beginners.
Sources
Checked on 30 October 2026. Dates and broadcasters can change; the official pages below have the final word.
- Championship League: ranking event format and results (Matchroom)
- Where to watch the Championship League (Matchroom)
- BetVictor Championship League 2026 draw and prize money (WST)
- Jak Jones wins first ranking title (WST)
- Selby retains league title (WST, 2026 invitational)
- Championship League past finals (Wikipedia)
- WST 2026/27 provisional calendar