Champion of Champions Snooker 2024 | Day Four Preview and Order of Play

Ronnie O’Sullivan launches his quest for a fifth Champion of Champions title at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in Bolton on Thursday.

The Rocket is joined by former World champions Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy, along with debutant Xiao Guodong in Group Four – and what many believe is the ‘Group of Death’ at this year’s event.

After withdrawing 12 months ago, O’Sullivan marks his return to the tournament in which he has triumphed in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2022, and will play Wuhan Open champion Xiao.

The seven-time World champion has never lost his opening match at the Champion of Champions, where he has also been a runner-up in 2016 and 2017 – losing to Murphy in the latter.

Though a semi-finalist in Shanghai and Xi’an, another deep run in Bolton could really kick-start his season, with his UK Championship and Masters title defences also on the horizon.

A winner in four of his five previous meetings with Xiao, O’Sullivan has gone on to win the respective tournament following two of his three most recent victories at the 2014 Welsh Open and 2018 World Grand Prix.

One of four debutants in this year’s field, the Chinese has plenty of momentum following an impressive start to the campaign.

Along with his Wuhan triumph, Xiao was also a quarter-finalist at the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, and semi-finalist at last week’s International Championship. Those performances have helped propel him into the world’s top 16 for the first time.

Awaiting them in the group final will be either Selby or Murphy, who collide in a mouth-watering clash.

An ever-present in this tournament, the Jester recently broke his duck in ITV-televised events at the British Open, and will want to build on that momentum as he targets a fourth semi-final appearance.

However, he has lost each of his last three meetings with good friend Murphy, including a 10-8 defeat in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, where the Magician recovered from 8-5 down by hitting three centuries in the last five frames.

Only absent from this event in 2022, Murphy is appearing as a ranking top-up and aiming to build on a modest record of eight wins from 17 matches. Although, of course, he still holds fond memories of getting his hands on this trophy seven years ago.

Murphy will look to use those as inspiration as he and the other three players bid to snap up the last remaining spot in the semi-finals, where Group One winner and reigning champion Mark Allen awaits.

Play gets under way at 1pm GMT on Thursday with the two group semi-finals played over the best of seven frames each, before the group final at 7pm is contested over the best of 11.

WATCH THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS STREAMED LIVE HERE

18+ | T&Cs Apply | Geo restrictions may apply | Please Gamble Responsibly

Champion of Champions 2024 Schedule

Thursday November 14

Group Four

1pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Xiao Guodong
Mark Selby v Shaun Murphy

7pm
O’Sullivan/Xiao v Selby/Murphy