Champion of Champions 2025 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
Zhao makes his Champion of Champions return on Tuesday (Credit: PA Images)
Zhao Xintong makes his Champion of Champions return on a blockbuster second day at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
Widely regarded as the ‘group of death’, Group Three takes centre stage on Tuesday, with Zhao joined by two-time champion Mark Allen, world number two Kyren Wilson and debutant Jack Lisowski.
Zhao last appeared in this event in 2022 following his UK Championship and German Masters triumphs, but was swept 6-1 in the group final by eventual champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The World champion is fresh from his best performance in a ranking event this season, having initially struggled to kick on after his historic Crucible success.
Indeed, Zhao beat Mark Selby on the way to reaching the International Championship semi-finals, where he succumbed to eventual winner Wu Yuze.
Although, standing in his way in the group semi-finals is a player with impressive pedigree in the Champion of Champions.
A winner in 2020 and 2023, Allen was also a runner-up in 2015, as well as reaching a further four semi-finals.
The Pistol, who has only failed to appear in two editions of the event, will look to build on his momentum, having recently returned to the winner’s circle at the English Open in September.
Before they collide, Wilson faces Lisowski, with the Warrior out to avenge his defeat by ‘Jackpot’ in the Northern Ireland Open quarter-finals.
Wilson, the winner of this season’s Shanghai Masters, is looking to go one better at this event, having been runner-up to O’Sullivan in 2018.
The Warrior has also reached two semi-finals, and will be targeting another weekend appearance as he looks to get his campaign back on track.
However, he faces a player riding the crest of his wave, having followed up his maiden ranking title with a first career win over O’Sullivan.
At the seventh time of asking, Lisowski finally came out on the right side of a ranking final just over a fortnight ago, edging out best friend Judd Trump 9-8 in a thrilling Northern Ireland showpiece.
Though that marks his only venture beyond the last 16 of any event this season, the left-hander will hope that serves as a positive omen should he prevail from the opening match of the day.
It is set to be a thrilling day with Judd Trump awaiting the winner one of the most competitive groups in Champion of Champions history in the semi-finals.
The action breaks off at 1pm GMT on Tuesday with the two group semi-finals, which will be contested over the best of seven frames. The two winners then return at 7pm for a best-of-11 group final at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
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Champion of Champions 2025 Day Two Schedule
Tuesday November 11
Group Three
1pm
Kyren Wilson v Jack Lisowski
Mark Allen v Zhao Xintong
7pm
Final