Champion of Champions 2026 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Ronnie O’Sullivan launches his quest for a record-extending fifth Champion of Champions title when he plays Shaun Murphy on his return to the event on Wednesday.

The Rocket headlines Group Three – and what is regarded as the “Group of Death” at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, where World champion Wu Yize and the in-form Chang Bingyu are also in action.

Qualifying as the reigning World Seniors champion, O’Sullivan is back at the popular invitational event for the first time since a first-round exit in 2024, when he lost 4-3 to Xiao Guodong from 3-0 up.

Nevertheless, that represents the four-time champion’s only group semi-final defeat in 10 previous appearances at this tournament, where he has triumphed in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

O’Sullivan was also a beaten finalist in 2016 and 2017, losing 10-7 to Murphy in the latter, though he does arrive in Leicester off the back of successive first-round exits at the Shenzhen Open and Northern Ireland Open.

He is set for a mouth-watering opener against rival Murphy, who is also fresh from an early exit in Belfast in his most recent outing.

This is the Magician’s 13th appearance at the Champion of Champions where, despite lifting the trophy, he has also fallen at the first hurdle on eight occasions.

However, the Crucible finalist will draw inspiration from 4-0 whitewash over O’Sullivan when they last met over the best of seven frames at last season’s Riyadh Season Championship.

The other group semi-final pits a battle of two Chinese debutants in Wu and Chang.

World champion Wu is aiming for another impressive showing on UK soil, as he bids to add to his Shenzhen Open success – and what was his first silverware as the reigning Crucible king.

Yet he faces a tricky opening assignment in a player enjoying a breakthrough season in Chang.

In his second full campaign back on the tour, the left-hander beat O’Sullivan on his way to a first ranking title at the Wuhan Open, and is fresh from a run to the International Championship semi-finals.

That has helped him climb into the world’s top 16 for the first time, ensuring automatic qualification for the UK Championship later this month.

Play breaks off at 1pm GMT on Wednesday with both semi-finals contested over the best of seven frames. The two winners will then reconvene for the best-of-11 group final, which commences at 7pm.

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Champion of Champions 2026 Day Three Schedule

Wednesday November 11

Group Three Semi-Finals

1pm
Shaun Murphy v Ronnie O’Sullivan

3pm
Wu Yize v Chang Bingyu

Group Three Final

7pm
Murphy/O’Sullivan v Wu Yize/Chang Bingyu