Champion of Champions 2026 | Day Four Preview and Order of Play
Wilson is the man in form with 12 successive wins (Credit: Li Bo/Xinhua/Alamy Live News)
Zhao Xintong and Kyren Wilson headline Thursday’s action at the Champion of Champions, with the semi-final lineup in Leicester set to be completed.
The former World champions are joined by the returning Ali Carter and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Group Two, as a last-four clash with Shaun Murphy awaits the winner at the Mattioli Arena.
A semi-finalist 12 months ago, Zhao is making only his third appearance at the Champion of Champions, courtesy of his four tournament wins last season.
The world number one has yet to truly catch fire this term, despite a run to the Wuhan Open final, and will hope this is the week his campaign properly kickstarts.
He faces a tricky opener against the attacking Un-Nooh, back for just his second appearance – and first since 2019 – after winning the World Open in March.
Wilson, meanwhile, arrives in Leicester as the man of the moment, aiming to maintain his rich vein of form.
The Warrior has won each of his last 12 matches, capturing the Northern Ireland Open and International Championship along the way.
He will now hope to complete a hat-trick of successive ranking titles on his 10th appearance at the Champion of Champions, where he was runner-up in 2018 and has reached a further two semi-finals.
The form book would certainly make him a heavy favourite in his group semi-final against English Open champion Carter.
The Captain is aiming to reach the semi-finals here for the first time, but is fresh from first-round defeats in each of his last three events.
Play breaks off at 1pm GMT on Thursday 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 Schedule
Thursday November 12
Group Two Semi-Finals
1pm
Zhao Xintong v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
3pm
Kyren Wilson v Ali Carter
Group Two Final
7pm
Zhao/Un-Nooh v Wilson/Carter