Chris Wakelin dethrones Mark Selby at the Champion of Champions

Chris Wakelin stunned defending champion Mark Selby to prevail in Group One of the Champion of Champions in Leicester on Monday.

Selby’s hopes of becoming only the second player ever to defend the Champion of Champions title were dashed on home soil as Wakelin claimed a hard-fought victory at the Mattioli Arena.

Wakelin had started the day by recovering from a frame down to thrash Barry Hawkins 4-1 with a high break of 117 in the process.

The reigning Scottish Open champion, making his first appearance in this event since 2023, took advantage of a below-par Selby in the evening’s final, closing out a 6-2 victory to become the first player through to Friday’s semi-finals.

“Mark and I, we practiced together for a good 7-8 years,” said Wakelin. “We haven’t done for a few years now but I know Mark, he gets this stigma all the time about being a bit negative, but he’s one of the best scorers there’s ever been.

“To the purist out there, Mark Selby probably is the greatest of all-time.

“To have him as a good friend, a practice partner and a mentor in years gone by, I’m really grateful for all the time he gave me back in those times when I was struggling.

“I’m delighted to get the victory today.

“I don’t think you can put anything down to Mark tonight, it was me being not good and very lucky.”

Selby was forced to dig deep to deny Alfie Burden in a deciding frame earlier in the day, defying successive breaks of 99 and 109 from the Shoot Out champion to seal a 4-3 win with a timely break of 95.

However, the Leicester ace struggled to get going in the group final as Wakelin took the opening frame with a 54 break.

Selby hit back to claim frame two, but only for Wakelin to reel off three on the spin to take command at 4-1.

A break of 70 saw Selby stop the rot in frame six, but Wakelin responded with a dominant seventh frame to move to the cusp of victory.

Selby had an opportunity to claw another back in the eighth, but left the final pink over the corner pocket, gifting Wakelin a match-clinching pot.

Wakelin awaits the winner of Group Four, which takes place on Tuesday and features former champions Judd Trump and Neil Robertson, as well as Champions League winner Jak Jones and reigning Women’s World Champion Panchaya Channoi.

Champion of Champions 2026 Day One Results

Monday November 9

Group One

Semi-Finals
Mark Selby 4-3 Alfie Burden
Chris Wakelin 4-1 Barry Hawkins

Final
Chris Wakelin 6-2 Mark Selby