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Group Stages Announced

Postby SnookerFan

The group stage fixtures for snooker’s prestigious Champion of Champions have been announced, with two-time tournament champion Ronnie O’Sullivan set to get things underway at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Commencing on Monday, November 7 each of the first four days sees two group semi-finals in the afternoon session before the group final over 11 frames in the evening. The four group winners proceed to the best of 11 semi-finals, played on Friday, November 11. A 19-frame final will be played over two sessions on Saturday, November 12.

Each group will feature one seeded player. The seeded players are defending champion Neil Robertson and the winners of snooker’s triple crown events – World Champion Mark Selby, Masters winner O’Sullivan and UK Championship winner Robertson. As Robertson is seeded twice, the highest qualified player on the World Snooker Rankings as of October 12th will take the final seeded position, meaning Shaun Murphy completes the seeds.

O’Sullivan will take on Shoot Out champ Robin Hull in the tournament’s opening match on Monday, November 7, with German Masters winner Martin Gould up against World Seniors Champion Mark Davis in the second group 3 semi-final.

Tuesday 8th sees Group 1 take centre stage, with Robertson pitted against the winner of the forthcoming International Championship, and Shanghai Masters champion Ding Junhui up against World Open winner Ali Carter in the afternoon session.

Wednesday 9th features action from Group 2 as Selby takes on the winner of this week’s English Open, and Players Championship winner Mark Allen faces Gibraltar Open champ Marco Fu.

The concluding day of group action is Thursday 10th when Group 4 plays out with Murphy, winner of the World Grand Prix taking on the China Championship winner followed by China Open and European Masters victor Judd Trump against Indian Open champion Anthony McGill.

Should the winner of any of the remaining three events on the qualifying list – the English Open, International Championship and China Championship – have already qualified for the Champion of Champions that spot shall be filled by the highest player on the one-year ranking list at the conclusion of the tournament in question.

Promoted by Matchroom Sport, snooker’s new showpiece event, the Champion of Champions, returns to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, November 7-12, and will bring together many of the best snooker players on the planet and fans can watch it all live thanks to the extensive coverage provided by ITV4.

With a top prize of £100,000 and current champions of snooker’s major tournaments, including the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy, all eligible to compete, the Champion of Champions is set to build on its position as one of the biggest event of the snooker season.

The tournament will start with a quartet of four-man groups, with the winner of each group to progress to the semi-finals. The final on Saturday, November 12 will be over 19 frames.

Tickets are on sale now at www.championofchampionssnooker.co.uk with Premium and VIP packages available.

Champion of Champions 2016 – Fixtures
Monday, November 7 – Group 3
Afternoon session
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs. Robin Hull
Martin Gould vs. Mark Davis
(both best of 7 frames)

Evening session
Group final (best of 11 frames)

Tuesday, November 8 – Group 1
Afternoon session
Neil Robertson vs. International Championship Winner
Ding Junhui vs. Ali Carter
(both best of 7 frames)
Evening session
Group final (best of 11 frames)

Wednesday, November 9 – Group 2
Afternoon session
Mark Selby vs. English Open winner
Mark Allen vs. Marco Fu
(both best of 7 frames)

Evening session
Group final (best of 11 frames)

Thursday, November 10 – Group 4
Afternoon session
Shaun Murphy vs. China Championship winner
Judd Trump vs. Anthony McGill
(both best of 7 frames)

Evening session
Group final (best of 11 frames)

Friday, November 11
Afternoon session
Winner Group 1 vs. Winner Group 4
(best of 11 frames)

Evening session
Winner Group 2 vs. Winner Group 3
(best of 11 frames)

Saturday, November 12
Afternoon session:
Final (best of 19 frames)

Evening session:
Final (best of 19 frames)

http://www.worldsnooker.com/champion-of ... announced/

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby PLtheRef

PoolBoy wrote:No idea why they call them 'Groups'!
It's simply a straight knockout!


I think its to give it more of a profile as something different - although you do smile at all of these references to it having the group stage when it simply is a knockout - Heat A, B etc might be a more accurate description.

In a purely knock-out system it'd be better to play all eight first round matches before moving onto the 'quarter-finals' as it were.

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby SnookerFan

Dan-cat wrote:Might as well give Ronnie a bye!!


Ronnie gets easy early draw in shock news.

Tomorrow's exclusives;

Stephen Lee is overweight
Mark Selby sometimes plays on for safeties
Stephen Maguire is Scottish
The World Championships is played in Sheffield
The Saviour said something that nobody understands

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby Dan-cat

SnookerFan wrote:
Dan-cat wrote:Might as well give Ronnie a bye!!


Ronnie gets easy early draw in shock news.

Tomorrow's exclusives;

Stephen Lee is overweight
Mark Selby sometimes plays on for safeties
Stephen Maguire is Scottish
The World Championships is played in Sheffield
The Saviour said something that nobody understands


Hahahahha. :-)

Where is the Saviour?

Also are you saying this happens... On purpose?!

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby SnookerFan

Dan-cat wrote:
SnookerFan wrote:Yes. Mark Selby deliberately plays on for safeties.


I think you mean snookers my esteemed forum colleague


Oh no! I'm in decline.

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby PoolBoy

Stuart Bingham and Barry Hawkins are the two players who currently hold the top-up 'places' - if they're required!

Neil Robertson v International Championship winner
Ding Junhui v Ali Carter

Shaun Murphy v China Championship winner
Judd Trump v Anthony McGill

Ronnie O’Sullivan v Robin Hull
Martin Gould v Mark Davis

Mark Selby v Liang Wenbo
Mark Allen v Marco Fu

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby PoolBoy

Stuart Bingham confirmed as taking a place at the Champion of Champions - where he'll play Robbo.

Neil Robertson v Stuart Bingham
Ding Junhui v Ali Carter

Shaun Murphy v China Championship winner
Judd Trump v Anthony McGill

Ronnie O’Sullivan v Robin Hull
Martin Gould v Mark Davis

Mark Selby v Liang Wenbo
Mark Allen v Marco Fu

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby PoolBoy

Players in the China Championship, not already qualified:

Ricky Walden
Mark Williams
John Higgins
Joe Perry
Michael Holt

If none of the above win it, then Joe Perry will be given the final place. (I think)!

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby motorhead

ITV4: brace yourself for the most obnoxious loans commercials ever. I couldn't take it anymore after a week laster year.

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby SnookerFan

During the day, expect Michael Parkinson to warn people over 50 that they will die soon, and advise them what to do about it. With specific focus on how to get a free pen.

Re: Group Stages Announced

Postby TheSaviour

I feel this a great format. All the people have a lot time to digest the first match. Or the matches. Many days. First Ronnie vs Hull, probably a very entertaining and high quality match, and then have to wait untill thursday when it is Higgins vs Murphy and Trump vs McGill. Downside is that it gets busy as the week progresses. For those who gets through. Players probably don´t like too much to play day in day out. The days-off needed. One the mysteries of snooker why it is almost always scheduled like it usually is. The similar mystery than Jimmy White´s cue action and a tremendous potting ablity. It has buggered me for a long time, I need to admit that..

Looks like the big cash man John Higgins will get his bottom whipped immediately here. According the bookies Shaun is a slight favourite against John, and I certainly need to agree with that. Don´t bet your house, still.. Obviously John´s good player tactically. And a very resilient player. It is just that every true snookerfan sees that Shaun probably has an aswers. When it gets tactical. Which certainly is not the case with almost any other top-player.


   

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