The 2018 Championship League was a professional non-

ranking A ranking is a relationship between a set of items such that, for any two items, the first is either "ranked higher than", "ranked lower than" or "ranked equal to" the second. In mathematics, this is known as a weak order or total preorder of o ...

snooker Snooker (pronounced , ) is a cue sports, cue sport played on a Billiard table#Snooker and English billiards tables, rectangular table covered with a green cloth called baize, with six Billiard table#Pockets 2, pockets, one at each corner and o ...

tournament taking place It was the 11th staging of the tournament. The defending champion

John Higgins John Higgins, (born 18 May 1975) is a Scottish professional snooker player. He has won 31 career ranking titles, placing him in third position on the all-time list of ranking event winners, behind Ronnie O'Sullivan (39) and Stephen Hendry ( ...

retained his title with a 3–2 final win over

Zhou Yuelong Zhou Yuelong (; born 24 January 1998) is a Chinese professional snooker player. He has been runner-up at three ranking events, the January 2020 European Masters, the 2020 Snooker Shoot Out, and the 2022 Northern Ireland Open. Career Between 2 ...

. As in the previous edition of the tournament Higgins had entered the competition in Group 7 and from there won his way through to the Winners' Group.

Martin Gould Martin Gould (born 14 September 1981) is an English professional snooker player from Pinner in the London Borough of Harrow. He has appeared in four ranking finals and won one ranking title, the 2016 German Masters. Career Gould began his pr ...

and

Luca Brecel Luca Brecel (born 8 March 1995) is a Belgian professional snooker player. He won the European Under-19 title at the age of 14 and went on to break Stephen Hendry's record as the youngest player ever to compete at the Crucible Theatre. He made hi ...

both made their maiden official

maximum break A maximum break (also known as a maximum, a 147, or orally, a one-four-seven) is the highest possible in a single of snooker. A player compiles a maximum break by potting all 15 with 15 for 120 points, followed by all six for a further 27 ...

s in this tournament. Gould achieved his maximum in the deciding frame of his Group 6 round robin match against . Brecel achieved his in the third frame of a 3–0 whitewash of defending champion

in their Group 7 round robin match. These were the 135th and 136th official maximum breaks and the fourth and fifth of the 2017/2018 season. It was the fifth consecutive year that a maximum was made in the

Championship League Championship League is a professional snooker tournament, devised by Matchroom Sport. A ranking event version of the tournament began from September 2020, played similarly to its invitational, non-ranking counterpart but with some minor changes ...

, and the second consecutive year that two were made.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2018 Championship League is shown below. ;Group 1–7 *Winner: £3,000 *Runner-up: £2,000 *Semi-final: £1,000 *Frame-win (league stage): £100 *Frame-win (play-offs): £300 *Highest break: £500 ;Winners' Group *Winner: £10,000 *Runner-up: £5,000 *Semi-final: £3,000 *Frame-win (league stage): £200 *Frame-win (play-offs): £300 *Highest break: £1,000 *Tournament total: £178,900

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 2 and 3 January 2018.

was the first player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

*Kyren Wilson 3–1 Stephen Maguire *Ryan Day 1–3 Zhou Yuelong *Anthony Hamilton 3–1 Kyren Wilson *Mark King 2–3 Michael Holt *Stephen Maguire 3–1 Ryan Day *Zhou Yuelong 3–2 Mark King *Michael Holt 1–3 Anthony Hamilton *Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ryan Day *Stephen Maguire 3–2 Zhou Yuelong *Mark King 3–2 Anthony Hamilton *Michael Holt 1–3 Zhou Yuelong *Ryan Day 3–1 Anthony Hamilton *Kyren Wilson 3–1 Michael Holt *Stephen Maguire 3–2 Mark King *Ryan Day 1–3 Michael Holt *Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Anthony Hamilton *Kyren Wilson 0–3 Mark King *Stephen Maguire 2–3 Anthony Hamilton *Ryan Day 3–2 Mark King *Stephen Maguire 3–1 Michael Holt *Kyren Wilson 3–0 Zhou Yuelong

Table

Play-offs

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 4 and 5 January 2018.

Mark Selby Mark Anthony Selby (born 19 June 1983) is an English professional snooker player, who is a four-time World Snooker Champion. Ranked world number one on multiple occasions, he has won a total of 21 ranking titles, placing him eighth on the ...

was the second player to qualify for the Winners' Group, recording his 500th career century in the Group 2 final against

Barry Hawkins Barry Hawkins (born 23 April 1979) is an English professional snooker player from Ditton, Kent. He turned professional in 1996, but only rose to prominence in the 2004–05 snooker season, when he reached the last 16 of the 2004 UK Championsh ...

Matches

* Mark Selby 3–1* Neil Robertson * Barry Hawkins 3–2 Kyren Wilson * Stephen Maguire 1–3 Mark Selby * Ryan Day 3–0 Anthony Hamilton * Neil Robertson 3–2* Barry Hawkins * Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ryan Day * * Mark Selby 2–3 Barry Hawkins * Neil Robertson 3–2* Kyren Wilson * Ryan Day 1–3 Stephen Maguire * Anthony Hamilton 1–3 Kyren Wilson * * Mark Selby 2–3 Anthony Hamilton * Neil Robertson 3–0* Ryan Day * Barry Hawkins 3–1 Anthony Hamilton * Kyren Wilson 3–0 Stephen Maguire * Mark Selby 2–3 Ryan Day * Neil Robertson 2–3* Stephen Maguire * Barry Hawkins 3–1 Ryan Day * * Mark Selby 3–0 Kyren Wilson ;Note *

Neil Robertson Neil Robertson (born 11 February 1982) is an Australian professional snooker player who is a former world champion and former world number one. The only Australian to have won a ranking event, he is also the only player from outside the United ...

had to pull out of the Championship League due to personal reasons after his fifth match. Results from Robertson's previous matches were removed from the group table.

Table

Play-offs

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 8 and 9 January 2018.

Kyren Wilson Kyren Wilson (; born 23 December 1991) is an English professional snooker player from Kettering and a five-time ranking event winner. He has been a runner-up at two of the three Triple Crown events, having reached the final at both the 2018 ...

was the third player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

* Tom Ford 1–3 Mark Allen * Ali Carter 3–2 Anthony Hamilton * Kyren Wilson 3–2 Tom Ford * Ryan Day 3–2 Barry Hawkins * Mark Allen 3–0 Ali Carter * Anthony Hamilton 3–1 Ryan Day * Barry Hawkins 3–0 Kyren Wilson * Tom Ford 0–3 Ali Carter * Mark Allen 2–3 Anthony Hamilton * Ryan Day 2–3 Kyren Wilson * Barry Hawkins 3–2 Anthony Hamilton * Ali Carter 2–3 Kyren Wilson * Tom Ford 3–0 Barry Hawkins * Mark Allen 3–0 Ryan Day * Ali Carter 0–3 Barry Hawkins * Anthony Hamilton 1–3 Kyren Wilson * Tom Ford 3–1 Ryan Day * Mark Allen 3–1 Kyren Wilson * Ali Carter 3–2 Ryan Day * Mark Allen 1–3 Barry Hawkins * Tom Ford 3–1 Anthony Hamilton ;Note

Anthony McGill Anthony McGill (born 5 February 1991) is a Scottish professional snooker player. He is a practice partner of retired snooker player Alan McManus. McGill turned professional in 2010, after finishing fourth in the 2009/2010 PIOS rankings. He wo ...

withdrew before the tournament and was replaced by

Tom Ford Thomas Carlyle Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer and filmmaker. He launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005, having previously served as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford wrote and directe ...

Table

Play-offs

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 10 and 11 January 2018.

Ali Carter Allister Carter (born 25 July 1979) is an English professional snooker player. He has twice been the World Championship runner-up, in 2008 and 2012, losing both finals to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has won four ranking titles and briefly reached numb ...

was the fourth player to qualify for the Winners' Group. On the first day,

Judd Trump Judd Trump (born 20 August 1989) is an English professional snooker player, a former world champion and former world number one. Widely regarded as one of the sport's most talented players, he is currently sixth on the list of all-time ranki ...

made his 500th career century in his match against

Liang Wenbo Liang Wenbo (; born 25 March 1987) is a Chinese professional snooker player based at the Oracle Snooker Club, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England. Liang, who plays left-handed, has reached one Triple Crown final, made three Masters appearances, and ...

Matches

* Shaun Murphy 3–1 Liang Wenbo * Judd Trump 3–0 Ali Carter * Tom Ford 2–3 Shaun Murphy * Barry Hawkins 3–1* Mark Allen * Liang Wenbo 0–3 Judd Trump * Ali Carter 0–3 Barry Hawkins * Mark Allen w/d–w/o* Tom Ford * Shaun Murphy 0–3 Judd Trump * Liang Wenbo 3–2 Ali Carter * Barry Hawkins 3–1 Tom Ford * Mark Allen w/d–w/o* Ali Carter * Judd Trump 3–1 Tom Ford * Shaun Murphy w/o–w/d* Mark Allen * Liang Wenbo 3–1 Barry Hawkins * Judd Trump w/o–w/d* Mark Allen * Ali Carter 3–0 Tom Ford * Shaun Murphy 2–3 Barry Hawkins * Liang Wenbo 0–3 Tom Ford * Judd Trump 1–3 Barry Hawkins * Liang Wenbo w/o–w/d* Mark Allen * Shaun Murphy 1–3 Ali Carter ;Note *

Mark Allen Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * Finn ...

had to withdraw due to family reasons prior to his second match in the group. The result from Allen's first match in the group was removed from the group table.

Table

Play-offs

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 23 and 24 January 2018. Mark Williams was the fifth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

* Martin Gould 3–1 Ricky Walden * Mark Williams 1–3 Ben Woollaston * Judd Trump 3–1 Martin Gould * Joe Perry 1–3 David Gilbert * Ricky Walden 1–3 Mark Williams * Ben Woollaston 1–3 Joe Perry * David Gilbert 0–3 Judd Trump * Martin Gould 1–3 Mark Williams * Ricky Walden 3–2 Ben Woollaston * Joe Perry 1–3 Judd Trump * David Gilbert 1–3 Ben Woollaston * Mark Williams 0–3 Judd Trump * Martin Gould 3–1 David Gilbert * Ricky Walden 2–3 Joe Perry * Mark Williams 3–0 David Gilbert * Ben Woollaston 3–2 Judd Trump * Martin Gould 3–1 Joe Perry * Ricky Walden 3–2 Judd Trump * Mark Williams 3–0 Joe Perry * Ricky Walden 3–0 David Gilbert * Martin Gould 1–3 Ben Woollaston ;Note

Shaun Murphy Shaun Peter Murphy (born 10 August 1982) is an English professional snooker player who won the 2005 World Snooker Championship, 2005 World Championship. Nicknamed "The Magician", Murphy is noted for his straight Cue stick, cue action and his lo ...

and

withdrew from the tournament and were replaced by Joe Perry, David Gilbert and

Ben Woollaston Ben Woollaston (born 14 May 1987) is an English professional snooker player from Leicester. His sole professional title came at the minor-ranking third Players Tour Championship event in 2011. Woollaston's only ranking event final came at the ...

Table

Play-offs

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 25 and 26 January 2018.

was the sixth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

* Li Hang 3–0 Michael White * Graeme Dott 3–1 Martin Gould * Judd Trump 0–3 Li Hang * Ben Woollaston 1–3 Ricky Walden * Michael White 2–3 Graeme Dott * Martin Gould 3–0 Ben Woollaston * Ricky Walden 0–3 Judd Trump * Li Hang 3–2 Graeme Dott * Michael White 1–3 Martin Gould * Ben Woollaston 1–3 Judd Trump * Ricky Walden 0–3 Martin Gould * Graeme Dott 0–3 Judd Trump * Li Hang 2–3 Ricky Walden * Michael White 3–0 Ben Woollaston * Graeme Dott 2–3 Ricky Walden * Martin Gould 3–2 Judd Trump * Li Hang 1–3 Ben Woollaston * Michael White 0–3 Judd Trump * Graeme Dott 3–2 Ben Woollaston * Michael White 2–3 Ricky Walden * Li Hang 2–3 Martin Gould

Table

Play-offs

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 26 and 27 March 2018.

was the seventh player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

* John Higgins 0–3 Luca Brecel * Robert Milkins 1–3 Dominic Dale * Ricky Walden 2–3 John Higgins * Jimmy Robertson 0–3 Judd Trump * Luca Brecel 1–3 Robert Milkins * Dominic Dale 1–3 Jimmy Robertson * Judd Trump 3–1 Ricky Walden * John Higgins 3–1 Robert Milkins * Luca Brecel 0–3 Dominic Dale * Jimmy Robertson 3–0 Ricky Walden * Judd Trump 3–2 Dominic Dale * Robert Milkins 1–3 Ricky Walden * John Higgins 3–1 Judd Trump * Luca Brecel 2–3 Jimmy Robertson * Robert Milkins 1–3 Judd Trump * Dominic Dale 2–3 Ricky Walden * John Higgins 2–3 Jimmy Robertson * Luca Brecel 0–3 Ricky Walden * Robert Milkins 1–3 Jimmy Robertson * Luca Brecel 1–3 Judd Trump * John Higgins 3–0 Dominic Dale ;Notes

Graeme Dott Graeme Dott (born 12 May 1977) is a Scottish professional snooker player and snooker coach from Larkhall. He turned professional in 1994 and first entered the top 16 in 2001. He has won two ranking titles, the 2006 World Snooker Championship a ...

and

Li Hang Li Hang is the name of: * Li Hang (footballer) (李行, born 1989), Chinese association footballer *Li Hang (snooker player) (李行, born 1990), Chinese snooker player See also * Li Gang (Song dynasty) (李綱, 1083–1140), regional commander se ...

withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 7 play. They were replaced by

Dominic Dale Dominic Dale (born Christopher Dale on 29 December 1971) is a Welsh professional snooker player and snooker commentator and presenter for the BBC and Eurosport. Career Dale was born in Coventry, England. He won the Welsh Amateur Championship, ...

and Jimmy Robertson.

Table

Play-offs

Winners' Group

The Winners' Group was played on 28 and 29 March 2018. In the final,

defeated

3–2 to retain his

title and win it for the second time in his career.

Matches

* Zhou Yuelong 3*–2 Mark Selby * Kyren Wilson 3–1 Ali Carter * Mark Williams 3–2 Zhou Yuelong * Martin Gould 0–3 John Higgins * Mark Selby 3–1 Kyren Wilson * Ali Carter 3–0 Martin Gould * John Higgins 3–2 Mark Williams * Zhou Yuelong 3–1 Kyren Wilson * Mark Selby 1–3 Ali Carter * Martin Gould 3–1 Mark Williams * John Higgins 2–3 Ali Carter * Kyren Wilson 3–1 Mark Williams * Zhou Yuelong 2–3 John Higgins * Mark Selby 3–0 Martin Gould * Kyren Wilson 1–3 John Higgins * Ali Carter 3–2 Mark Williams * Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Martin Gould *Mark Selby 3–0 Mark Williams * Kyren Wilson 3–2 Martin Gould * Mark Selby 0–3 John Higgins * Zhou Yuelong 2–3 Ali Carter ;Notes *

was awarded the first frame, due to

arriving late.

Table

Play-offs

Century breaks

Total: 116 *

147 147 may refer to: * 147 (number), a natural number * AD 147, a year of the Julian calendar, in the second century * 147 BC, a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar * 147 AH, a year in the Islamic calendar that corresponds to 764 – 765 CE ...

(6), 140, 108, 106, 102, 101, 101

(7), 109

* 146, 138, 137, 121, 113, 105, 103

* 145 (1), 122, 100 Ryan Day * 144 (5), 136, 133, 123, 111, 104, 100 Mark Williams * 143, 103, 102

* 141 (W), 131, 122, 111, 110, 105, 100

* 140, 137, 134, 125, 124, 120, 120, 118,
110, 109, 108, 104, 103, 100, 100, 100

* 140, 137, 131, 129, 104

Ricky Walden Ricky Walden (born 11 November 1982) is an English professional snooker player from Chester. Walden turned professional in 2000 and it took him eight years to win his first ranking title at the Shanghai Masters. He has since won the 2012 Wuxi ...

* 140 (4), 115

* 139

* 139 Michael Holt * 138, 129, 122, 114, 104, 103, 101, 101

* 137 (3), 137, 131, 129, 105

* 136

* 134, 125, 116, 107, 103, 101, 101

* 134 (2), 116, 110

* 134, 116 Mark King * 132, 128, 112, 111, 104, 103, 103, 101, 101

* 125, 124, 102

* 122, 121, 113, 101 Jimmy Robertson * 120, 106, 103, 102, 101

* 118, 103 Anthony Hamilton * 115, 104

Stephen Maguire Stephen Maguire (born 13 March 1981) is a Scottish professional snooker player. He has won six major ranking tournaments, including the 2004 UK Championship, and has twice since reached the finals of that event. Maguire turned professional i ...

* 113, 111, 100 Michael White * 104

''Bold: highest break in the indicated group.''

Winnings

''Green: won the group. Bold: highest break in the group. All prize money in

GBP Sterling (abbreviation: stg; Other spelling styles, such as STG and Stg, are also seen. ISO code: GBP) is the currency of the United Kingdom and nine of its associated territories. The pound ( sign: £) is the main unit of sterling, and t ...

.''
Notes
⁽¹⁾ Neil Robertson withdrew due to personal reasons after his fifth match in Group 2.
⁽²⁾ Mark Allen withdrew due to family reasons after his first match in Group 4.
⁽³⁾ Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy and Liang Wenbo withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 5 play.
⁽⁴⁾ Graeme Dott and Li Hang withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 7 play.

References

External links

* http://www.championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk/players/ {{Snooker season 2017/2018

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

Sports competitions in Coventry