THE CHAMPION of Champions snooker event got under way this week at the Ricoh Arena and has already thrown up two big upsets.
World number six Judd Trump and World Champion Stuart Bingham were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday as Shanghai Masters champion Kyren Wilson progressed to Saturday’s semi-final as winner of group 3 in his first appearance at the tournament.
Speaking after his win, Wilson said: “I am here to win the tournament, like every player. Everybody in the tournament is already a winner so I have as much right as every other player to win.
“It is a fantastic venue and I had great support; it was fantastic to have my family and friends here.
“It doesn’t matter who you play because everybody is a class player, everybody is a champion; the title speaks for itself.”
On Wednesday four-time World Champion John Higgins took to the baize against Ali Carter, while Joe Perry took on Michael White.
On Thursday Rory McLeod will look to cause another upset against world number three Neil Robertson, while Shaun Murphy takes on Yan Bingtao.
And on Friday Leicester’s Mark Selby plays Stephen Maguire in the ‘group of death’ in which Barry Hawkins takes on Mark Allen in the final match in group 2.
All four group winners will progress into Saturday’s semi-final and Sunday’s final will be played over 19 frames with the winner taking home the £100,000 prize. Full live coverage of the event is being shown on ITV4.
