Champion of Champions Snooker 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Mark Williams to face Xiao Guodong in huge £150k final – latest updates
THE Champion of Champions is heading towards an unwanted end - with the final set to take place TODAY!
Xiao Guodong got the better of reigning champion Mark Allen with a 6-3 win on Friday night to secure his spot in the last two.
And he'll be taking on Mark Williams in the £150k final after the Welshman beat Neil Roberton 6-2 on Saturday evening.
- Start time: From 1pm GMT
- TV channel: ITV4
- FREE live stream: ITVX
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What are the rules of snooker?
THE aim of snooker is to clear the table of all balls - and achieving it in an incredible 147 break is the ultimate goal.
The rectangular table features green baize, a baulk line and semi-circle, known as the D.
It has six pockets, four in each corner and two midway down both long sides.
There are 15 red balls which are arranged in a triangular shape.
There are also six colour balls, and the white cue ball.
Each colour sits on its own designated spot at the start of the game.
While red balls are worth one point when potted, the colours all have a different value.
In ascending order these are:
- Yellow - two points
- Green - three points
- Brown - four points
- Blue - five points
- Pink - six points
- Black - seven points
The first player will cue off and must hit at least one of the red balls in the triangle.
If they pot a red, they can then continue by potting a colour.
However, if no red is potted then their opponent will play the next shot - going for a red first.
Each player must first pot a red ball when it's their turn to play. If nothing is pocketed it is the other player's turn at the table.
After each red is potted they must then follow with a colour, then a red, then a colour, and so on.
Whilst there are still red balls on the table, the potted colour balls are returned to their designated spot.
Once all the red balls are pocketed, the player at the table must pot the colours in the order as outlined above.
If they miss then their opponent will have the opportunity to clear the table.
A 147 is a maximum break when all reds are potted by one player in one stint at the table.
In order to achieve 147, the player must pot all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points.
They must then clear all the colours, concluding with the black for 27 points.
During play the rules state that the cue must only touch the white cue ball.
The cue ball also must hit the correct colour ball - reds or colours in order.
If it hits the incorrect colour then a foul is called.
If the cue ball fails to hit any ball or is pocketed it is also a foul.
The player's turn at the table ends if they play a foul shot.
Players are also penalised if they touch any ball on the table with their person.
Who is playing at the Champion of Champions 2024 snooker?
There are eight seeded players while the others have qualified due to world rankings or titles won in the past 12 months.
- Mark Allen
- Judd Trump
- Kyren Wilson
- Mark Selby
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Mark Williams
- Ali Carter
- Gary Wilson
Unseeded players: Jak Jones, Neil Robertson, Xiao Guodong, Bai Yulu, Igor Figueiredo, Luca Brecel and Shaun Murphy.
What is the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 prize money?
The total prize pot for the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 is a whopping £440,000.
And the winner will receive a £150,000 reward while the runner-up is set to bank £60,000.
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £60,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £30,000
- Losing quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Losers in the last 16: £12,500
- Total: £440,000
Tale of endurance
The final between Mark Williams and Xiao Guodong will be a real test of endurance.
Before they got there, these players faced the best of seven frames in the group stage, group final was best of 11, as were the semis.
But, for the final they'll have to step it up further.
It'll be the best of 19 frames the victor will have to muster. Who will it be?
How to watch the final
- The final will be shown LIVE on ITV4 in the UK.
- Fans also have the option to stream the action for FREE on ITV X via any compatible mobile or tablet device.
- Alternatively, SunSport will provide daily coverage of the competition through our LIVE blog.
Prize money
The total prize pot for the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 is a whopping £440,000.
And the winner will receive a £150,000 reward while the runner-up is set to bank £60,000.
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £60,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £30,000
- Losing quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Losers in the last 16: £12,500
- Total: £440,000
Xiao's route to the final
To say Xiao Guodong has had it easy in the Champion of Champions is an understatement.
His route to the final has seen him dispose of the game's top players.
That includes, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby and 2023 champion Mark Allen.
Will he conquer Mark Williams too?
Williams v Xiao Guodong
The head-to-head makes interesting reading between the two finalists.
Last time out, Williams beat Xiao 4-3 at the 2023 English Open.
The Welshman leads 5-1 in their encounters.
Williams reaction
Really pleased, I'm hitting the ball really, really, really good," he told ITV. "I thought my safety was very good and I created a lot of chances from really good safety.
"I am playing quite well, I'm still taking it to these so-called youngsters (and) I'm in the final of another big tournament."
Mark Williams
Williams 6-2 Robertson
Robertson offers Williams his hand. It's all over.
The break ended with a miscue, which was probably the only time the Welshman did anything wrong.
But the 61 gets Williams over the line.
Xiao Guodong awaits in the final tomorrow. That should be a cracker.
Williams 5-2 Robertson
That's better from Robertson, as he approaches the frame.
That'll make Williams sweat a little bit longer.
It's his second half-century in three frames.
But, too little too late maybe.
In the end, he scores a 73 break.
Williams 5-1 Robertson
Robertson finally gets himself on the board - with a 78 break.
He even tried a trick shot on the pink for kicks, with the crowd seeing the funny side. Didn't get it, but it mattered now.
However, Williams shows no mercy in frame six.
He records a clearance of 132, that'll sit nicely alongside his 140 against Kyren Wilson.
Williams is in. touching distance now.
Williams 4-0 Robertson (5-17)
Robertson is the first to pot at the table.
Could this be his first meaningful moment?
However, he can't sustain his break - and fails to score past 17.
Williams then sets up an an annoying safety behind the green, which Robertson fouls on his first attempt.
Williams 4-0 Robertson
Williams flying now and has one eye on the final!
It was always going to be difficult for Robertson needing snookers.
A superb break of 70 put Williams in pole position and he made no mistake.
Williams 3-0 Robertson
Robertson left needing snookers to avoid going 4-0 down here as Williams leads 74-31 with one red remaining.
Big ask for Robertson from here.
Williams 3-0 Robertson
Willaims edges a tight frame to take a 3-0 lead here in Bolton.
The Welshman only surpassed Robertson's score when he potted the black for the final time.
Credit: Getty Williams 2-0 Robertson
Much better from Williams.
A 66 break, means Robertson needs a snooker.
He makes a solid pot on the pink - but can't sink a red.
That forces him to concede.
Williams 1-0 Roberton (Re-rack)
Well that was tedious.
Both players were far too cautious, prompting someone in the crowd to shout "Re-rack".
Williams motioned towards Robertson who agreed. It starts all over again.
Williams 1-0 Robertson (5-12)
Slow frame, so far.
It's not an ideal table, with the pink and black hiding behind reds.
A long pot from Williams, but he struggles for position on the black.
Robertson's plant rolls onto the brown. Then, Williams is given a ticking off for missing the red twice with a thin contact.
One more, son and you'll concede the frame.
Williams 1-0 Robertson
Williams will be very happy with that.
Breaks of 45 and 50 in the opening frame got him on the board first.
It's the race to six frames, don't forget.
Williams 0-0 Robertson (45-6)
Williams gets on over his opponent by potting straight after an early mistake by Robertson.
He races to a break of 45, before missing a difficult green after failing to get an angle on it.
Robertson scores 6, in reply, hitting the jaws of the bottom pocket.
Then Williams misses, but leaves the reds safe.
Here we go!
We're about to get underway in Bolton.
Mark Williams and Neil Robertson go head to head in the second semi-final.
Who will face Xiao in Sunday's best-of-19 frame final? Stay with us to find out.
Tonight’s semi-final set to thrill
Mark Williams takes on Neil Robertson in what promises to be a gripping second semi-final this evening.
Robertson, who eliminated Judd Trump earlier in the tournament, has been in resurgent form recently and enters the match as the favorite at 2/1.
Meanwhile, three-time world champion Williams, 49, has shown flashes of brilliance this year and is third-favourite at 3/1.
Schedule:
7pm – Mark Williams vs Neil Robertson.Pot Noodle: Xiao’s takeaway fuels Bolton brilliance
Giant killer Xiao Guodong credits indulging in Chinese takeaways as the secret to his success in Bolton this week.
Xiao said: “We have to eat food. In the UK, sometimes we have to buy Chinese takeaway from restaurants.
“My friend got some food. He came here. That’s why before the match I ate a little bit. But anyway, it doesn’t matter before a match if you eat a lot.
Trump takes a swipe after Robertson upset
Judd Trump took aim at Neil Robertson, claiming he "didn't deserve to win like that" after being eliminated from the Champion of Champions.
Underdog Robertson secured a 6-4 victory over the world No.1, earning a spot in Saturday's semi-final against Mark Williams.
An irked Trump told ITV 4: "I thought I was very unlucky.
"To be honest I think Neil knows that he didn’t deserve to win like that, but that happens.
"He put in a good spell to go 3-1 up, then after that he had quite a few chances, missed quite a few long balls and got safe every time. It’s just one of those days."