Champion of Champions Snooker 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Mark Williams BEATS Xiao Guodong in epic final to claim title – updates
THE Champion of Champions has concluded after a superb week of snooker in Bolton.
Mark Williams secured the title for the first time after beating Xiao Guodong 10-6 in a thrilling final.
The Welshman raced into a five-frame lead, but Xiao won four legs on the bounce to make the tie 5-4 at the halfway stage.
Williams didn't let the comeback phase him on the night and walked out £150,000 richer.
- Final result: Mark Williams 10-6 Xiao Guodong
- TV channel: ITV4
- FREE live stream: ITVX
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What's at stake?
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
Amazing footage of 'scandal' match
Footage has emerged from the snooker match that Mark King allegedly fixed.
The former Northern Ireland Open champ has been hit with a five-year ban for match fixing.
King was found guilty of “one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on that match.”
He was initially suspended by the WPBSA in March 2023, a month after suspicious betting was reported on his 4-0 defeat by Joe Perry in the first round of the Welsh Open.
And now Eurosport footage of the match in question against Perry has .
While it cannot be said that he purposefully misplaced these shots, the video shows King quickly working his way round the table.
Xiao doesn't care who's next!
Xiao Guodong insists he'll be unfazed by whichever "legend" he faces in Sunday's final after a third straight stunning victory.
The Chinese star followed comeback victories over Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby by reeling off the last three frames for a 6-3 triumph over a third big name in Mark Allen.
A jaw-dropping long yellow helped Xiao edge a tight ninth frame to clinch victory after 11pm..
Now he'll face either Mark Williams or Neil Robertson - with his biggest title yet at stake.
Xiao told ITV: "I just tell myself to play every shot, telling myself I could do it when it went to 3-3.
"I don't care if I play Mark or Neil because they're both good - legends. I will just enjoy. That's it."
XIAO WINS AGAIN! Allen 3-6 Xiao
XIAO EXTENDS LEAD! Allen 3-5 Xiao (47-83)
Xiao went on to cut home an exquisite pink - and move one frame from victory.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-77)
Allen needs two snookers now - after Xiao potted a brown.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-49)
Xiao must be the favourite now - reward for his positive play from behind in this frame.
And he brilliantly got out of a snooker - leaving Allen a tricky red that he declined to take on.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-22)
Xiao is carefully building a break that could decide the frame - one way or another.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-8)
Xiao missed what could possibly have been a crucial long red.
But Allen failed to take advantage - ratting the baulk pocket with a blue.
Now Xiao is back in.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (46-7)
Allen departed the table with a 39-point lead.
And Xiao can only respond with safety play.
Allen then drifted the cue ball onto the top cushion - but it was safe enough for Xiao to continue the defensive play and return the cue ball to the to the other end.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (18-7)
A sloppy shot from Xiao has let Allen in.
The balls are well placed, too.
Allen 3-4 Xiao (6-7)
Allen was off the mark first and Xiao was then a bit loose with a safety shot into the pack.
However, Allen then sportingly called a foul on himself as he leaned over the reds to line up a shot.
It cost him seven points - meaning he touched the black.
GUODONG BACK IN FRONT! Allen 3-4 Xiao (39-66)
Xiao settled for red and green - leaving Allen needing one snooker and a clearance to win.
He pocketed the yellow then went for safety - only to leave the green over a pocket.
That prompted Allen to concede the frame.
Allen 3-3 Xiao (37-66)
Xiao landed a breathtaking red- and is down to just the colours.
Allen 3-3 Xiao (37-62)
Allen has fought back brilliantly in this frame.
He halved the deficit with one visit to the table.
But Xiao got out of a tricky snooker.
Allen wobbled a baulk-end pocket with a red.
But the balls fell kindly for him - leaving Xiao only a hugely-difficult pot, which he took on and also narrowly missed.
Allen 3-3 Xiao (0-62)
Xiao crafted a break beyond 30.
It's hard work but he's nudging his way int a significant lead.
Xiao ten thundered the cue ball down into the reds via mid-pocket blue.
But he bowed out of the break with six reds left.
Allen 3-3 Xiao (0-28)
Xiao is back at the table - opening with a red and a brown but then down at the top end.
Allen 3-3 Xiao (0-19)
Xiao was in amongst the reds - but he needed a long look at a tricky situation when on a break of 19.
He ultimately opted for for a gentle safety shot.
Allen 3-3 Xiao (0-1)
Allen produced a loose safety shot early on.
Xiao has a major chance now.
LEVEL! Allen 3-3 Xiao (78-26)
Xiao fouled by missing the red - and a focused Allen has levelled from 3-1 down.
He's really knuckled down in the last two frames, punishing a couple of Xiao errors.
Allen 2-3 Xiao (71-26)
Xiao's stay at the table didn't last long - and we're into safety play now.
Allen 2-3 Xiao (71-17)
Allen notches a 55 break to put him in command at 71-6 up.
He landed three brilliant pots in this visit to the table.
Xiao has a chance, however - and and is down to the final red.
Allen 2-3 Xiao (47-6)
Allen was back at the table but the reds are in a tight cluster.
He successfully took on a tricky one to the top corner, though.
And an even better yellow - to return the yellow to the business end of the table off two walls - finally opened things up.
Allen 2-3 Xiao (16-0)
Allen started the sixth frame where he left off in the fifth.
And at 16-0 down Xiao contemplated a tough long red but it came to nothing.
DOUBLE MARK! Allen 2-3 Xiao (74-38)
Allen duly grafted to a fifth-frame triumph.