The 2023 Championship League was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place from 26 June to 21 July 2023 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, England. The event featured 128 players and was played as three rounds of round-robin groups of four, before a best-of-five final. It was the fourth edition of the ranking version of the Championship League, and the first ranking tournament of the 202324 season.
Luca Brecel was the reigning champion, having defeated Lu Ning 31 in the final of the previous ranking edition of the tournament. However, he opted not to enter the draw for the tournament and consequently was not defending the title. Other notable players choosing not to enter the draw were Mark Selby, Jack Lisowski, John Higgins, Mark Allen and Ding Junhui. Six players who were due to enter the tournament, withdrew and were replaced including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson and Marco Fu.
Shaun Murphy won the tournament, defeating Mark Williams 30 in the final to claim his twelfth ranking title.
Tournament format The 2023 Championship League took place from 26 June to 21 July 2023 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, England. 128 players took part in the event. The competition began with 32 rounds of group matches with each group consisting of four players. Two groups were played to a finish every day during four blocks using a two-table setup in the arena. The groups were contested using a round-robin format, with six matches played in each group. All matches in group play were played as best of four frames, with three points awarded for a win and one point for a draw. Group positions were determined by points scored, frame difference and then head-to-head results between players who were tied. Places that were still tied were then determined by the highest made in the group.
The 32 players that topped the group tables qualified for the group winners' stage, consisting of eight groups of four players. The eight winners from the group winners' stage qualified for the two final groups, with the final taking place later on the same day. The winner took the Championship League title and a place at the 2023 Champion of Champions.
There were 20 players not currently on the professional tour who were entered into the draw as follows:
Alfie Davies Ryan Davies Steven Hallworth Daniel Holoyda Michael Holt
Duane Jones Peter Lines Sean McAllister Rory McLeod Josh Mulholland
Florian Nüßle Jamie O'Neill Barry Pinches Haydon Pinhey Fergal Quinn
Craig Steadman Alex Taubman Joshua Thomond Chris Totten Sydney Wilson
Prize fund The breakdown of prize money for the tournament is shown below.
Stage One Winner: £3,000 Runner-up: £2,000 Third place: £1,000 Fourth place: £0
Stage Two Winner: £4,000 Runner-up: £3,000 Third place: £2,000 Fourth place: £1,000
Stage Three Winner: £6,000 Runner-up: £4,000 Third place: £2,000 Fourth place: £1,000
Final Winner: £20,000 Runner-up: £10,000
Tournament total: £328,000
Stage One Stage One consisted of 32 groups, each containing four players.
Order of play Date Group 26 June Group 03 26 June Group 30 27 June Group 11 27 June Group 21 28 June Group 10 28 June Group 22 29 June Group 05 29 June Group 29 Date Group 30 June Group 06 30 June Group 27 3 July Group 16 3 July Group 32 4 July Group 15 4 July Group 28 5 July Group 17 5 July Group 26 Date Group 6 July Group 07 6 July Group 24 7 July Group 08 7 July Group 23 8 July Group 20 8 July Group 25 10 July Group 01 10 July Group 19 Date Group 11 July Group 02 11 July Group 18 12 July Group 04 12 July Group 12 13 July Group 13 13 July Group 31 14 July Group 09 14 July Group 14
Group 1 Group 1 was played on 10 July. Michael Holt won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group A.
Matches
Scott Donaldson 1–3 Michael Holt Rod Lawler 0–3 Alfie Burden Scott Donaldson 1–3 Alfie Burden Rod Lawler 3–1 Michael Holt Alfie Burden 0–3 Michael Holt Scott Donaldson 2–2 Rod Lawler
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 134 6 2 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 83 6 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 69 4 4 3 0 1 2 4 8 −4 58 1
Group 2 Group 2 was played on 11 July. Judd Trump won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group B.
Matches
Judd Trump 3–0 Reanne Evans Xu Si 3–0 Jimmy White Judd Trump 3–0 Jimmy White Xu Si 2–2 Reanne Evans Jimmy White 1–3 Reanne Evans Judd Trump 2–2 Xu Si
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 120 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 73 5 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 4 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Group 3 Group 3 was played on 26 June. Ashley Carty won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group C.
Matches
Craig Steadman 2–2 Ashley Carty Sean McAllister 3–1 Adam Duffy Craig Steadman 2–2 Adam Duffy Sean McAllister 2–2 Ashley Carty Adam Duffy 0–3 Ashley Carty Craig Steadman 2–2 Sean McAllister
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 96 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 140 5 3 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 111 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 116 1
Group 4 Group 4 was played on 12 July. Shaun Murphy won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group D.
Matches
Shaun Murphy 3–0 Andrew Pagett Tian Pengfei 3–1 Lukas Kleckers Shaun Murphy 3–1 Lukas Kleckers Tian Pengfei 3–1 Andrew Pagett Lukas Kleckers 3–0 Andrew Pagett Shaun Murphy 3–1 Tian Pengfei
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 110 9 2 3 2 0 1 7 5 +2 90 6 3 3 1 0 2 5 6 −1 116 3 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 57 0
Group 5 Group 5 was played on 29 June. Kyren Wilson won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group E.
Matches
Kyren Wilson 3–0 Josh Mulholland Andy Hicks 1–3 Louis Heathcote Kyren Wilson 3–0 Louis Heathcote Andy Hicks 3–1 Josh Mulholland Josh Mulholland 0–3 Louis Heathcote Kyren Wilson 3–1 Andy Hicks
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 134 9 2 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 83 6 3 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 76 3 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Group 6 Group 6 was played on 30 June. Mark Williams won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group F.
Matches
Mark Williams 3–0 Daniel Holoyda Dylan Emery 3–0 Ken Doherty Mark Williams 3–1 Ken Doherty Dylan Emery 3–1 Daniel Holoyda Ken Doherty 3–0 Daniel Holoyda Mark Williams 3–0 Dylan Emery
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 121 9 2 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 108 6 3 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 105 3 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 55 0
Group 7 Group 7 was played on 6 July. Long Zehuang won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group G.
Matches
Ali Carter 2–2 Ryan Davies Jackson Page 2–2 Long Zehuang Ali Carter 1–3 Long Zehuang Jackson Page 3–1 Ryan Davies Long Zehuang 3–0 Ryan Davies Ali Carter 2–2 Jackson Page
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 94 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 117 5 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 86 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 95 1
Group 8 Group 8 was played on 7 July. Robert Milkins won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group H.
Matches
Robert Milkins 3–0 Alex Taubman Dominic Dale 3–1 Muhammad Asif Robert Milkins 2–2 Muhammad Asif Dominic Dale 3–1 Alex Taubman Muhammad Asif 3–1 Alex Taubman Robert Milkins 3–0 Dominic Dale
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 53 7 2 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 64 6 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 116 4 4 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 0
Group 9 Group 9 was played on 14 July. John Astley won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group H.
Matches
Gary Wilson 2–2 Ma Hailong John Astley 3–1 Mink Nutcharut Gary Wilson 2–2 Mink Nutcharut John Astley 2–2 Ma Hailong Mink Nutcharut 2–2 Ma Hailong Gary Wilson 1–3 John Astley
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 128 7 2 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 140 3 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 131 2 4 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 80 2
Group 10 Group 10 was played on 28 June. Michael White won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group G.
Matches
Ryan Day 2–2 Jiang Jun Michael White 3–1 Himanshu Jain Ryan Day 3–0 Himanshu Jain Michael White 3–1 Jiang Jun Himanshu Jain 0–3 Jiang Jun Ryan Day 1–3 Michael White
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 3 +6 124 9 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 96 4 3 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 79 4 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 58 0
Group 11 Group 11 was played on 27 June. Martin O'Donnell won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group F.
Matches
Hossein Vafaei 1–3 Fergal Quinn Aaron Hill 0–3 Martin O'Donnell Hossein Vafaei 2–2 Martin O'Donnell Aaron Hill 3–0 Fergal Quinn Martin O'Donnell 3–1 Fergal Quinn Hossein Vafaei 3–1 Aaron Hill
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 93 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 120 4 3 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 78 3 4 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 72 3
Group 12 Group 12 was played on 12 July. Sanderson Lam won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group E.
Matches
Barry Hawkins 3–1 Jamie O'Neill Zhang Anda 1–3 Sanderson Lam Barry Hawkins 2–2 Sanderson Lam Zhang Anda 3–1 Jamie O'Neill Sanderson Lam 3–1 Jamie O'Neill Barry Hawkins 2–2 Zhang Anda
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 97 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 73 5 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 138 4 4 3 0 0 3 3 9 −6 52 0
Group 13 Group 13 was played on 13 July. David Gilbert won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group D.
Matches
David Gilbert 2–2 Ishpreet Singh Chadha Yuan Sijun 3–0 Sean O'Sullivan David Gilbert 3–0 Sean O'Sullivan Yuan Sijun 3–0 Ishpreet Singh Chadha Sean O'Sullivan 0–3 Ishpreet Singh Chadha David Gilbert 3–1 Yuan Sijun
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 78 7 2 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 132 6 3 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 94 4 4 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 0
Group 14 Group 14 was played on 14 July. Liu Hongyu won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group C.
Matches
Ricky Walden 1–3 Liu Hongyu David Lilley 3–1 Peng Yisong Ricky Walden 2–2 Peng Yisong David Lilley 0–3 Liu Hongyu Peng Yisong 1–3 Liu Hongyu Ricky Walden 2–2 David Lilley
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 76 9 2 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 75 4 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 87 2 4 3 0 1 2 4 8 −4 111 1
Group 15 Group 15 was played on 4 July. Matthew Stevens won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group B.
Matches
Stuart Bingham 2–2 Duane Jones Matthew Stevens 3–1 Allan Taylor Stuart Bingham 1–3 Allan Taylor Matthew Stevens 3–0 Duane Jones Allan Taylor 2–2 Duane Jones Stuart Bingham 3–1 Matthew Stevens
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 57 6 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 129 4 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 105 4 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 74 2
Group 16 Group 16 was played on 3 July. Ben Woollaston won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group A.
Matches
Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Peter Lines Ben Woollaston 3–0 Liam Graham Jimmy Robertson 3–1 Liam Graham Ben Woollaston 3–0 Peter Lines Liam Graham 2–2 Peter Lines Jimmy Robertson 2–2 Ben Woollaston
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 96 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 94 4 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 59 4 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 53 1
Group 17 Group 17 was played on 5 July. Zhou Yuelong won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group A.
Matches
Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Chris Totten Ashley Hugill 3–1 Oliver Brown Zhou Yuelong 0–3 Oliver Brown Ashley Hugill 1–3 Chris Totten Oliver Brown 2–2 Chris Totten Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Ashley Hugill
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 105 6 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 4 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 65 4 4 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 62 3
Group 18 Group 18 was played on 11 July. Joe Perry won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group B.
Matches
Joe Perry 2–2 Stuart Carrington Jamie Clarke 3–1 Andy Lee Joe Perry 3–0 Andy Lee Jamie Clarke 3–1 Stuart Carrington Andy Lee 0–3 Stuart Carrington Joe Perry 3–0 Jamie Clarke
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 128 7 2 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 87 6 3 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 91 4 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Group 19 Group 19 was played on 10 July. Noppon Saengkham won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group C.
Matches
Noppon Saengkham 3–0 Ross Muir Mark Davis 3–0 Jenson Kendrick Noppon Saengkham 3–1 Jenson Kendrick Mark Davis 2–2 Ross Muir Jenson Kendrick 2–2 Ross Muir Noppon Saengkham 2–2 Mark Davis
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 69 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 105 5 3 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 104 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 74 1
Group 20 Group 20 was played on 8 July. James Cahill won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group D.
Matches
Matthew Selt 3–0 Sydney Wilson James Cahill 3–0 Andres Petrov Matthew Selt 3–0 Andres Petrov James Cahill 0–3 Sydney Wilson Andres Petrov 2–2 Sydney Wilson Matthew Selt 0–3 James Cahill
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 87 6 2 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 112 6 3 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 60 4 4 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 58 1
Group 21 Group 21 was played on 27 June. Chris Wakelin won the group and advanced to Stage 2, Group E.
Matches
Chris Wakelin 3–0 Liam Pullen Oliver Lines 2–2 Anton Kazakov Chris Wakelin 3–1 Anton Kazakov Oliver Lines 2–2 Liam Pullen Anton Kazakov 1–3 Liam Pullen