Ronnie O’Sullivan handed Champion of Champions chance as qualifying routes added

Ronnie O’Sullivan could appear in the Champion of Champions in November, even though he hasn’t won a professional title since March 2024.

The tournament brings together the champions who have emerged over the last year in a non-ranking but big-money event.

Mark Selby lifted the trophy last season, beating Judd Trump in the final in Leicester to claim the £150,000 top prize.

16 players qualify for the Champion of Champions, meaning the events over the year leading up to it have to be ranked as qualifying criteria.

If the first 16 events on those rankings are all won by different players then they will qualify, while other champions will miss out.

That is an extremely unlikely scenario and this year the likes of Selby, Wu Yize and Zhao Xintong have all won multiple events that would book them a spot in Leicester.

Are you snooker loopy?

You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro.

In my newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week.

Sign up here.

We now have 14 of the places at the Champion of Champions secured, meaning there are two more that can be grabbed at the upcoming Shenzhen Open and Northern Ireland Open.

If any of the 14 already qualified players win those two events then it hands a chance to the next cab off the rank, which is the winner of the 2026 World Seniors Championship, Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Rocket made his debut at the Seniors event at the Crucible in May and, unsurprisingly, won it which has given him a chance of playing at the Champion of Champions still.

When an initial qualifying schedule was announced in December, the World Seniors Championship was not included, but in that announcement it did state that ‘the qualifying schedule is subject to change including the addition of new events.’

There have been other chances, with the Saudi Arabia Masters dropping off the calendar and the China Open returning. The Xi’an Grand Prix has also become the Shenzhen Open since the original schedule was confirmed.

The World Seniors champion has not always made the cut for the Champion of Champions, but has featured every year since 2019.

Champion of Champions Qualification Events

Champions of Champions 2025: Mark Selby
World Championship 2026: Wu Yize
UK Championship 2025: Mark Selby
The Masters 2026: Kyren Wilson
China Open 2026: Mark Selby
167 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong

World Grand Prix 2026: Zhao Xintong
Players Championship 2026: Zhao Xintong
Tour Championship 2026: Zhao Xintong
German Masters 2026: Judd Trump

International Championship 2025: Wu Yize
World Open 2026: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Wuhan Open 2026: Chang Bingyu
Shenzhen Open 2026: ?

Northern Ireland Open: ?
Welsh Open 2026: Barry Hawkins
English Open 2026: Ali Carter
Scottish Open 2025: Chris Wakelin
British Open 2026: Jak Jones
Championship League Snooker Ranking 2026: Jak Jones

Women’s World Championship 2026: Panchaya Channoi
Shoot Out 2025: Alfie Burden
World Championship Runner-Up 2026: Shaun Murphy

Shanghai Masters 2026: Judd Trump (England)
Championship League Snooker Invitational 2026: Mark Selby (England)
World Seniors Championship 2026: Ronnie O’Sullivan (England)
Highest Ranked Player Not Yet Qualified on 26 October 2026

There is every chance that the events in Shenzhen and Belfast are won by players who have already qualified, handing the Rocket the chance to go to Leicester.

However, there is also every chance that if that happens he chooses not to play in the Champion of Champions anyway.

If that is the case then the highest ranked player who has not yet qualified would get the nod, with Neil Robertson the likely recipient of an invite in that case.

The Shenzhen Open runs from September 28 – October 4 and the Northern Ireland Open from October 18-25, before the Champion of Champions on November 9-15.

MORE: Ali Carter reveals how Ronnie O’Sullivan feud began and got more bitter

MORE: WPBSA chairman admits concerns as players complain about World Snooker Tour events

MORE: WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson speaks out on Mark Allen absence