2018 Championship League

The 2018 Championship League was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament taking place from 2 January to 29 March 2018. It was the 11th staging of the tournament.

The defending champion John Higgins retained his title with a 3–2 final win over Zhou Yuelong. As in the previous edition of the tournament Higgins had entered the competition in Group 7 and from there won his way through to the Winners' Group.

Martin Gould and Luca Brecel both made their maiden official maximum breaks in this tournament. Gould achieved his maximum in the deciding frame of his Group 6 round robin match against Li Hang. Brecel achieved his in the third frame of a 3–0 whitewash of defending champion John Higgins in their Group 7 round robin match. These were the 135th and 136th official maximum breaks and the fourth and fifth of the 2017/2018 season. It was the fifth consecutive year that a maximum was made in the Championship League, and the second consecutive year that two were made.

Prize fund
The breakdown of prize money for the 2018 Championship League is shown below.


 * Group 1–7
 * Winner: £3,000
 * Runner-up: £2,000
 * Semi-final: £1,000
 * Frame-win (league stage): £100
 * Frame-win (play-offs): £300
 * Highest break: £500
 * Winners' Group
 * Winner: £10,000
 * Runner-up: £5,000
 * Semi-final: £3,000
 * Frame-win (league stage): £200
 * Frame-win (play-offs): £300
 * Highest break: £1,000


 * Tournament total: £178,900

Group 1
Group 1 was played on 2 and 3 January 2018. Zhou Yuelong was the first player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

 * Kyren Wilson 3–1 Stephen Maguire
 * Ryan Day 1–3 Zhou Yuelong
 * Anthony Hamilton 3–1 Kyren Wilson
 * Mark King 2–3 Michael Holt
 * Stephen Maguire 3–1 Ryan Day
 * Zhou Yuelong 3–2 Mark King
 * Michael Holt 1–3 Anthony Hamilton
 * Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ryan Day
 * Stephen Maguire 3–2 Zhou Yuelong
 * Mark King 3–2 Anthony Hamilton
 * Michael Holt 1–3 Zhou Yuelong
 * Ryan Day 3–1 Anthony Hamilton
 * Kyren Wilson 3–1 Michael Holt
 * Stephen Maguire 3–2 Mark King
 * Ryan Day 1–3 Michael Holt
 * Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Anthony Hamilton
 * Kyren Wilson 0–3 Mark King
 * Stephen Maguire 2–3 Anthony Hamilton
 * Ryan Day 3–2 Mark King
 * Stephen Maguire 3–1 Michael Holt
 * Kyren Wilson 3–0 Zhou Yuelong

Group 2
Group 2 was played on 4 and 5 January 2018. Mark Selby was the second player to qualify for the Winners' Group, recording his 500th career century in the Group 2 final against Barry Hawkins.

Matches

 * Mark Selby 3–1* Neil Robertson
 * Barry Hawkins 3–2 Kyren Wilson
 * Stephen Maguire 1–3 Mark Selby
 * Ryan Day 3–0 Anthony Hamilton
 * Neil Robertson 3–2* Barry Hawkins
 * Kyren Wilson 1–3 Ryan Day
 * Anthony Hamilton 3–0 Stephen Maguire
 * Mark Selby 2–3 Barry Hawkins
 * Neil Robertson 3–2* Kyren Wilson
 * Ryan Day 1–3 Stephen Maguire
 * Anthony Hamilton 1–3 Kyren Wilson
 * Barry Hawkins 3–0 Stephen Maguire
 * Mark Selby 2–3 Anthony Hamilton
 * Neil Robertson 3–0* Ryan Day
 * Barry Hawkins 3–1 Anthony Hamilton
 * Kyren Wilson 3–0 Stephen Maguire
 * Mark Selby 2–3 Ryan Day
 * Neil Robertson 2–3* Stephen Maguire
 * Barry Hawkins 3–1 Ryan Day
 * Neil Robertson w/d–w/o* Anthony Hamilton
 * Mark Selby 3–0 Kyren Wilson

* Neil Robertson had to pull out of the Championship League for personal reasons after his fifth match. Results from Robertson's previous matches were removed from the group table.
 * Note

Group 3
Group 3 was played on 8 and 9 January 2018. Kyren Wilson was the third player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

 * Tom Ford 1–3 Mark Allen
 * Ali Carter 3–2 Anthony Hamilton
 * Kyren Wilson 3–2 Tom Ford
 * Ryan Day 3–2 Barry Hawkins
 * Mark Allen 3–0 Ali Carter
 * Anthony Hamilton 3–1 Ryan Day
 * Barry Hawkins 3–0 Kyren Wilson
 * Tom Ford 0–3 Ali Carter
 * Mark Allen 2–3 Anthony Hamilton
 * Ryan Day 2–3 Kyren Wilson
 * Barry Hawkins 3–2 Anthony Hamilton
 * Ali Carter 2–3 Kyren Wilson
 * Tom Ford 3–0 Barry Hawkins
 * Mark Allen 3–0 Ryan Day
 * Ali Carter 0–3 Barry Hawkins
 * Anthony Hamilton 1–3 Kyren Wilson
 * Tom Ford 3–1 Ryan Day
 * Mark Allen 3–1 Kyren Wilson
 * Ali Carter 3–2 Ryan Day
 * Mark Allen 1–3 Barry Hawkins
 * Tom Ford 3–1 Anthony Hamilton

Anthony McGill withdrew before the tournament and was replaced by Tom Ford.
 * Note

Group 4
Group 4 was played on 10 and 11 January 2018. Ali Carter was the fourth player to qualify for the Winners' Group. On the first day, Judd Trump made his 500th career century in his match against Liang Wenbo.

Matches

 * Shaun Murphy 3–1 Liang Wenbo
 * Judd Trump 3–0 Ali Carter
 * Tom Ford 2–3 Shaun Murphy
 * Barry Hawkins 3–1* Mark Allen
 * Liang Wenbo 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Ali Carter 0–3 Barry Hawkins
 * Mark Allen w/d–w/o* Tom Ford
 * Shaun Murphy 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Liang Wenbo 3–2 Ali Carter
 * Barry Hawkins 3–1 Tom Ford
 * Mark Allen w/d–w/o* Ali Carter
 * Judd Trump 3–1 Tom Ford
 * Shaun Murphy w/o–w/d* Mark Allen
 * Liang Wenbo 3–1 Barry Hawkins
 * Judd Trump w/o–w/d* Mark Allen
 * Ali Carter 3–0 Tom Ford
 * Shaun Murphy 2–3 Barry Hawkins
 * Liang Wenbo 0–3 Tom Ford
 * Judd Trump 1–3 Barry Hawkins
 * Liang Wenbo w/o–w/d* Mark Allen
 * Shaun Murphy 1–3 Ali Carter

* Mark Allen had to withdraw due to family reasons prior to his second match in the group. The result from Allen's first match in the group was removed from the group table.
 * Note

Group 5
Group 5 was played on 23 and 24 January 2018. Mark Williams was the fifth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

 * Martin Gould 3–1 Ricky Walden
 * Mark Williams 1–3 Ben Woollaston
 * Judd Trump 3–1 Martin Gould
 * Joe Perry 1–3 David Gilbert
 * Ricky Walden 1–3 Mark Williams
 * Ben Woollaston 1–3 Joe Perry
 * David Gilbert 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Martin Gould 1–3 Mark Williams
 * Ricky Walden 3–2 Ben Woollaston
 * Joe Perry 1–3 Judd Trump
 * David Gilbert 1–3 Ben Woollaston
 * Mark Williams 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Martin Gould 3–1 David Gilbert
 * Ricky Walden 2–3 Joe Perry
 * Mark Williams 3–0 David Gilbert
 * Ben Woollaston 3–2 Judd Trump
 * Martin Gould 3–1 Joe Perry
 * Ricky Walden 3–2 Judd Trump
 * Mark Williams 3–0 Joe Perry
 * Ricky Walden 3–0 David Gilbert
 * Martin Gould 1–3 Ben Woollaston

Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy and Liang Wenbo withdrew from the tournament and were replaced by Joe Perry, David Gilbert and Ben Woollaston.
 * Note

Group 6
Group 6 was played on 25 and 26 January 2018. Martin Gould was the sixth player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

 * Li Hang 3–0 Michael White
 * Graeme Dott 3–1 Martin Gould
 * Judd Trump 0–3 Li Hang
 * Ben Woollaston 1–3 Ricky Walden
 * Michael White 2–3 Graeme Dott
 * Martin Gould 3–0 Ben Woollaston
 * Ricky Walden 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Li Hang 3–2 Graeme Dott
 * Michael White 1–3 Martin Gould
 * Ben Woollaston 1–3 Judd Trump
 * Ricky Walden 0–3 Martin Gould
 * Graeme Dott 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Li Hang 2–3 Ricky Walden
 * Michael White 3–0 Ben Woollaston
 * Graeme Dott 2–3 Ricky Walden
 * Martin Gould 3–2 Judd Trump
 * Li Hang 1–3 Ben Woollaston
 * Michael White 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Graeme Dott 3–2 Ben Woollaston
 * Michael White 2–3 Ricky Walden
 * Li Hang 2–3 Martin Gould

Group 7
Group 7 was played on 26 and 27 March 2018. John Higgins was the seventh player to qualify for the Winners' Group.

Matches

 * John Higgins 0–3 Luca Brecel
 * Robert Milkins 1–3 Dominic Dale
 * Ricky Walden 2–3 John Higgins
 * Jimmy Robertson 0–3 Judd Trump
 * Luca Brecel 1–3 Robert Milkins
 * Dominic Dale 1–3 Jimmy Robertson
 * Judd Trump 3–1 Ricky Walden
 * John Higgins 3–1 Robert Milkins
 * Luca Brecel 0–3 Dominic Dale
 * Jimmy Robertson 3–0 Ricky Walden
 * Judd Trump 3–2 Dominic Dale
 * Robert Milkins 1–3 Ricky Walden
 * John Higgins 3–1 Judd Trump
 * Luca Brecel 2–3 Jimmy Robertson
 * Robert Milkins 1–3 Judd Trump
 * Dominic Dale 2–3 Ricky Walden
 * John Higgins 2–3 Jimmy Robertson
 * Luca Brecel 0–3 Ricky Walden
 * Robert Milkins 1–3 Jimmy Robertson
 * Luca Brecel 1–3 Judd Trump
 * John Higgins 3–0 Dominic Dale

Graeme Dott and Li Hang withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 7 play. They were replaced by Dominic Dale and Jimmy Robertson.
 * Notes

Winners' Group
The Winners' Group was played on 28 and 29 March 2018. In the final, John Higgins defeated Zhou Yuelong 3–2 to retain his Championship League title and win it for the second time in his career.

Matches

 * Zhou Yuelong 3*–2 Mark Selby
 * Kyren Wilson 3–1 Ali Carter
 * Mark Williams 3–2 Zhou Yuelong
 * Martin Gould 0–3 John Higgins
 * Mark Selby 3–1 Kyren Wilson
 * Ali Carter 3–0 Martin Gould
 * John Higgins 3–2 Mark Williams
 * Zhou Yuelong 3–1 Kyren Wilson
 * Mark Selby 1–3 Ali Carter
 * Martin Gould 3–1 Mark Williams
 * John Higgins 2–3 Ali Carter
 * Kyren Wilson 3–1 Mark Williams
 * Zhou Yuelong 2–3 John Higgins
 * Mark Selby 3–0 Martin Gould
 * Kyren Wilson 1–3 John Higgins
 * Ali Carter 3–2 Mark Williams
 * Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Martin Gould
 * Mark Selby 3–0 Mark Williams
 * Kyren Wilson 3–2 Martin Gould
 * Mark Selby 0–3 John Higgins
 * Zhou Yuelong 2–3 Ali Carter

* Zhou Yuelong was awarded the first frame, due to Mark Selby arriving late.
 * Notes

Century breaks
Total: 116


 * 147 (6), 140, 108, 106, 102, 101, 101 – Martin Gould
 * 147 (7), 109 – Luca Brecel
 * 146, 138, 137, 121, 113, 105, 103 – John Higgins
 * 145 (1), 122, 100 – Ryan Day
 * 144 (5), 136, 133, 123, 111, 104, 100 – Mark Williams
 * 143, 103, 102 – Li Hang
 * 141 (W), 131, 122, 111, 110, 105, 100 – Zhou Yuelong
 * 140, 137, 134, 125, 124, 120, 120, 118, 110, 109, 108, 104, 103, 100, 100, 100 – Judd Trump
 * 140, 137, 131, 129, 104 – Ricky Walden
 * 140 (4), 115 – Liang Wenbo
 * 139 – Tom Ford
 * 139 – Michael Holt
 * 138, 129, 122, 114, 104, 103, 101, 101 – Barry Hawkins
 * 137 (3), 137, 131, 129, 105 – Kyren Wilson
 * 136 – Graeme Dott
 * 134, 125, 116, 107, 103, 101, 101 – Ali Carter
 * 134 (2), 116, 110 – Neil Robertson
 * 134, 116 – Mark King
 * 132, 128, 112, 111, 104, 103, 103, 101, 101 – Mark Selby
 * 125, 124, 102 – Mark Allen
 * 122, 121, 113, 101 – Jimmy Robertson
 * 120, 106, 103, 102, 101 – Ben Woollaston
 * 118, 103 – Anthony Hamilton
 * 115, 104 – Stephen Maguire
 * 113, 111, 100 – Michael White
 * 104 – Shaun Murphy

Bold: highest break in the indicated group.

Winnings
''Green: Won the group. Bold: Highest break in the group. All prize money in GBP.'' Notes (1) Neil Robertson withdrew for personal reasons after his fifth match in Group 2. (2) Mark Allen withdrew due to family reasons after his first match in Group 4. (3) Barry Hawkins, Shaun Murphy and Liang Wenbo withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 5 play. (4) Graeme Dott and Li Hang withdrew from the tournament prior to Group 7 play.