The 2022 Championship League was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place from 28 June to 29 July 2022 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 19th edition of the Championship League and the first ranking tournament of the 2022–23 snooker season.
David Gilbert was the defending champion, having defeated Mark Allen 3–1 in the final of the previous ranking edition of the tournament. However, he was knocked out during the second group stage of this edition.
Luca Brecel won the tournament, defeating Lu Ning 3–1 to win his third ranking title and second Championship League title.
Tournament format The 2022 Championship League took place from 28 June to 29 July 2022 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, from 28 June to 1 July, from 4 to 7 July, from 11 to 14 July, and from 18 to 21 July 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 2022 Champion of Champions.
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 28 June Group 13 28 June Group 24 29 June Group 4 29 June Group 31 30 June Group 6 30 June Group 26 1 July Group 10 1 July Group 29 Date Group 4 July Group 1 4 July Group 27 5 July Group 15 5 July Group 32 6 July Group 9 6 July Group 30 7 July Group 3 7 July Group 23 Date Group 11 July Group 5 11 July Group 28 12 July Group 21 12 July Group 22 13 July Group 18 13 July Group 20 14 July Group 17 14 July Group 25 Date Group 18 July Group 11 18 July Group 14 19 July Group 2 19 July Group 7 20 July Group 16 20 July Group 19 21 July Group 8 21 July Group 12
Group 1 Group 1 was played on 4 July.
Matches
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–0 Farakh Ajaib Alexander Ursenbacher 3–1 Alfie Burden Alexander Ursenbacher 3–1 Farakh Ajaib Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–1 Alfie Burden Alfie Burden 2–2 Farakh Ajaib Ronnie O'Sullivan 3–1 Alexander Ursenbacher
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 121 9 2 3 2 0 1 7 5 +2 105 6 3 3 0 1 2 4 8 −4 79 1 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 79 1
Group 2 Group 2 was played on 19 July.
Matches
Judd Trump 2–2 Peng Yisong Jamie Clarke 3–0 Sean O'Sullivan Jamie Clarke 2–2 Peng Yisong Judd Trump 3–1 Sean O'Sullivan Sean O'Sullivan 3–1 Peng Yisong Judd Trump 2–2 Jamie Clarke
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 62 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 76 5 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 65 3 4 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 133 2
Group 3 Group 3 was played on 7 July.
Matches
Mark Selby 3–1 James Cahill Ben Woollaston 3–0 Zhang Jiankang Ben Woollaston 3–0 James Cahill Mark Selby 3–0 Zhang Jiankang Zhang Jiankang 1–3 James Cahill Mark Selby 1–3 Ben Woollaston
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 127 9 2 3 2 0 1 7 4 +3 113 6 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 70 3 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Group 4 Group 4 was played on 29 June.
Matches
Zhao Xintong 3–1 Michael Holt Hammad Miah 2–2 Adam Duffy Hammad Miah 3–1 Michael Holt Zhao Xintong 3–0 Adam Duffy Adam Duffy 1–3 Michael Holt Zhao Xintong 3–0 Hammad Miah
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 1 +8 105 9 2 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 57 4 3 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 75 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 1
Group 5 Group 5 was played on 11 July.
Matches
Mark Williams 3–1 Rory McLeod Li Hang 3–1 Andrew Pagett Li Hang 2–2 Rory McLeod Mark Williams 3–0 Andrew Pagett Andrew Pagett 3–0 Rory McLeod Mark Williams 3–1 Li Hang
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 140 9 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 111 4 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 94 3 4 3 0 1 2 4 8 −4 56 1
Group 6 Group 6 was played on 30 June.
Matches
Kyren Wilson 2–2 Luke Simmonds Zhang Anda 2–2 Michael Judge Zhang Anda 2–2 Luke Simmonds Kyren Wilson 2–2 Michael Judge Michael Judge 3–1 Luke Simmonds Kyren Wilson 2–2 Zhang Anda
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 77 5 2 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 98 3 3 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 66 3 4 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 65 2
Group 7 Group 7 was played on 19 July.
Matches
Shaun Murphy 2–2 Ben Mertens Liam Highfield 1–3 Xu Si Liam Highfield 1–3 Ben Mertens Shaun Murphy 3–0 Xu Si Xu Si 1–3 Ben Mertens Shaun Murphy 3–0 Liam Highfield
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 144 7 2 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 117 7 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 61 3 4 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 70 0
Group 8 Group 8 was played on 21 July.
Matches
Jack Lisowski 2–2 Julien Leclercq Mark Joyce 0–3 Michael White Mark Joyce 3–1 Julien Leclercq Jack Lisowski 3–1 Michael White Michael White 3–0 Julien Leclercq Jack Lisowski 1–3 Mark Joyce
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 107 6 2 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 65 6 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 70 4 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 92 1
Group 9 Group 9 was played on 6 July.
Matches
Barry Hawkins 3–1 Ken Doherty Yuan Sijun 3–0 Lei Peifan Yuan Sijun 3–0 Ken Doherty Barry Hawkins 3–0 Lei Peifan Lei Peifan 2–2 Ken Doherty Barry Hawkins 0–3 Yuan Sijun
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 0 +9 95 9 2 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 105 6 3 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 52 1 4 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 56 1
Group 10 Group 10 was played on 1 July.
Matches
Luca Brecel 3–0 Zhao Jianbo Robbie Williams 2–2 Oliver Brown Robbie Williams 3–1 Zhao Jianbo Luca Brecel 3–1 Oliver Brown Oliver Brown 0–3 Zhao Jianbo Luca Brecel 2–2 Robbie Williams
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 98 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 70 5 3 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 90 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 1
Group 11 Group 11 was played on 18 July.
Matches
Stuart Bingham 0–3 Peter Devlin Cao Yupeng 2–2 Peter Lines Cao Yupeng 2–2 Peter Devlin Stuart Bingham 3–0 Peter Lines Peter Lines 2–2 Peter Devlin Stuart Bingham 3–1 Cao Yupeng
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 69 6 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 61 5 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 104 2 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 72 2
Group 12 Group 12 was played on 21 July.
Matches
Mark Allen 3–0 Himanshu Jain Stuart Carrington 2–2 Jenson Kendrick Stuart Carrington 0–3 Himanshu Jain Mark Allen 3–1 Jenson Kendrick Jenson Kendrick 2–2 Himanshu Jain Mark Allen 3–1 Stuart Carrington
Table Player 1 3 3 0 0 9 2 +7 142 9 2 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 64 4 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 62 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 67 1
Group 13 Group 13 was played on 28 June.
Matches
David Grace 2–2 Ben Hancorn Craig Steadman 0–3 Aaron Hill Craig Steadman 2–2 Ben Hancorn David Grace 2–2 Aaron Hill Aaron Hill 2–2 Ben Hancorn David Grace 3–1 Craig Steadman
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 101 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 75 5 3 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 88 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 55 1
Group 14 Group 14 was played on 18 July.
Matches
Hossein Vafaei 3–0 Ryan Thomerson Tian Pengfei 3–0 Ng On-yee Tian Pengfei 3–1 Ryan Thomerson Hossein Vafaei 3–0 Ng On-yee Ng On-yee 1–3 Ryan Thomerson Hossein Vafaei 2–2 Tian Pengfei
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 70 7 2 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 103 7 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 99 3 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 94 0
Group 15 Group 15 was played on 5 July.
Matches
Ricky Walden 3–1 Andy Lee Jackson Page 1–3 Gerard Greene Jackson Page 3–1 Andy Lee Ricky Walden 2–2 Gerard Greene Gerard Greene 1–3 Andy Lee Ricky Walden 3–1 Jackson Page
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 106 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 65 4 3 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 130 3 4 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 125 3
Group 16 Group 16 was played on 20 July.
Matches
David Gilbert 3–0 Florian Nüßle Joe O'Connor 3–1 Zak Surety Joe O'Connor 1–3 Florian Nüßle David Gilbert 3–0 Zak Surety Zak Surety 0–3 Florian Nüßle David Gilbert 2–2 Joe O'Connor
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 100 7 2 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 61 6 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 111 4 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 55 0
Group 17 Group 17 was played on 14 July.
Matches
Ali Carter 3–0 Robbie McGuigan Wu Yize 3–1 Louis Heathcote Wu Yize 2–2 Robbie McGuigan Ali Carter 3–0 Louis Heathcote Louis Heathcote 2–2 Robbie McGuigan Ali Carter 2–2 Wu Yize
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 70 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 120 5 3 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 88 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 113 1
Group 18 Group 18 was played on 13 July.
Matches
Matthew Selt 2–2 Daniel Wells Dominic Dale 3–1 Duane Jones Dominic Dale 1–3 Daniel Wells Matthew Selt 2–2 Duane Jones Duane Jones 0–3 Daniel Wells Matthew Selt 2–2 Dominic Dale
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 80 7 2 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 88 4 3 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 141 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 80 1
Group 19 Group 19 was played on 20 July.
Matches
Jordan Brown 2–2 Ross Muir Mark Davis 2–2 Ross Muir Jordan Brown 3–1 Mark Davis Jordan Brown 3–0 Ross Muir Mark Davis 3–1 Ross Muir Jordan Brown 3–1 Mark Davis
Table Player 1 4 3 1 0 11 4 +7 115 10 2 4 1 1 2 7 9 −2 104 4 3 4 0 2 2 5 10 −5 94 2
Jimmy White withdrew from the group due to travel issues.
Group 20 Group 20 was played on 13 July.
Matches
Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Fergal O'Brien Mark King 0–3 Chang Bingyu Mark King 3–1 Fergal O'Brien Zhou Yuelong 3–0 Chang Bingyu Chang Bingyu 3–0 Fergal O'Brien Zhou Yuelong 2–2 Mark King
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 108 6 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 135 5 3 3 1 1 1 5 6 −1 58 4 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 59 1
Group 21 Group 21 was played on 12 July.
Matches
Stephen Maguire 2–2 Si Jiahui Matthew Stevens 2–2 Mitchell Mann Matthew Stevens 1–3 Si Jiahui Stephen Maguire 2–2 Mitchell Mann Mitchell Mann 2–2 Si Jiahui Stephen Maguire 3–0 Matthew Stevens
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 87 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 93 5 3 3 0 3 0 6 6 0 80 3 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 81 1
Group 22 Group 22 was played on 12 July.
Matches
Jimmy Robertson 3–0 Ian Martin Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 2–2 Marco Fu Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3–1 Ian Martin Jimmy Robertson 2–2 Marco Fu Marco Fu 0–3 Ian Martin Jimmy Robertson 2–2 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Table Player 1 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 133 5 2 3 1 2 0 7 5 +2 118 5 3 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3 4 3 0 2 1 4 7 −3 95 2
Group 23 Group 23 was played on 7 July.
Matches
Joe Perry 2–2 Andrew Higginson Elliot Slessor 3–1 Lukas Kleckers Elliot Slessor 2–2 Andrew Higginson Joe Perry 3–0 Lukas Kleckers Lukas Kleckers 0–3 Andrew Higginson Joe Perry 1–3 Elliot Slessor
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 79 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 95 5 3 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 117 4 4 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Group 24 Group 24 was played on 28 June.
Matches
Robert Milkins 3–0 Sanderson Lam Andy Hicks 3–1 Allan Taylor Andy Hicks 3–1 Sanderson Lam Robert Milkins 3–1 Allan Taylor Allan Taylor 1–3 Sanderson Lam Robert Milkins 2–2 Andy Hicks
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 78 7 2 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 93 7 3 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 100 3 4 3 0 0 3 3 9 −6 54 0
Group 25 Group 25 was played on 14 July.
Matches
Ryan Day 2–2 Dylan Emery Pang Junxu 3–1 Reanne Evans Pang Junxu 3–1 Dylan Emery Ryan Day 3–0 Reanne Evans Reanne Evans 2–2 Dylan Emery Ryan Day 2–2 Pang Junxu
Table Player 1 3 2 1 0 8 4 +4 137 7 2 3 1 2 0 7 4 +3 125 5 3 3 0 2 1 5 7 −2 103 2 4 3 0 1 2 3 8 −5 55 1
Group 26 Group 26 was played on 30 June.
Matches
Tom Ford 1–3 Anton Kazakov Chris Wakelin 3–1 Ian Burns Chris Wakelin 3–0 Anton Kazakov Tom Ford 2–2 Ian Burns Ian Burns 3–1 Anton Kazakov Tom Ford 3–0 Chris Wakelin
Table Player 1 3 2 0 1 6 4 +2 77 6 2 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 76 4 3 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 131 4 4 3 1 0 2 4 7 −3 57 3
Group 27 Group 27 was played on 4 July.
Matches
Jamie Jones 3–1 Andres Petrov