The Championship League snooker tournament begins today at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, but the sport's biggest names will be absent from the month-long ranking event - including Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The Rocket, who famously destroyed his cue at the invitational version of the tournament in January, has opted out alongside the rest of the world's top eight players just days after marrying Laila Rouass.
Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson have all chosen to skip the event, too.
The tournament runs rom June 30 until July 23, with world No 9 Barry Hawkins leading the field as the highest-ranked participant in a notably depleted line-up.
The Championship League snooker tournament begins today at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, but the sport's biggest names will be absent from the month-long ranking event - including Ronnie O'Sullivan
PA/INSTAGRAM
Hawkins will compete in Group 1 today, facing John Astley, Haris Tahir and Haydon Pinhey. The two-time World Championship finalist leads a field that includes several other top-16 players.
Defending champion Ali Carter, who defeated Jackson Page 3-1 in last year's final, will begin his title defence on 7 July. He faces Huang Jiahao, Jack Bradford and Liam Davies in Group 6.
Masters champion Shaun Murphy has confirmed his participation and will compete in Group 3 tomorrow against Alfie Burden, Robbie McGuigan and Bulcsu Revesz. Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui and Chris Wakelin are among the other top-16 players taking part in the tournament.
The tournament features a complex format beginning with 32 groups of four players. Winners from each group advance to eight groups of four, before two final groups determine the finalists on 23 July.
The champion will receive £33,000 and secure a place at the prestigious Champion of Champions event in Leicester this November.
Today's action starts at midday with Stephen Maguire facing James Cahill in Group 15, which also includes Michael Holt and Liam Graham.
READ MORE:Jannik Sinner, 23, explains sudden split ahead of Wimbledon 2025
Group 26 features Lyu Haotian, Jamie Jones, Hanyang Zhao and Yao Pengcheng. The absence of the world's elite players, including recent world champion Zhao Xintong who defeated Mark Williams 18-12 in the final, creates opportunities for lower-ranked competitors.
Six-time world finalist Jimmy White is among the notable participants, having qualified for the Wuhan Open in August after defeating Anthony McGill 5-2 earlier this week.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
White faces Jackson Page, Jordan Brown and Liu Wenwei in Group 24 on 15 July.
O'Sullivan's absence follows his four-month break from snooker that ended at April's World Championship, where he reached the semi-finals before losing 17-7 to eventual winner Zhao.
Jimmy White will be playing at the Championship League this week
PA
The seven-time world champion is expected to return at next month's Shanghai Masters, beginning his campaign for a sixth title at the invitational event on 30 July against either Hawkins or Wu Yize.
After marrying Laila, O'Sullivan said: "We finally made it official!! Mr & Mrs O’Sullivan."
Most Read
