Chris Wakelin beats Mark Selby 6-2 in Champion of Champions
Chris Wakelin secured a 6:2 victory over reigning champion Mark Selby on the opening day of the 2026 Champion of Champions in Leicester.
The win moves Wakelin into the first semifinal of his career at the invitation event, keeping him in contention for the £150,000 prize money. He earned his spot in the tournament by winning the Scottish Open late last year.
Wakelin capitalized on a weaker performance from his opponent. The English player quickly emphasized how much he owes to his former training partner, calling Selby one of the greatest players in the history of snooker.
“Mark and I have practiced together for a good seven or eight years,” Wakelin told ITV Sport. “I know exactly how good he is. He always has this stigma of playing negatively, but he is one of the best breakbuilders there ever was.
For true snooker purists, Mark Selby is probably the greatest of all time. I am infinitely grateful for the time he gave me back then when I was struggling. He was a good friend to me, a great practice partner, and a true mentor.”
Neither player reached the highest standard during the match. They combined for just three breaks of over 50 points, with Wakelin opening and closing the contest with solid runs of 54 and 56.
Mark Selby 1⃣-3⃣ Chris Wakelin The defending champion with work to do at the interval as Wakelin pinches the fourth frame on the black to establish a two-frame lead ⚫️ Watch Live 📺➡️ https://t.co/wi2M6QTAAj pic.twitter.com/5nxBACrfi1
“I’m obviously overjoyed with the win, but you can’t blame Mark tonight,” Wakelin said. “It was more because I wasn’t particularly good, but had a lot of luck. I only switched back to my old cue four days ago because my other one was bent on the journey to China.”
The adjustment proved difficult during safety shots and long balls. Wakelin noted that his timing required guesswork and the cue ball failed to travel as expected.
Mark Selby 2️⃣-5️⃣ Chris Wakelin moves to within a frame of victory and leaves the defending champion needing four in a row 😯 Watch Live 📺➡️ https://t.co/wi2M6QT2KL pic.twitter.com/jckLZLMn2h
Selby and Wakelin advanced to this stage by defeating Alfie Burden and Barry Hawkins respectively in the opening round. Wakelin, currently ranked 12th in the world, awaits the winner of group four.
Two-time champion Neil Robertson enters his match against Panchaya Channoi as a clear favorite. Channoi makes her tournament debut following her victory at the Women’s World Championship.
𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 👾 Chris Wakelin completes a dominant 6-2 victory over defending champion Mark Selby to book his place in Friday's Champion of Champions semi-finals 👏 pic.twitter.com/69BlWMe9jb
Judd Trump is favored by bookmakers to win the overall title. Trump opens against Jak Jones, who has claimed two ranking titles this season.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.
Mark Selby 2️⃣-4️⃣ Chris Wakelin A much-needed 70 clearance from The Jester sees him stop the rot and reduce the deficit 🃏 Watch Live 📺➡️ https://t.co/wi2M6QT2KL pic.twitter.com/dD95w53psk