Higgins finalizes Tour Championship spots, setting up revenge clashes

Posted : 20 March 2025

The 12-player Tour Championship is set to feature several potential rematches from the recent Players Championship, adding an exciting layer to the final ranking event of the 2024/25 season. Defending champion Mark Williams will begin his title defense against Ding Junhui, just days after defeating the former UK Champion, Mark Selby, 6-2. Meanwhile, Selby will face Si Jiahui, and Shaun Murphy may meet Barry Hawkins again, setting up a string of rematches in the prestigious tournament.

The line-up for the £500,000 Tour Championship, the last ranking event before the World Championship, was finalized in dramatic fashion on Wednesday afternoon. John Higgins secured his spot after a thrilling 6-5 victory over Chris Wakelin, who had been trailing 3-1. This victory ended Wakelin's hopes of entering the elite tournament through the one-year ranking list.

A few other players, including Stuart Bingham and Lei Peifan, were also in the mix for qualification but suffered key defeats earlier in the week. Bingham lost 6-4 to Neil Robertson, and Lei Peifan was defeated 6-2 by world No. 1, Judd Trump. These results left the final standings confirmed, with Wu Yize claiming the 12th and final spot after a narrow 6-5 loss to Xiao Guodong in the last 16.

The top three spots for the Tour Championship are currently held by Trump, Kyren Wilson, and Neil Robertson, while John Higgins is set to enter as the fourth seed. This seeding ensures that these top four players will avoid playing an extra match in the early rounds. The other seeded players from five to eight include Xiao Guodong, Mark Selby, Mark Williams, and Shaun Murphy.

In the first round of the Tour Championship, the tournament could set up several rematches. Xiao might face Wu Yize again, Selby could take on Si Jiahui, Williams is scheduled to meet Ding Junhui, and Murphy may face Barry Hawkins. These potential matchups are sure to create thrilling contests, especially given the recent history of these players’ encounters.

The dynamics of the draw may still shift with the conclusion of the Players Championship, where the winner will claim a £150,000 prize. However, the prospect of multiple revenge matches adds an intriguing element to the upcoming tournament. In the Players Championship, Selby defeated Si Jiahui 6-3, Williams beat Ding Junhui 6-2, and Murphy triumphed over Hawkins 6-4.

In addition, Murphy and Hawkins had another recent encounter at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, with Murphy winning 4-1 in the last 16. Hawkins had previously beaten Murphy 6-2 in the UK Championship. With the Tour Championship's best-of-19 frame format, these early matchups will serve as excellent preparation for the lengthy World Championship challenge, which starts in Sheffield on April 19 and runs through May 5.

Higgins finalizes Tour Championship spots, setting up revenge clashes

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics