Mark Selby will be one of the top stars looking to be crowned the Champion of Champions. Picture by Monique Limbos.

ANTICIPATION is building ahead of snooker’s new Champion of Champions event which will see the world’s top stars compete against other to win the main prize of £100,000.

The likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Neil Robertson Mark Selby, Ding Junhui and many more will do battle at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in a bid to take the first ever 888 Casino Champion of Champions tournament starting Tuesday, November 19.

The six-day tournament sees the 16 players split into four groups of four with one group played each day between Tuesday and Friday (November 19-22). Each group consists of two semi-finals played over seven frames and a final between the two semi-final winners played over eleven frames.  

Group 1: Ronnie O’SULLIVAN vs Mark DAVIS,  Ding JUNHUI vs Barry HAWKINS

Group 2: Mark SELBY vs Shaun MURPHY, John HIGGINS vs Stephen MAGUIRE

Group 3: Judd TRUMP vs Marco FU, Ricky WALDEN vs Stuart BINGHAM

Group 4: Neil ROBERTSON vs Mark ALLEN, Ali CARTER vs Martin GOULD

The four group winners will then proceed to the semi-finals on Saturday (November 23) with the two winners competing in the Sunday’s (November 24) grand final which will be played over two sessions in a best of 19 frames.

World number two Mark Selby, who comes from neighbouring Leicester, told the tournament’s official website he was looking forward to playing in the vent and competing against other top stars.

“It’s guaranteed to be an event that all the top players will be looking to win,” the reigning UK Championship and Masters winner said.

“All the top players are playing so it is a fantastic event to be involved and it’s going to be good for the fans too seeing all the top players in action.

“It’s going to be tough and I’m pretty pleased with my game at the moment so who knows.”

Live coverage of the event will be screened live on ITV 4.

For more information about the tournament or to buy tickets visit http://www.championofchampionssnooker.co.uk/.