The second edition of the Ultimate Pool Champions League starts this Monday night, with live television coverage from FreeSports throughout.

Won by Chris Melling when he defeated fellow all-time great Michael Hill in the final, the inaugural edition in 2021 was Ultimate Pool’s first televised event. This year’s offering is even bigger and better, with the field expanded to 64 players, the event receiving professional ranking status, and being played across 21 weeks. The winner will collect a major tv title and trophy, and a payday of £10,000.

FORMAT

Phase One (64 Players): 16 round robin groups of four players. Each match is the first to four frames, but with a 20-minute match-clock. If a player does not reach four frames before the time expires, the score stands as the result. Players receive two points for a win, one for a draw and no points for a loss.

At the end of all six fixtures, the top placed player will qualify for phase two. If there is a tie for top place, a 6-reds shootout will determine the winner.

Phase Two (16 Players): Four round robin groups of four players. Same format as phase one, except the group winner will qualify for Finals Night.

Phase Three (4 Players): Finals Night consisting of the four remaining players. There will be two knockout semi-finals followed by a final. All matches will be the best of two sets. A set is the first to four frames, but with a 20-minute match-clock. If a player does not reach four frames before the time expires, the score stands as the result.

At the end of each set, players receive one point for a win, half a point for a draw and no points for a loss.

If the score after the two sets are completed is tied; a 6-reds shootout will determine the winner.

The Golden Break and Golden Duck are both in operation throughout the Champions League.

PLAYERS & DRAW

The Ultimate Pool Professionals who were already in the main 64-player draw will be joined by qualifiers who emerged from qualifying events at the end of January.

The tournament kicks off on Monday 7th February with Ultimate Pool professional number one Shane Thompson in a group alongside fellow professionals Dylan Leary and Geo Edgar, and the highly-rated qualifier Marc Fleming.

Reigning champion Melling gets his title defence underway in Group 3 on Monday 21st February, whilst the 2021 runner-up Hill enters the fray in Group 6 on Monday 21st March.

The full draw and schedule can be viewed under the Live Scoring tab.

COVERAGE

Unless otherwise stated, action takes place every Monday from 6.30pm (1830GMT) and is live for viewers in the UK on FreeSports TV.

For those outside of the UK, there will be access to livestream coverage on ultimatepool.tv here.