Ronnie O'Sullivan has secured an invitation to the 2026 Champion of Champions snooker tournament.
The pathway opened after Wu Yize won the Shenzhen Open, freeing a qualification spot further down the criteria list.
Wu, 22, had already qualified through earlier victories at the 2025 International Championship and the 2026 World Championship.
His latest title allowed officials to extend invitations to winners of added events lower on the priority hierarchy.
O'Sullivan's route emerged after the World Seniors Championship was added to the entry criteria last month.
The 50-year-old former world number one won the seniors title for the first time in May, giving him a late lifeline.
Organizers needed at least one repeat tournament winner at either the Shenzhen Open or the upcoming Northern Ireland Open to free up additional places.
The 2026 International Championship takes place before the event but does not count toward qualification.
O'Sullivan holds the record as a four-time Champion of Champions winner, with titles in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
He had previously remained outside the qualified field.
It remains unconfirmed whether he will accept the bid. He previously withdrew from the tournament in 2015 and 2023 as defending champion.
Tournament Details and Field
The 2026 Champion of Champions will take place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from November 9 to 15.
The winner's prize is £150,000.
Mark Selby enters as defending champion after defeating Judd Trump 10-5 in the 2025 final.
The lineup features Trump, world champion Wu Yize, world number one Zhao Xintong, and Masters winner Kyren Wilson.
Top 16 players Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, and Chris Wakelin are also set to participate. Murphy qualified as Crucible runner-up despite going winless over the last 12 months.
Chang Bingyu makes his tournament debut following his Wuhan Open victory. Jak Jones, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, and Alfie Burden return for their second appearances.
Thailand's Panchaya Channoi will debut via her World Women's Championship title. Ali Carter secured his spot by winning the English Open.
The final entry ticket rests on the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.
If another repeat winner emerges, the remaining spot will go to the highest-ranked unqualified player, currently two-time champion Neil Robertson.
Former tournament champions John Higgins and Mark Williams have also yet to qualify.
