Champions Cup (Snooker)
The Champions Cup ( first: Charity Challenge ) was a ( charity ) Snooker tournament, which was played from 1995 to 2001.
History
As Charity Challenge, the tournament took place during the 1994/95 snooker season for the first time. It was the only professional snooker tournament in which the accumulated earnings were donated to charity. The field initially consisted of 16 players before it was reduced in 1996 to eight players. In 1997, Stephen Hendry in the final against Ronnie O'Sullivan a maximum break in the decision frame. It was the 19th overall maximum break of snooker history and so far the only one that has ever been achieved in a decision frame.
After five years, the tournament was renamed the Champions Cup in 1999. It now came the winners of major tournaments last season against each other. The prize money was the first tournament after the restructuring has now donated £ 175,000 and no more to charity. It has been completely paid out to the winner. At that time it was the second most lucrative tournament of the season. In the following years, the prize money was divided, however, back to the usual way on the participants.
The tournament was sponsored up to and including 1999 Liverpool Victoria and in 2000 by TVN. The last tournament in 2001 had no sponsor.