After 10 weeks of televised action, this Monday brings this year's 36Vegas Champions League to a close as four players battle for glory in front of the TNT Sports cameras.

The Cue Club once again plays host to a Monday Night Finals Night

The Key Information

Former UP No.1 Tom Cousins will take on Shaun Chipperfield in the first semi final, while teenage sensation Jaden Billingham faces off against a familiar foe: in-form Rob Wharne.

The semi finals will both be played over 2 20 minute sets, with each set being a race to 4. If the set clock reaches 0:00, the leader at the buzzer will take the set win, and the set will be halved if the scores are level.

If the scores are level at the end of both sets, a Six Red Shootout will determine who advances to the final. The final will be played to the same conditions and will begin immediately following the second semi final.

Action begins at the Cue Club, Leicester, from 6pm on Monday night, as the four players battle for the Champions League title and the £8,000 first prize.

Entry is free for spectators who are advised to arrive early to secure their seats.

📍The Cue Club - 53 Blaby Rd, South Wigston, LE18 4PA

The action is live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK, and is available in over 60 countries worldwide - overseas viewers are advised to check local listings. The show is also available on the Ultimate Pool YouTube channel to Ultimate LIVE Members.

Preview

Semi Final 1

'Top Cat' Tom Cousins, who qualified through 10 days ago as the Super 8s Group 1 winner, will be confident of adding another title to his record-breaking collection. With his recent era-defining stint of 1,295 days as No.1 coming to an end two weeks ago, he'll be determined to prove that Top Cat is still the top dog.

Tom denied he had a point to prove after losing the No.1 spot, but was "Over the moon" to play near perfect pool in the Super 8s

That ranking of No.2 however won't be changing on Monday. Whilst Tom can win the tournament, he will be unable to claim ranking points from it. Cousins was added into the televised stages of this competition as a lucky loser, having earlier been knocked out in qualifying by Ireland's Sean Walsh.

His opponent in the first semi final of the evening is Shaun Chipperfield, a man who he has enjoyed several battles with down the years. In their 5 previous meetings, Tom has had the better of the matches, winning 3 - including their only meeting in a final, in Pro Series 3 in 2024. They've previously played two semi finals against each other, winning one each - and both went on to lift the respective trophies in those tournaments. They haven't met on the UP circuit however in nearly 2 years.

A slightly different looking Tom and Shaun met in the Pro Series 3 Final in 2024

Shaun's win over Tom in the Pro Series 8 semi final in 2024 was the springboard to lifting his first Ultimate Pool title in Blackpool, adding a further Pro Series title in the summer of 2025. 'Chippy' has enjoyed an outstanding record on Monday Night Pool over the last 5 years, with his record in the Pairs Cup in particular second-to-none.

His record in the Champions League hasn't been what he'd have liked, after failing to make it out of the group stage in three of the four editions he's featured in. He has however been to a Finals Night before, as he was defeated in the semi final of 2023's tournament by eventual winner Craig Waddingham.

Chipperfield was in semi final action in Loughborough 2 weeks ago

Tom meanwhile has also has Champions League Finals Night experience, with two previous appearances - on both occasions defeated via Six Red Shootout in the semi final stage. First to Stevie Dempsey in 2022, then Declan Brennan in 2024, who both went on to lift the title.

Whoever comes through that clash will run into the winner of semi final two, which is just as exciting a contest and features two of the most in form players in the game right now.

Semi Final 2

19-year-old Jaden Billingham's star has been rising for a number of years as a standout junior, but his ascent this year into the upper echelons of the pro game has been remarkable. Reaching a final in four straight Pro Series weekends - winning 3 of them - has left fans running out of superlatives.

His form continued a week and a half ago as he qualified for a Monday night Finals Night for the first time. It was by no means a perfect performance from the Jewel, but what might be particularly frightening for his rivals is he is quickly finding ways to win even when he's not at his brilliant best.

Billingham was in relentless form in Loughborough 2 weeks ago, winning one event and running to the semi final of the other

He has history against his opponent on Monday as well - the pair have met in two high-profile money matches which have both been won by Billingham. Their record against each other on the UP circuit, however, is even. In four matches, Jaden was defeated in the first two but has got the better of Rob in their previous two encounters - on both occasions going on to lift the trophy.

For Rob Wharne, of those without a title to their name, he is the man knocking the loudest at the door of Ultimate Pool glory. He's been bang in form since the Taom Pro Cup in December, running to the last 8 of 5 of the last 10 tournaments. He's made it to the final of 2 of them, but was stopped in his tracks by Cole Bedford in the British Open and Ben Doyle in Pro Series 4. That's now 4 Ultimate Pool finals for Rob, and he'll be itching to clear that last hurdle on Monday.

'The Whacker' has been in relentless form this year, but still seeks his first Ultimate Pool title

For as good as his overall record is, Monday Nights have never been Rob's friend: indeed this year was the first time in 5 attempts he won his opening group. He did it in style too, knocking out two-time defending champion Declan Brennan in the process. His performance on Monday in the Super 8s was exemplary, sailing through with 3 wins out of 3, setting up a box office semi final clash.

The Ultimate Pool 36Vegas Champions League Finals Night is live from 6pm Monday night, with Steven Jamieson and Liam White hosting the action on TNT Sports 1 in the UK and available around the world in over 60 countries across various channels.

The 36Vegas Champions League is sponsored by 36Vegas - the market for Finals Night is available now on the 36Vegas platform.