Category: Snooker

Defending champion Shaun Murphy produced some peak form on Thursday to win Group 3 at the Championship League in Leicester.

The 2005 world champion dropped only one frame in completing victories over Steven Hallworth (3-0), Reanne Evans (3-1) and Tian Pengfei (3-0) to reach the last 32 of the season’s first ranking event at the Mattioli Arena.

Murphy ran in knocks of 61, 100 and 93 against Hallworth and 66, 75 and 72 in restricting Tian to only seven points in winning the section by three points ahead of Hallworth.

“I’m still chasing a few things in my career,” said Murphy. “To defend a tournament would be one. So first job done, and we’ll see what the next stage brings.”

Murphy returns to action on Friday when the second stage begins. He is in Group C alongside Long Zehuang, Jamie Jones and Hossein Vafaei.

Murphy was joined in the second group stage by Crucible semi-finalist David Gilbert, who produced a glorious 136 break in the final frame of the day to win Group 15 by the narrowest of margins.

In a section that saw all six matches finish 2-2, Gilbert edged out Xu Si’s 131 by five points having trailed the Chinese player 2-1 in a dramatic finale. He earlier drew with Andrew Pagett and Duane Jones, who also finished on three points.

Gilbert next faces Ashley Carty, He Guoqiang and Stuart Bingham in Group B on Friday.

Stage one consisted of 32 groups of four players. The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

• Group 21: Neil Robertson (AUS)
• Group 11: Ryan Day (WAL)
• Group 4: Mark Williams (WAL)
• Group 17: Chris Wakelin (ENG)
• Group 25: Matthew Stevens (WAL)
• Group 31: Ashley Carty (ENG)
• Group 23: Michael White (WAL)
• Group 22: Joe O’Connor (ENG)
• Group 10: Jackson Page (WAL)
• Group 32: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA)
• Group 30: Jamie Jones (WAL)
• Group 29: Ben Woollaston (ENG)
• Group 8: Jak Jones (WAL)
• Group 7: Robbie McGuigan (NI)
• Group 24: Martin O’Donnell (Eng)
• Group 28: Wu Yize (CHN)
• Group 26: Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)
• Group 27: David Lilley (ENG)
• Group 1: Scott Donaldson (SCO)
• Group 14: Hossein Vafaei (IRN)
• Group 18: Stuart Bingham (ENG)
• Group 13: Si Jiahui (CHN)
• Group 20: Stuart Carrington (ENG)
• Group 19: Long Zehuang (CHN)
• Group 6: Gary Wilson (ENG)
• Group 9: Ma Hailong (CHN)
• Group 2: He Guoqiang (CHN)
• Group 12: Jack Lisowski (ENG)
• Group 5: Ali Carter (ENG)
• Group 16: Fan Zhengyi (CHN)
• Group 3: Shaun Murphy (ENG)
• Group 15: David Gilbert (ENG)

Ali Carter won a Group 5 decider against Xing Zihao to book his spot in the last 32 of the Championship League, the season’s first ranking event.

After being held to a 2-2 draw against Joshua Thomond in Leicester, Carter displayed his trademark levels of grit in a 3-1 win over Kreishh Gurbaxani before defeating 19-year-old Xing 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Breaks of 87 and 73 saw Carter reach the last 32 of the competition as he finished a point ahead of Xing, who only needed a draw after earlier overcoming Kreishh (3-0) and Thomond (3-0).

But a timely snooker behind the black in the fourth frame prompted three misses from Xing before Carter slotted the match-winning pink to advance.

Former European Masters winner Fan Zhengyi also qualified for the next group stage with wins over Alfie Burden (3-0) and Zhou Yuelong (3-0) and a 2-2 draw with Mink Nutcharut in topping Group 16.

Fan produced breaks of 113 and 57 against Zhou to finish a point clear of Zhou.

Meanwhile, 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy begins his title defence at the Mattioli Arena on Thursday against Steven Hallworth, Reanne Evans and Tian Pengfei in Group 3, the final day of the first round.

Stage one consists of 32 groups of four players. The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

• Group 21: Neil Robertson (AUS)
• Group 11: Ryan Day (WAL)
• Group 4: Mark Williams (WAL)
• Group 17: Chris Wakelin (ENG)
• Group 25: Matthew Stevens (WAL)
• Group 31: Ashley Carty (ENG)
• Group 23: Michael White (WAL)
• Group 22: Joe O’Connor (ENG)
• Group 10: Jackson Page (WAL)
• Group 32: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA)
• Group 30: Jamie Jones (WAL)
• Group 29: Ben Woollaston (ENG)
• Group 8: Jak Jones (WAL)
• Group 7: Robbie McGuigan (NI)
• Group 24: Martin O’Donnell (Eng)
• Group 28: Wu Yize (CHN)
• Group 26: Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)
• Group 27: David Lilley (ENG)
• Group 1: Scott Donaldson (SCO)
• Group 14: Hossein Vafaei (IRN)
• Group 18: Stuart Bingham (ENG)
• Group 13: Si Jiahui (CHN)
• Group 20: Stuart Carrington (ENG)
• Group 19: Long Zehuang (CHN)
• Group 6: Gary Wilson (ENG)
• Group 9: Ma Hailong (CHN)
• Group 2: He Guoqiang (CHN)
• Group 12: Jack Lisowski (ENG)
• Group 5: Ali Carter (ENG)
• Group 16: Fan Zhengyi (CHN)

Ronnie O’Sullivan lost his Group 2 decider to He Guoqiang at the Championship League in Leicester on Tuesday to suffer an early exit at the season’s first ranking event.

The seven-time world champion produced breaks of 72 and two 53s in a 3-0 win over Kayden Brierley, but was held to a 2-2 draw by Mitchell Mann leaving him needing a win over He to secure his progress to the last 32.

But it was last season’s rookie of the year who held his nerve to produce breaks of 80, 57 and 77 in a 3-0 win at the Mattioli Arena that catapulted him top of Group 2. a point ahead of Mann and two clear of O’Sullivan.

Elsewhere, Jack Lisowski enjoyed a dominant performance in winning Group 12 as a run of 138 saw him defeat Anton Kazakov 3-0 before further knocks of 127 and 106 helped him dump Jiang Jun 3-1.

A 2-2 draw with Mark Davis in his final group outing was enough to see him end the day on seven points, two clear of Davis.

The action continues on Wednesday with Ali Carter, Zhou Yuelong, Fan Zhengyi and Mink Nutcharut chasing a spot in the last 32.

Stage one consists of 32 groups of four players. The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

• Group 21: Neil Robertson (AUS)
• Group 11: Ryan Day (WAL)
• Group 4: Mark Williams (WAL)
• Group 17: Chris Wakelin (ENG)
• Group 25: Matthew Stevens (WAL)
• Group 31: Ashley Carty (ENG)
• Group 23: Michael White (WAL)
• Group 22: Joe O’Connor (ENG)
• Group 10: Jackson Page (WAL)
• Group 32: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA)
• Group 30: Jamie Jones (WAL)
• Group 29: Ben Woollaston (ENG)
• Group 8: Jak Jones (WAL)
• Group 7: Robbie McGuigan (NI)
• Group 24: Martin O’Donnell (Eng)
• Group 28: Wu Yize (CHN)
• Group 26: Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)
• Group 27: David Lilley (ENG)
• Group 1: Scott Donaldson (SCO)
• Group 14: Hossein Vafaei (IRN)
• Group 18: Stuart Bingham (ENG)
• Group 13: Si Jiahui (CHN)
• Group 20: Stuart Carrington (ENG)
• Group 19: Long Zehuang (CHN)
• Group 6: Gary Wilson (ENG)
• Group 9: Ma Hailong (CHN)
• Group 2: He Guoqiang (CHN)
• Group 12: Jack Lisowski (ENG)

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry has announced his retirement from snooker for a second time after rejecting the offer to continue completing on the main tour via a two-year invitational card.

But he has failed to recapture the glories of his peak years when he lifted seven world titles between 1990 and 1999 amid a career haul of 36 ranking event titles.

He intends to focus on his work as a pundit in the game and an ambassadorial role in China having won only three matches out of 20 matches over the past three years.

“Let’s be honest, I wasn’t pulling up any trees, was I?,” Hendry was quoted as telling reporters.

“I was a little bit surprised with how good the standard was, but I’ve just got so many other work commitments, I won’t be able to dedicate enough time to practising.

“I know the game inside out, I still know all the shots, but unfortunately the body is not performing like my brain wants it to.”

World Snooker Tour confirmed Hendry’s decision in a statement.

“Stephen Hendry was offered an invitational tour card, but has decided not to accept,” said WST.

“The seven-time world champion had held the card since 2020, but now feels that he is unable to commit to the tour due to other priorities including the growth of his CueTips YouTube Channel and brand, broadcast commitments and ambassadorial role in China.”

Hendry finishes his career having compiled 777 competitive centuries which remains sixth on the all time list with fellow seven-time Crucible winner Ronnie O’Sullivan way out in front on 1,264.

But 1997 world champion Ken Doherty will continue on the main circuit after accepting an invite to extend his playing career over the next two seasons.

Four-time world champion John Higgins suffered an early exit at the Championship League in Leicester, but Gary Wilson reached the last 32 as Group 6 winner.

Higgins dominated his first match in Group 9 on Monday with a 3-0 win over Artemijs Zizins seeing the Scotsman produce breaks of 95, 74 and 120 at the Mattioli Arena.

But he then lost 3-0 to Ben Mertens, who rolled in breaks of 68, 86 and 82, with a closing 2-2 draw against section winner Ma Hailong not enough as the 20-year-old Chinese player produced a break of 111 to help him edge out Higgins and Mertens by a point.

But Scottish and Welsh Open champion Wilson completed wins over Huang Jiahao (3-0) and Michael Holt (3-1), with a 2-2 draw against Joe Perry enough to see the Wallsend potter finish two points ahead of Perry.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to begin his first competitive action of the campaign in Group 2 against Kayden Brierley, Mitchell Mann and He Guoqiang on Tuesday with Jack Lisowski facing Anton Kazakov, Jiang Jun and Mark Davis in Group 12.

Stage one consists of 32 groups of four players. The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

• Group 21: Neil Robertson (AUS)
• Group 11: Ryan Day (WAL)
• Group 4: Mark Williams (WAL)
• Group 17: Chris Wakelin (ENG)
• Group 25: Matthew Stevens (WAL)
• Group 31: Ashley Carty (ENG)
• Group 23: Michael White (WAL)
• Group 22: Joe O’Connor (ENG)
• Group 10: Jackson Page (WAL)
• Group 32: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA)
• Group 30: Jamie Jones (WAL)
• Group 29: Ben Woollaston (ENG)
• Group 8: Jak Jones (WAL)
• Group 7: Robbie McGuigan (NI)
• Group 24: Martin O’Donnell (Eng)
• Group 28: Wu Yize (CHN)
• Group 26: Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)
• Group 27: David Lilley (ENG)
• Group 1: Scott Donaldson (SCO)
• Group 14: Hossein Vafaei (IRN)
• Group 18: Stuart Bingham (ENG)
• Group 13: Si Jiahui (CHN)
• Group 20: Stuart Carrington (ENG)
• Group 19: Long Zehuang (CHN)
• Group 6: Gary Wilson (ENG)
• Group 9: John Higgins (SCO)

Stuart Carrington emerged as the winner of Group 20 at the Championship League on Saturday as he earned a 2-2 draw with Pang Janxu to progress at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.

World No. 72 Carrington needed a point against Pang in the section decider after completing wins over Gong Chenzhi (3-1) and Gerard Greene (3-0) and held his nerve to reach the last 32 of the season’s first ranking event.

Despite former WST Classic finalist Pang, the talented world No. 29, producing breaks of 67 and 57 to twice level the contest it was not enough to avoid an early exit.

There were no such problems for Pang’s compatriot Long Zehuang in topping Group 19 with three straight victories over Lei Peifan (3-1), Alfie Davies (3-1) and Jamie O’Neill (3-1) as he finished five points clear of Davies.

Long made five 50-plus breaks, finishing with a 98 in his win against O’Neill, who had replaced Noppon Saengkham in the competition.

Four-time world champion John Higgins begins his campaign on Monday, with Scottish and Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson also in action.

Stage one consists of 32 groups of four players. The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

• Group 21: Neil Robertson (AUS)
• Group 11: Ryan Day (WAL)
• Group 4: Mark Williams (WAL)
• Group 17: Chris Wakelin (ENG)
• Group 25: Matthew Stevens (WAL)
• Group 31: Ashley Carty (ENG)
• Group 23: Michael White (WAL)
• Group 22: Joe O’Connor (ENG)
• Group 10: Jackson Page (WAL)
• Group 32: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA)
• Group 30: Jamie Jones (WAL)
• Group 29: Ben Woollaston (ENG)
• Group 8: Jak Jones (WAL)
• Group 7: Robbie McGuigan (NI)
• Group 24: Martin O’Donnell (Eng)
• Group 28: Wu Yize (CHN)
• Group 26: Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)
• Group 27: David Lilley (ENG)
• Group 1: Scott Donaldson (SCO)
• Group 14: Hossein Vafaei (IRN)
• Group 18: Stuart Bingham (ENG)
• Group 13: Si Jiahui (CHN)
• Group 20: Stuart Carrington (ENG)
• Group 19: Long Zehuang (CHN)