Ali Carter captured his first-ever BetVictor Championship League title on Wednesday evening, defeating Jackson Page 3-1 in the final live on Matchroom.live from the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The trophy marks the Captain’s sixth career ranking title, earning a total of £33,000 and a spot in November’s Champion of Champions.
Carter is the only player to have featured in all 23 editions of the Championship League since it’s inception in 2008.
Group 1
Multiple-time ranking event winners Mark Williams and Ali Carter came out of the traps strong on Wednesday morning, with three-time world champion ‘Willo’ producing a total clearance of 139 in a whitewash against Welsh Open runner-up Martin O’Donnell.
Scott Donaldson blew the group wide open with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Williams, following with a 3-1 win against O’Donnell. In the group finale between Williams and Carter, a draw would put Donaldson into a first-ever ranking event final.
Much has been the trend of this tournament, there was drama until the last in Group 1. After taking a frame each, the third frame would determine the chan
Incredibly thin-cut red into the bottom left allowed Carter to clear to take a 2-1 advantage, stopping any possibility of Williams making back-to-back finals at the Championship League. Williams wasn’t going out without a fight though and a tough safety battle ensued in the final frame, with Carter able to edge it, denying Donaldson.
Group 2
It all came down to the final match on table two, as Gilbert faced Page for a spot in the final. Due to frame difference, thanks to a 3-0 whitewash to open the afternoon against World Seniors champion David Lilley, Page had the advantage knowing a draw would be enough to reach the finale.
Gilbert had himself beaten Lilley 3-1, with both mean tying against Long Zehuang – who finished in third place after 2-2 draws in all three of his matches, remaining unbeaten across the day.
Both men exchanged frames before the Welshman Page secured the second frame he was desperate for, and with it a spot in the final.
The Final
Carter began the stronger of the two after a nervous error from Page allowed the Captain to clear up with a 116 break to kickstart proceedings. The young Welshman would roar back to level the tie in the second however with a lightning 83.
Page’s campaign came undone in the third frame however as Carter enjoyed a fluke red at the start before capturing with a break of 96, before taking control of the fourth with a half-century to capture the crown.
An emotional Carter dedicated his win to Mike Diggins, his friend and flying instructor who had suffered serious health problems.
“I got here in the end, I think I’m a stalwart of the Championship League,” he added. “I’ve been beaten before in the final of the Invitational version to Martin Gould. I’m delighted to get the season off to a great start and pick up another title.
“I’m delighted with how I played in the final, I felt the most comfortable with the most at stake which is pleasing. Jackson is such a great young player with a tonne of potential and was playing great so I’m delighted to get a victory over one of the young guns.
“It’s great to be involved in another Champion of Champions, I’m not sure how many of those I’ve got left so it’s great that I’m playing the best stuff that I’ve ever played. Hopefully there’s a few more big wins still to come!”
Ali Carter joins a list of title winners, including world champion Kyren Wilson and eight-time Masters winner Ronnie O’Sullivan in Bolton this November at the Champion of Champions. Secure your tickets now and be part of the action at one of the sport’s most prestigious invitationals!
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