Jackson Page and World Seniors Champion David Lilley finished top of the final two groups at the BetVictor Championship League Snooker Ranking event on Tuesday to advance into Wednesday’s final day of action. They will join Dave Gilbert, Long Zehuang, Ali Carter, Scott Donaldson, Martin O’Donnell and Mark Williams in the fight for the first ranking title of the season.
Group G
Welshman Jackson Page will join the fight for his first piece of ranking silverware after topping Group G on Tuesday evening.
After starting the afternoon with a 2-2 draw against Robbie McGuigan, last year’s World Open semi-finalist Page would deliver two crucial victories to help top the group. Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher was conquered 3-1. McGuigan came through against Michael White 3-0 but fell to Ursenbacher, meaning victory in the final match against White would see Page advance.
Despite everything at stake, the 22 year old secured a 3-0 whitewash over his compatriot White to finish top on seven points.
Group F ended in dramatic fashion as David Lilley’s place in the final eight was confirmed through a group finale between Ryan Day and Gary Wilson.
With the trio securing wins across the day, Lilley beat Championship League Snooker Invitational runner-up Joe O’Connor 3-0 to sit top of the table.
That victory meant Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson had to beat Day to advance, but fell short with a 2-2 draw. World Seniors champion Lilley will now compete in Stage 3 on Wednesday, with the opportunity of becoming the oldest winner of a maiden ranking title, aged 48.
The Championship League is the first ranking event of the new season and was won last year by Shaun Murphy. The opening tournament of the season runs until July 3rd. In the first phase, 128 players are split into 32 groups of four, with those 32 group winners going through to the next round.
The tournament takes place over three stages, starting on Monday, 10 June. Winners’ Week will run from Friday 28, June concluding with Finals Day on Wednesday, 3 July. The eventual winner will also receive an invite into the 2024 Champion of Champions this November 11 to November 17 alongside the £20,000 first-place prize.
The BetVictor Championship League Ranking title will be decided on Wednesday as the final eight competitors battle for a spot in the evening’s final. Mark Williams, Ali. Carter, Martin O’Donnell and Scott Donaldson will compete in Group 1. Page and Lilley join Long Zehuang and Dave Gilbert in Group 2. The winners of each group will play a best of 5 final for the trophy.
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(Photo by Zheng Zhai)
