Ryan Day made a beeline for tomorrow evening’s group playoffs after day one of the 2023 BetVictor Championship League Invitational at the Morningside Arena in Leicester live on Matchroom.Live in the UK and Ireland, Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Poland and the Netherlands as well as other broadcasters worldwide.
The British Open champion got off to a quick start in the opening group of the tournament firstly seeing off Jordan Brown 3-2 thanks to a break of 105 in the final frame to seal victory 3-2 before downing Jimmy Robertson and Jack Lisowski by the same scoreline of 3-1. Robertson’s 147 attempt came to no avail in the first frame but he did make 143 to hold the group high break as it stands. Day finished off his day with a win over Ali Carter to have four wins from four to ensure his spot in tomorrow evening group semi-finals.
Lisowski will be hot on Day’s tail going into the second day of Group 1 with the Jackpot not hanging around to beat Robertson and Carter by the same scoreline that included two centuries for good measure to apply some early pressure on proceedings. Matthew Selt offered Lisowski his final contest of the day and it was the latter who was firing on all cylinders to be three from four and look all but set for the playoffs.
Selt looks well placed after two wins from four whilst Robertson, Bingham, and Carter all have work to do to ensure any hope of keeping their tournament going.
BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational sees each of the seven players faces each other once in the round-robin group stage, after which the top four players in the league table progress to Tuesday evening’s play-offs. The eventual group champion advances to February’s Winners’ Group with the remaining players who finished in the top five during the league phase continuing to Group Two which begins on Wednesday when three new players join the tournament. The bottom two players in each group phase are eliminated. All matches are best of five.
The tournament carries a prize fund of £205,000 with players earning £100 per frame won with significant bonuses for their final group position and increased prize money in the Winners’ Group. A place in the 2023 Champion of Champions is also on the line with each group featuring seven players with matches being held over two days.
Action continues tomorrow from 11 am with the conclusion of Group 1.