Si Jiahui and James Cahill progressed to Winners’ Week at the BetVictor Championship League Snooker – Ranking Edition at the Morningside Arena, Leicester live on Viaplay Xtra in the UK, and broadcasters worldwide including Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Poland, and the Netherlands and Table 2 live on Matchroom.Live globally.
Mark Joyce only needed a draw against Si to top the group whilst all three points were a must if Si was to progress to Winners’ Week in what proved to be the final match of the day. T
he tie was set up after Si tasted victory against Haydon Pinhey 3-1 before a two all draw with Mohamed Ibrahim meant there was still work to be done to progress to the next stage.
Joyce meanwhile also scored a point against Ibrahim and three points against Pinhey to set up a four frame shoot out for top spot in the group.
When it came to the deciding match, a break of 43 saw Si over the line in the opening frame in the decidint to lead 1-0 and open up the early lead. At 11 up in the second frame, Joyce saw his red rattle the pocket to allow Si in who punished him for a 2-0 advantage with a brilliant long red the pick of the bunch when 48 in front. In the final frame, Si made two visits to the table and that was all that was needed as he sealed top spot in Group 25.
Ibrahim finished up third in the group but it was a day of missed chances for the Egyptian who drew three consecutive fixtures with winning opportunities coming in all three contests whilst it was bottom spot for Haydon Pinhey who never really got out the starts block in the group.
Cahill’s progression in Group 20 was far from straightforward with the Blackpool cueist beating Andres Petrov before defeat to Sydney Wilson by the same scoreline of 3-0 left him with a group decider with Matthew Selt but with a mountain still to climb.
Selt on the other hand knew the group decider would be much more straightforward to navigate having got the better of Wilson and Petrov in the afternoon session without reply meaning only a point against Cahill would see him top the group and progress to Winners’ Week but it proved to be far from easy.
Cahill headed in to the decider needing a 3-0 victory to steal top spot from Selt on the pairs head to head record and he took the opening two frames to leave the former Indian Open champion with work to do.
In what proved to be a gruelling final frame, Selt looked to be in pole position to take things with five reds left and a 22 deficit to overcome but Cahill got his chance after a long safety battle to top the group.
The rest of Group 20 saw Wilson settle for third spot in the group whilst it wasn’t to be for Petrov who rounded out the group in fourth.
Cahill said: “I wasn’t sure exactly what I needed going into the match. I knew if I won 3-0 though I could progress, I thought I need to try and win all the frames. Matthew was trying hard and it made me more aware that I needed to win 3-0 to progress. I am just glad to progress. I’ve got a new cue, my coach told me to change it. There are certain shots I am still learning and trying to find some confidence with. You line up and then you see a potting angle then it doesn’t always pay off. It’s the case of playing some more matches and getting used to the cue a bit more.”
Noppon Saengkham enters in Group 19 on Monday, 10 July with Mark Davis, Jenson Kendrick and Ross Muir live on Viaplay Xtra in the UK and Ireland. Table 2 action is available worldwide on Matchroom.Live and the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube where Group 1 sees Michael Holt, Alfie Burden, Rod Lawler and Scott Donaldson take to the baize.
Watch BetVictor Championship League Snooker – Ranking Edition on Viaplay Xtra – FreeView in the UK and Ireland. Those in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland can watch live on Viaplay whilst Matchroom.Live is available to those without a broadcaster. See where to watch here.
The BetVictor Championship League Snooker – Ranking Edition carries a first prize of £33,000 and the winner also securing a spot in the 2023 Champion of Champions set to take place in Bolton from November 13-19 live on ITV.
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