Four-time world champion John Higgins experienced an early setback at the Championship League in Leicester, while Gary Wilson emerged victorious as Group 6 winner, securing a spot in the last 32. Higgins showcased his skill in his first match in Group 9 on Monday, defeating Artemijs Zizins with a flawless 3-0 victory. The Scotsman impressed with breaks of 95, 74, and 120 at the Mattioli Arena. However, his momentum was halted as he faced Ben Mertens in the next match, losing 3-0 as Mertens delivered breaks of 68, 86, and 82. A final 2-2 draw against section winner Ma Hailong was not enough for Higgins, as the young Chinese player produced a break of 111 to edge out both Higgins and Mertens by a point.
On the other hand, Scottish and Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson showcased consistent performance, securing wins over Huang Jiahao (3-0) and Michael Holt (3-1). A draw with Joe Perry (2-2) was sufficient for Wilson to finish two points ahead of Perry, securing his place in the next stage of the Championship League. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is gearing up for his first competitive match of the season in Group 2, where he will face tough competition from Kayden Brierley, Mitchell Mann, and He Guoqiang. In Group 12, Jack Lisowski will take on Anton Kazakov, Jiang Jun, and Mark Davis in a bid to advance in the tournament.
The Championship League comprises 32 groups, each consisting of four players. The eight group winners will advance to compete in two additional groups, with the ultimate winners clashing in the final. The championship offers a lucrative prize of £33,000 for the winner, along with a coveted spot in the prestigious Champion of Champions event later in the year, which adds another £12,500 in benefits for qualifying players.
Recent group winners in the Championship League include Neil Robertson (AUS), Ryan Day (WAL), Mark Williams (WAL), Chris Wakelin (ENG), Matthew Stevens (WAL), Ashley Carty (ENG), Michael White (WAL), Joe O’Connor (ENG), Jackson Page (WAL), Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA), Jamie Jones (WAL), Ben Woollaston (ENG), Jak Jones (WAL), Robbie McGuigan (NI), Martin O’Donnell (Eng), Wu Yize (CHN), Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI), David Lilley (ENG), Scott Donaldson (SCO), Hossein Vafaei (IRN), Stuart Bingham (ENG), Si Jiahui (CHN), Stuart Carrington (ENG), Long Zehuang (CHN), Gary Wilson (ENG), and John Higgins (SCO).
For fans eager to catch all the action, discovery+ is the go-to streaming platform for the Olympic Games. Viewers can witness every thrilling moment of Paris 2024 this summer, ensuring they don’t miss out on any sporting excitement. Make sure to tune in and support your favorite players as they battle it out for victory in the Championship League and beyond.
