Yesterday was probably the most interesting day at the 2023 ranking CLS so far as we got to see two interesting young players in action.

Jiang Jun, 17, is a new professional, one of the CBSA nominees, and he really impressed me. He came across to me as a good all-rounder. He’s certainly not negative, but he’s not reckless either … and he potted some impressive long balls. Day was to top seed in the group and Jiang finished ahead of him in the table. Actually, both won one match, both had a draw, both won 6 frames and lost 5. Jiang however had a century… Day didn’t.

Alfie Davies, 22, is the son of the former Welsh professional, Anthony Davies. Anthony was one of the top Welsh amateurs, but didn’t really manage to produce his best on the professional tour. Alfie yesterday, started strongly, beating the top seed, Joe O’Connor in the first match of the day. The players who gave him problems are the ones who play a more defensive game, and, maybe, towards the end of the day, tiredness became a factor.

Here is the report shared by WST:

White And Williams Through

Michael White and Robbie Williams each secured a place in the second phase of the BetVictor Championship League, after a dramatic day of snooker at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.

Two closely fought groups left both White and Williams needing a draw in their respective final matches to advance to the last 32 stage of the new season’s first ranking event.

White, a two-time ranking tournament winner, won a tense third frame on the blue against fellow Welshman Ryan Day to ensure the point he required to top the table, adding the fourth for a 3-1 victory.

And Williams, the world no.50 from the Wirral, also did enough against Joe O’Connor, securing a 2-1 lead to claim top spot and going on to win 3-1.

White, 31, opened his account in Group 10 with a 3-1 defeat of India’s Himanshu Jain, compiling breaks of 66 and 68. The Neath potter then completed a 3-1 victory over Jiang Jun, a 17 year-old from China making his debut on the World Snooker Tour, highlighted by a run of 101.

Day raised the stakes in the decisive final match by making a break of 72 in the opening frame before White responded with his second century of the session, 124. But the real drama came in the third where, after a hard fought battle, Day went in-off on the green and left it on, leaving White a simple clearance to lead 2-1.

“My first match was a bit edgy, but I got better as the day went on. I scored heavily against Ryan so I’m happy,” White said.

“I’ve been practising a fair bit since the World Championship, because I really wanted to make a good start to the season.”

O’Connor enjoyed a fine 2022/23 season, reaching the Scottish Open final and the semi-finals of the Players Championship. The Leicester cueist was the top seed in group 22 but suffered a shock 3-1 defeat in his first match to Alfie Davies, a Welsh amateur and son of former professional Anthony Davies.

Although O’Connor then defeated Zak Surety 3-0, Williams went into their final match having drawn with Surety and beaten Davies, so had an extra point and therefore needed only a draw.

Williams, a semi-finalist in last season’s British Open, finished on seven points with O’Connor pushed down to third place behind Surety.