Yesterday group winners at the 2023 CLS were Shaun Murphy and Sanderson Lam. The latter was a rather surprise winner in a group that featured Barry Hawkins.
Shaun Murphy made a triumphant start to his season, with victories in all three matches at the BetVictor Championship League Snooker – Ranking Edition at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
The 2005 World Champion took Group 4 by storm, defeating Andrew Pagett 3-0, before a tense 3-1 win over Lukas Kleckers to close the first session.
A table-topping decider followed against China’s Tian Pengfei. Tian had accrued two victories himself over Pagett and Kleckers – meaning the winner of Wednesday’s final match would progress.
Murphy only required a draw and his fate was sealed in the third frame, following a break of 67 to move 2-1 up. He then claimed the last to make it three wins from three.
Sanderson Lam brought an impressive display to top Group 12 – finishing the day with seven points after wins Zhang Anda and Jamie O’Neill. Leeds native Lam had also drawn 2-2 with Table 2’s headliner Barry Hawkins.
Former World Grand Prix winner Hawkins required a 3-0 victory in his final group match over Zhang Anda, or a 3-1 win with a break over 98 or more, to stand a chance of beating Lam for qualification for Winners’ Week.
Leading 2-1, a break of at least 98 was required in the final frame for progression through the group. A sticky situation in a cluster of reds on 62 forced an attempted double into the middle pocket, but failure to pot meant Lam would be the man returning to Leicester next week.
The penultimate day of stage 1 sees David Gilbert fight for a place in Winners’ Week, commencing on July 17, against Yuan SiJun, Sean O’Sullivan and Ishpreet Singh Chadha. Group 31 will also be settled, with Cao Yupeng, Lyu Haotian, Ian Burns and Steven Hallworth fighting for supremacy.
Meanwhile, on the amateur side, Jason Francis has announced the return of the 900
We are delighted to announce the 900, Season 2, a chance for more amateur players to compete on SKY for the biggest ever prize in Amateur Snooker. We are giving 8 chances to WIN a place in a TV week.
The first question is…Am I eligible to enter?
The 900 Qualifiers are not for open to
1, Any player currently serving a WPBSA or National Governing body ban for any reason.
2, Any player who has previously been banned by the WPBSA, or any National Governing in the past twenty years for a betting or match fixing related breach.
3, Any players holding a 2023/24 WST Tour card.
4, Any player under 18, before the first day of the qualifier is not eligible to play.
If you do not fall into any of those categories you can enter any or ALL of the 8 Qualifiers as long as the event is not full.
IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO THE TV STAGES YOU DO NOT NEED TO ENTER THE QUALIFIERS.
You should now fill out the form and send off as soon as possible.
WE WILL THEN REPLY TO YOUR EMAIL CONFIRMING YOUR ENTRY AND HOW MUCH TO PAY
THE EVENT
All players understand they are entering up to 8 ‘One Day’ events, each of which will produce a winner.
Event 1 Saturday 5th August
Event 2 Sunday 6th August
Event 3 Saturday 12th August
Event 4 Sunday 13th August
Event 5 Saturday 19th August
Event 6 Sunday 20th August
Event 7 Saturday 9th September
Event 8 Sunday 10th September
The Winner of week 1 will appear in week 1 of the 900 – and so on.
Week 1 is 18th – 20th September, Week 2 is 25th – 27th Sept etc etc
All players must also be free on Wednesday 22nd November should they win their week and make the Grand Final.
If any player is not free on those dates, they should not enter the event, if they do and subsequently make themselves not available, they will lose their entry fee.
So for example if you know you could not play 18.19.20th Sept (week 1) you should not enter the qualifier 1 on the 5th August.
Both days will be a random draw. Playing Schedule at the tournament directors’ discretion. Start time will be 10am
The event entry will be closed at the discretion of the tournament director without notice should we deem the field is growing to a point where completing the event in one day is not possible.
Any player who pays an entry fee after the closing date will be refunded in full or offered the chance to transfer.
ENTRY FEE
Entry fees are £60 per event BUT there is a one off fee of £25 to cover your playing shirt – which you will collect on your first days play.
Should you win a qualifier, but have paid for additional weeks you will be refunded as once you win a week you cannot play in another qualifier.
PLEASE FILL IN THE ENTRY FORM AND SEND TO
jason@snookerlegends.co.uk
PRIZE MONEY
There is no prize money payable at these events, the prize is your place in the TV event. Players who do not win but do consistently well may be considered for standby and top up places. A ranking list will be run for those not winning weeks with 1 point per match won.
RULES
The 900 is a new concept of the game very much around the Snooker Shootout Rules you will all know.
A frame is 15 minutes in length, which is 900 seconds.
A 20 second shot clock is in operation throughout with no time outs, any foul is ball in hand and a ball must touch the cushion on any shot that is not a pot.
If you ‘time out’ your opponent gets ball in hand. If you choose to have the cue ball cleaned you take the risk you will time out.
The game is played with a spotted cue ball.
Each match will have a Referee and time keeper.
The Referee has the authority to pause the clock should they feel their error has been detrimental to the match or player time.
Players should be available to play on a roll on roll off basis with table selection made at the discretion of the Tournament Director who may choose to stream the match table.
PLAYERS OBLIGATIONS
All players are required to adhere to the rules of the competition, but also conduct themselves professionally on and off the table during the event.
All players will confirm that they (and their immediate relatives) undertake on their behalf not to bet on the outcome of the any matches in the events should any betting opportunities arrive, or provide inside information to persons in order for them to make money through betting or manipulate any aspect of a match.
Integrity is vital to the growth and success of this event and all betting patterns will be monitored externally.
All players who enter are happy that their name is put forward to our sporting integrity partner for approval.
The partner and promoter reserve the right to refuse entry to this event without needing to give any explanation should they feel that your participation is not in the best interests of the event or any parties. Should we do this we will refund your entry fee.
Where post betting analysis shows abnormal betting patterns, the player will fully co-operate with JASON FRANCIS LTD, SportyStuffTV or any of SportyStuffTV’s shareholders in any investigation.
Any player found guilty of breaching these integrity undertakings, including but not limited to breaches including player collusion, match-fixing or placing bets on their own and other players’ outcomes will be reported to the appointed integrity unit. LLP Solicitors Ltd
Guilty players will receive a lifetime ban from any and all events where Snooker Legends or its officers are involved plus any fine imposed by the party. Players will be invited into a hearing to appeal their case if they choose.
DRESS CODE
All players will be required to Purchase an official playing shirt. These should be matched with dark trousers and smart dress shoes. No Jeans or trainers.
LOGO
You can wear you own logo on the right side of your playing shirt and right sleeve. Please note if you are a left-handed player it would be reversed with us placing our logo on the left hand breast.
In total you get 2 logos to exploit.
Logo exemptions will be advised by August 5th but no other amateur snooker event or league, outside of your national governing body is allowed to be promoted and all logos must be approved in advance with Snooker Legends reserving the right to refuse any logo not in the interests of the company or event.
WPBSA coaches are free to wear their logo and promote that coaching scheme, no other licensed or snooker coaching method is allowed to be advertised or promoted and any attempt to do this may involve your removal from the event.
Logos must be applied for no later than 48 hours before first days play and must be no larger than 3 inches by 2 inches. You should provide your logo with double sided tape as stitching onto the material is not ideal.
No betting sponsor logos or legal firms will be allowed to be worn or promoted.
PROMOTION
All players agree to promote the event via their social media and also agree to provide a video which can be used at any point on any channel or media as required if we request it.
RIGHTS
All participants in the Events and or Programmes, including but not limited to referees, commentators, talent, presenters, guest participants, production staff, players and any other contributors and participants agree to waive any assigned or personal rights regarding their involvement in the Event or Programme and all other related media rights to JASON FRANCIS LTD and/or SportyStuffTV prior to their inclusion in any filmed audio-visual footage contained within the Programmes.
CONDUCT
Should a play appear under the influence of alcohol, or any illegal substance on the day of the event, they will be removed from the event and lose their entry fee.
Should any player swear or act in any way not befitting to the conduct required in our sport they may be removed from the event and lose their entry fee and any prize money already won.
Guests are allowed at the venue but not in the playing rooms.
HOTELS
The two closest hotels are the Premier Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels, both on Richfield Avenue.
VENUE ADDRESS
The Crucible Sports and Social Club, 6 Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshires, RG1 8EQ. Parking is available on a first come first served basis.
PLEASE FILL OUT AND RETURN YOUR ENTRY FORM, DO NOT PAY AN ENTRY FEE UNTIL WE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR ENTRIES.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 