Here is the report by WST on the 2025 ranking CLS groups 10 and 23, played in Leicester yesterday.

Mertens and Craigie Into Second Stage

Ben Mertens reached the last 32 of a ranking event for the fifth time in his career by topping Group 10 at BetVictor Championship League in Leicester.

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Mertens and Group 23 winner Sam Craigie progress to the second stage which gets underway on July 18th.

Belgium’s 20-year-old Mertens scored heavily throughout the day to earn top spot. He opened with a 3-0 win over Jonas Luz, highlighted by a break of 131 in the third frame. He then drew 2-2 with Alfie Davies, helped by runs of 130 and 131. In the last match of the group he faced Jak Jones, who also had a win and a draw under his belt. Mertens eased to a 3-0 success with breaks of 64, 59 and 76.

Craigie is back in action after missing a whole season with a neck injury, but won his British Open qualifying match last month and followed up today by battling through a tight group. After beating Jimmy Robertson 3-0 with a top run of 79, he drew 2-2 with Mark Davis with a top break of 101. Craigie then let slip a 2-0 lead and drew 2-2 with Connor Benzey, which left the group wide open as Robertson and Davis met in the last match. Both needed to win to top the table, but their 2-2 draw meant Craigie was just ahead of Davis on frame difference.

Earlier in this competition, I reflected how Julien Leclercq looked dispirited and out of form. Despite the fact that I’m not at all into “nationalist fandom” in any sport, it saddens me. I want mainland Europe to be better represented on tour so that WST eventually feels forced to break away from their UK centric organisation. Ben, fortunately, seems to continue to thrive and progress. He played well yesterday.

Jonas Luz on the other hand is very “far ” from the level required to survive on tour. I know that some of these invitational tour cards are part of WST “international” strategy¹ but what’s the point? Some of these guys will spend two years in the UK, more often than not playing qualifiers in soulless venues, with next to nobody watching, homesick and lonely. I know that WPBSA offers services to support players who struggle with mental health, which is good, but … how does it work for those who have only a basic command of the English language?

“What’s your solution?” you will ask me. To be honest I don’t have one. Snooker isn’t big enough to offer adequate structures for aspiring young in every country in the world, I’m afraid. What I believe though is that a global ELO system covering all levels and all national/regional federations would help players and snooker sporting bodies to understand exactly where they stand. And, if WPBSA, wants to help talented players from regions where the sport needs developing, why not offer some carefully selected “talents” a year paid scholarship, with a personalised but strict training program, including international amateur competitions, before “throwing” them into the gladiatorial arena called “Main Tour”?

1. or pretence? ↩︎

Jason Ferguson was Stephen Hendry’s guest on the latter YouTube Channel. Amongst other things, he shared his views on Ronnie’s snooker “legacy”. Here is what he had to say, as reported by Desmond Kane.

Ronnie O’Sullivan legacy hailed by World Snooker chief Jason Ferguson – ‘One of the greatest sportsmen of all time’

By Desmond Kane

Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, has paid a glowing tribute to Ronnie O’Sullivan for his role in boosting the profile and growth of the sport since he turned professional in 1992. The seven-time world champion turns 50 in December, but Ferguson feels his reputation transcends the game. “He’s a sporting superstar without a doubt,” said Ferguson.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will be celebrated as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time with his legacy in snooker already secured, according to Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

O’Sullivan turned professional in 1992, claiming seven world titles, eight Masters and four Champion of Champions amid a record ranking event haul of 41 victories, 15 maximum breaks and 1289 centuries.

He also remains the youngest winner of a ranking event with his 10-6 victory over Stephen Hendry in the final of the 1993 UK Championship achieved at the age of 17.

Former professional Ferguson suggests the snooker GOAT’s success, speed and style of his play transcends the sport.

“The man is a genius,” said the WPBSA chief on O’Sullivan’s fellow seven-time world champion Stephen’s Hendry’s YouTube channel.

“I mean, the way he plays, the shots he plays, the style he plays. It’s just so attractive, isn’t it? He’s a superstar. He’s a sporting superstar without question in any sport.

“You hear it from many people from other sports. They all say it’s one of the hardest sports in the world. The game is just so difficult.

“Ronnie Sullivan has to be one of the greatest sportsman of all time. That is without a doubt.“

O’Sullivan was invited to Wimbledon last year by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

“I’m his fan,” said Djokovic about O’Sullivan. “I watch snooker just because of him. I watched when I was a kid. Honestly, I watched him play many years ago.

“My father loved watching snooker. I only watched Ronnie. Whenever he would not play, I would not watch.

“We just had a meet-up, an interaction for the first time. It was great. He was one of the sport greats I used to watch when I was a kid. It was really nice to have him around.”

Despite struggling with confidence and cue problems, O’Sullivan ended a four-month absence by managing to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship in May before losing 17-7 to eventual winner Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals.

Hendry feels Zhao was the first player since O’Sullivan to make the game look “ridiculously easy” in his run to becoming China’s historic first world champion with an 18-12 final win over Mark Williams.

“This boy can take us to another level as a sport,” commented Ferguson. “He’s young, he’s cool, he’s popular.“

O’Sullivan could face Zhao at the Shanghai Masters later this month, when he is expected to make his competitive return to the game.

The coveted invitational competition, staged from July 28-August 3, involves the top 16 in the world rankings, with the four highest-ranked Chinese players and four amateur wild cards making up the 24-player field.

O’Sullivan is seeded through to the round of 16 and will begin his quest for a sixth victory at the event on July 30 against Barry Hawkins or Wu Yize.

Zhao is set to end his suspension from competitive play in China on July 1, following his involvement in a match-fixing probe, and will face Chris Wakelin or a wild card in the last 16.

I really like Zhao. I like his game and every time I watched him play or listened to an interview he gave, he came across as a positive, down-to-earth and loveable personality. He smiles a lot. He plays a positive, dynamic and clever brand of snooker. I care very little about nationalities in sports. For all I care a sportsperson could be from Mars, if I like their style and admire their skills, I will support them.

The action continued in Leicester yesterday with group 13 and group 14. All the detailed results are on snooker.org, just follow the links.

Here is the report by WST

Lisowski And Pang Top Groups

Jack Lisowski continued his strong start to the season as he finished top of Group 13 to reach the second stage of the BetVictor Championship League.

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Having dropped to 25th in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, Lisowski is looking to climb back up the list this season and it’s so-far-so-good for the Gloucestershire cueman as he won his qualifying matches for the Wuhan Open and British Open last month then secured top spot in the table today in Leicester.

He top-scored with 101 in a 3-1 win over Ashley Carty then beat Ross Muir 3-0 with breaks of 66, 79 and 59. In his last match he needed only a draw against Gong Chenzhi, and managed a 2-2 result to book a spot in phase two which starts on July 18th. 

Meanwhile, China’s Pang Junxu finished the day strongly to top Group 14. He opened with a 3-0 win over Dean Young, highlighted by a run of 136 in the opening frame. Pang then lost 3-1 to Jiang Jun, which meant he needed to win his last match against Oliver Lines, who had a win and a draw to his name. Breaks of 101 and 51 helped Pang to a 3-0 success.

No surprise here, and no comment from me. I didn’t watch. Too much more interesting sporting events going on at the moment. Also this event may benefit from being split in one week chunks, separated by a “break”. It’s very long, there is no atmosphere in the empty arena, and, after a few days, it becomes tedious to watch.

I report on it, because it’s what I do here, I report on snooker …