The 2025 ranking Championship League Snooker has entered its stage 2, and yesterday Joe O’Connor and Stephen Maguire prevailed in Group A and Group B respectively. Here is the report shared by WST:

Maguire And O’Connor First Into Stage Three

Stephen Maguire and Joe O’Connor became the first two players to reach the last eight of the BetVictor Championship League as they topped their groups on Friday in Leicester.

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Phase two runs until Tuesday, with the eight group winners going into the third and final phase. The champion of the first ranking event of the 2025/26 season will be crowned on Wednesday night. 

Maguire, now playing his 28th professional season, started Group B with a 2-2 draw against Yuan Sijun, then beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3-1 with breaks of 84, 67 and 66. His last match against Zhang Anda, who also had a win and a draw under his belt, would decide the group, and Scotland’s Maguire recovered from the loss of the first frame to win 3-1.

O’Connor was  in superb form in Group A, winning all three matches. He beat On Yee Ng 3-0 with a top break of 103, then saw off both Haydon Pinhey and Elliot Slessor by a 3-1 scoreline.

The action resumes on Saturday with Jack Lisowski among the quartet in Group D, while Pang Junxu is the top-ranked player in Group C.

On Yee Ng finished third in her “stage two” group gathering 5000 ranking points and hopefully she will grow in confidence from getting to stage two to start with, and not finishing last finish last in her stage 2 group. After all, when this event will come to an end, only 16 players will have done better than her in it.

Phase 1 of the 2025 Ranking Championship League Snooker concluded yesterday with group 27 and group 29. All the detailed results are available on snooker.org, just follow the links.

Here is the report shared by WST:

Emery And Xu Top Tables To Complete First Phase

Dylan Emery and Xu Si topped their groups at the BetVictor Championship League ranking event to become the last two players into the second round.

Phase two gets underway on Friday, with 32 players remaining in the hunt for the title. The second stage runs from July 18-22, with the final chapter on July 23.

Welshman Emery, who is back on tour this season after a year in the amateur ranks, produced a strong finish to top Group 27 ahead of Aaron Hill. He drew his first match 2-2 with Sahil Nayyar then beat Gary Thomson 3-0 with a top break of 126. That left Emery needing to beat Hill in the last game of the day, and he stormed to a 3-0 success.

In Group 29, China’s Xu continued his perfect start to the season having won his qualifying matches for the Wuhan Open and British Open last month. He opened with a 3-0 win over Michal Szubarczyk, making a break of 107 in frame three. He then beat Liam Highfield 3-1 with runs of 92, 90 and 84, and in his last match Xu came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Fan Zhengyi, who had the consolation of making his second 147 in the second frame. 

Here is Fan’s 147, shared by Matchroom Multisport on Youtube:

Young Michal Szubarczyk got a taste of the challenges that awaits him on the main tour. It’s brutal. I have said it many times, but I will say it again, he’s only a child, 14 is too young to be on the professional tour. At that age a player may have the required technical abilities but very few, if any at all, will have the psychological and emotional maturity to cope with the demands of professional competition. The 16 years old threshold should be reinstantiated, and, if it was for me, it would even be 18 rather than 16. Adolescence is enough of a challenge for most kids without them having to cope with the mental and emotional pressures of professional competition.

Snooker action continued yesterday in Leicester with group 24 and group 31.

Here is the report shared by WST:

Un-Nooh Blasts Past Minister Of Defence

Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh whitewashed Martin O’Donnell in the final game of Group 31 to make the second stage of the BetVictor Championship League ranking event in Leicester.

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Former Shoot Out champion Un-Nooh came into the crunch clash knowing he needed to win, while just a draw would see O’Donnell progress. In typical style, Un-Nooh averaged just 16 seconds a shot in a 3-0 win where he fired in breaks of 74, 76 and 98. Earlier in the day, Un-Nooh drew 2-2 with Gao Yang and defeated 12-time Women’s World Champion Reanne Evans 3-0. 

The action in Group 24 saw Chinese rookie Liu Wenwei prevail to earn his place in the second stage. He opened up with a 3-0 win over Jordan Brown, before beating Jackson Page 3-1 and drawing 2-2 against Zachary Richardson, where he came from 2-0 down to earn top spot. 

Liu Wenwei impressed me. Group 24 was certainly not an easy one on paper with Jordan Brown and Jackson Page in the field. But Liu was unfazed. He beat them both. He ended up, undefeated, as the winner of the group. Zak Richardson, playing as an amateur, replaced Jimmy White who withdrew. He, as well, finished the day undefeated but also winless … he managed three draws in three matches!

Reanne Evans was just terrible. 😞

The 2025 ranking CLS continued yesterday in Leicester, with group 12 and group 19.

Here is the report shared by WST:

Gilbert Tops Group After Claiming Final Frame

David Gilbert won a Group 12 deciding showdown with Duane Jones 3-1 to progress to the next phase of the BetVictor Championship League ranking event in Leicester, while Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan topped Group 19. 

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Former Championship League winner Gilbert swept to three wins out of three to edge out Welshman Jones. Gilbert opened with a 3-0 win over Paul Deaville, top scoring with 129. He then beat Louis Heathcote 3-1 with runs of 105, 139 and 77 to set up a decisive meeting with Jones. 

Meanwhile, Jones prevailed 3-1 against Heathcote and 3-0 against Deaville to match Gilbert’s results. With Gilbert leading 2-1 in the last game of the day, he fired in an 82 to win 3-1, move clear of Jones and top the group. 

Lei beat Mateusz Baranowski 3-0 and Ryan Davies 3-1 to put himself in pole position to progress. He knew just a draw with Chinese compatriot Long Zehuang would see him through. Despite trailing 2-0, breaks of 120 and 54 saw him end the match level at 2-2. 

I have nothing to add really. The best players won their group. Both groups went pretty much “on seeding”. The “exception” was professional Mateusz Baranowski who finished last, behind Ryan Davies, an amateur, despite actually beating Ryan in the match they played.

Paul Deaville was considered an interesting prospect a couple of years ago but has done very little in recent times. Of course, we do not know where his priorities are, nor do we know how much time he actually can or wants to devote to snooker. Let’s not forget that those guys have a life away from the green baize, and that most amateurs have a job and/or pursue further education.

Most fans were making Judd Trump the favourite in their semi-final match. I was sitting on the fence, mainly because Judd’s record in “the three majors” isn’t that great, considering how well he does in the other events. And it happened again… he was beaten by Mark Williams, who is fifty and struggling with his eyesight but has lost nothing of his determination and shrewd approach of the game.

Here is the report shared by WST:

Evergreen Williams Knocks Out Trump

Mark Williams became the oldest Crucible finalist at the age of 50 as he beat world number one Judd Trump 17-14 in the semi-finals of the Halo World Championship, setting up a tie with Zhao Xintong. 

Williams came to Sheffield with low expectations, claiming he would be an “easy draw” for any qualifier due to problems with his eyesight, and still insists the balls are “blurry”, but he has played fantastic snooker over the past fortnight and the veteran Welshman now finds himself in a fifth Crucible final. He lost the first of those, back in 1999, then went on to lift the trophy in 2000, 2003 and 2018.

Remarkably, having turned 50 in March and having turned pro 33 years ago, he now has the chance of a fourth world crown which would match the tallies of John Higgins and Mark Selby. Williams surpasses Ray Reardon, who was 49 when he lost to Alex Higgins in 1982, as the oldest finalist, and victory would see him easily beat the record as the oldest champion, ahead of Ronnie O’Sullivan who was 46 in 2022.

Over a possible 35 frames on Sunday and Monday, he will take on fellow left-hander Zhao in a clash of generations. The age gap of 22 years is the biggest ever between two Crucible finalists, and Williams will hope that his superior experience and tactical nous will be too much for his gifted Chinese opponent.  First to 18 will lift the trophy and bank the top prize of £500,000.

Williams’ Crucible Finals

Welshman has won three by an 18-16 scoreline:

• 1999: Lost 18-11 to Stephen Hendry
• 2000: Beat Matthew Stevens 18-16
• 2003: Beat Ken Doherty 18-16
• 2018: Beat John Higgins 18-16

From 7-3 down in the early stages against Trump, Williams recovered to win 14 of the last 21 frames to reach the 43rd ranking event final of his career. He is chasing a 27th ranking title, first since the 2024 Tour Championship, and he could become the oldest ever ranking event winner, taking another record from Reardon who was 50 years and 14 days old when he won the 1982 Professional Players Tournament.

Success against Trump is particularly satisfying for Williams as he lost 17-16 to the same player when they met here in the semi-finals three years ago, and 10-9 on the last black in the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters last September. 

Trump was outstanding over the first three rounds but missed a few crucial pots at key moments, notably at 7-3 and 10-9, and was gradually worn down by a determined opponent. Another year ticks by for the Bristol cueman, who must win multiple Crucible crowns to seal his place among snooker’s all-time greats. However the 35-year-old has enjoyed a tremendous season, winning three titles, setting a new record of 107 centuries in a single campaign, as well as a new prize money record of £1,680,600.    

Leading 13-11, Williams started the opening frame tonight with a break of 67 before missing a red to a top corner. There was still enough on the table for Trump to snatch it but he reached just 16 before failing to pot an awkward red with the rest, allowing Williams to extend his lead. Trump had an early scoring chance in frame 26 but made only 5 before a red to a top corner hit the near jaw, letting Williams in for 65 to go 15-11 clear.

A superb 104 saw Trump close the gap, but Williams responded immediately with 100 to lead 16-12. After the interval, Trump dominated frame 29 with breaks of 42 and 34. Williams had his first match-winning chance in the 30th, but on 14 he over-cut a red to centre, and Trump replied with a run of 116, his 14th century of this year’s tournament and career 100th in the World Championship. 

Early in frame 31, Trump converted a fine pot on a red to centre, then went for a risky cut-back black and missed the target. Williams finished the match in style with a 123 clearance, punching the air and saluting wife Joanne and their three sons in the crowd as he crossed the winning post.

“I was starting to sweat towards the end, when Judd came back at me,” said world number six Williams, who was within millimetres of being knocked out at the quarter-final stage when John Higgins missed match-ball blue. “I was under pressure and felt it, so to make a century to get to the final – I can’t believe it. I have played well all through the tournament. I don’t know how I am competing with the number one player in the world, over a three-day match. I have to be proud of myself because there are not many who could beat Judd over such a long match. 

“In the last few tournaments I was struggling. For a couple of weeks I practised four or five hours a day with (coach) Lee Walker, with and without contact lenses. In the end I left the decision to Lee whether I should keep them in, and he felt I play better without them. 

“I am looking forward to playing Zhao. I played him in an exhibition in China when he was 12. It was 1-1 and then he knocked in 130 and 138 to beat me 3-1. Here we are 16 years later and I am playing him in the world final. I am just happy to be there. If I win and get to four world titles, what an achievement.”  

Trump said: “There was a frame to go 11-9 which I messed up. Mark kept potting the important balls and I missed a few or ran out of position, and I played a few loose safeties. Otherwise I didn’t play badly. It was fine margins, on another day it could have been a different result. But over three days he played some great snooker and put me under a lot of pressure.

“I had a tough draw, I would have fancied beating anyone else in the tournament. I saw the other semi-final and I think if Mark plays to the same standard there is no doubt he will win. I hope he plays like that and I think he will, I think his all round game will be too good for Zhao. I hope it goes close. It will be a good final for snooker, the old guard and new talent with very diferent styles.”  

It may sound surprising that Mark is playing better without the lenses but I can somehow “relate” to that. I have gone from wearing glasses, to wearing lenses and finally getting Lazik surgery¹. With every “change” my perception of distances changed too. This is nothing uncommon or bizarre, and it can be explained by the scientific laws of “optic”. If interested try to play around with a magnifier… holding it at different distances from your eyes and looking at “objects” at various distances from your “lens”… ²

Back to Williams … his brain has for many years been trained to judge distances and angles without the distortions induced by lenses. Retraining it is bound to take a lot of time, if possible at all. It is entirely possible and even probable that a “blurred” vision with a correct perception of angles/distances is less of a problem for him than a sharp vision with an altered perception of angles/distances.

But I digress…

It promises to be a fascinating final. I have seen many disparaging comments about Zhao in the last 48 hours. The report by WPBSA about the various “match fixing” cases by Chinese players, has established that Zhao DID NOT fix any match. His wrongdoings were “not reporting intended fixing he was aware of” and “betting on snooker”. Regarding the “not reporting” stuff , I will say this: as already mentioned by Lewis, the Chinese players of Zhao’s generation rarely have any siblings. Their friends and “colleagues” are the closest thing they have to a brother or sister. It is probably asking a lot – even too much – from them to “betray” their mates.

1. I am/was extremely myopic, to the point I was considered disabled by the Belgian health system. Everything further than 15 centimeters from my nose was a total blurr … literally. ↩︎
2. This is the kind of “experiences” kids around you migth enjoy as well BTW… ↩︎