Neil Robertson withdrew from the first ranking of the season as the Championship League got underway at Leicester's Morningside Arena on Monday.
The 2010 world champion was due to meet Ashley Carty in his Group 3 opener, but was replaced by former Crucible qualifier Craig Steadman in a section that also contained Sean McAllister – who replaced Liam Highfield – and Adam Duffy.
Ad 23-time ranking event winner Robertson joins world champion Luca Brecel – winner of the event a year ago – Mark Selby, Mark Allen and John Higgins in opting out of the early summer snooker action.
German MastersTop 10 moments of 2022/23: No. 3 – Carter's champion powers of recovery at German Masters21 HOURS AGO Carty won the section courtesy of a 3-0 win over Duffy in his final group match having earlier drew 2-2 with Steadman and McAllister, respectively.