Xiao Guodong joins snooker big guns Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and John Higgins in Championship League final group

01.03.2023 - 02:15 eurosport.com

Xiao Guodong recovered from trailing 2-0 to claim the final three frames against Lyu Haotian and book his place in the Championship League final group in Leicester.

It means Xiao will take his place alongside Jack Lisowski, Stuart Bingham, Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump, John Higgins and Neil Robertson on Wednesday and Thursday with the overall winner securing a place in the Champion of Champions event later this year.

Ad World No. 38 Lyu won the first two frames of the Group Seven final boosted by knocks of 63 and 128, his sixth century in two days, but was forced to watch his compatriot battle back with a 56 break in the third frame before edging two lengthy frames – including a tense 45-minute decider on the pink – to progress.

Players ChampionshipO’Sullivan and Trump 'get the adulation' says Murphy as he declares he's 'back'14 HOURS AGO 2006 world champion Graeme Dott had earlier topped the section of the invitational event with five wins from six matches – highlighted by a terrific break of 140 in his 3-2 win over Zhou Yuelong – but had no answer to former Shanghai Masters runner-up Xiao in the semi-finals with knocks of 104 and 64 helping to seal his final spot.

league final Neil Robertson Jack Lisowski Stuart Bingham Judd Trump John Higgins Stephen Maguire Matthew Selt Graeme Dott Britain Shanghai

Ronnie O'Sullivan will miss the elite Tour Championship event later this month after withdrawing from the inaugural WST Classic on Sunday due to an elbow injury. He will be joined on the sidelines by Neil Robertson, who will be denied the chance to defend the Tour title following his shock 4-3 loss to world No. 65 Oliver Lines in the last 64.

Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from WST Classic with elbow injury as Neil Robertson defeat kills off Tour Championship bid

Ding Junhui beaten by Xu Si at WST Classic to dent hopes of qualifying for Tour Championship, Mark Selby wins

Ding Junhui was sent tumbling out of the WST Classic at the first hurdle by Xu Si, leaving his Tour Championship hopes hanging in the balance. The Chinese superstar, who returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2019 with victory at the Six Red World Championship in Thailand earlier in the month, arrived at the Morningside Arena in Leicester as seventh on the one-year list for qualification for the eight-player Tour Championship .

Ronnie O'Sullivan opens WST Classic with victory, Judd Trump joins snooker 900 club, Jimmy White comeback glory

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan got his WST Classic campaign up and running with two sparkling centuries in a 4-2 win over Egypt's Mohamed Ibrahim on Friday in Leicester. The world No. 1 needs to win the inaugural event and £80,000 first prize at the Morningside Arena to keep alive any prospect of qualifying for the eight-man Tour Championship in Hull at the end of the month (March 27-2 April).

WST Classic: Who needs what as Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson face missing Tour Championship snooker

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson are in grave danger of missing the elite eight-man Tour Championship later this month – the final ranking event before the season-ending World Championship in Sheffield. Mark Allen, Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Kyren Wilson and Ryan Day have already secured their respective places via the one-year list at the Tour Championship (March 27-2 April) with three more spots available ahead of the start of the inaugural WST Classic on Thursday in Leicester (16-22 March). Ad Welsh Open holder Robert Milkins, new Six Red world champion Ding Junhui and four-time world champion Mark Selby hold the remaining three places in the standings, but could yet be toppled by a chasing pack consisting of 15 players.

Stan Moody handed world title shot after Ronnie O'Sullivan heaps praise on snooker wonderkid – 'He will win tournaments'

World junior champion Stan Moody is set to enjoy an early taste of the snooker big time when he begins his first crack at the Crucible next month. 16-year-old Moody secured his professional tour card for next season with a 5-1 victory over Liam Pullen in the World Snooker Federation junior final before losing 5-0 to China's Ma Hai Long a week later in the senior version, but will continue his development by making his debut in the sport's blue-chip event. Ad The Halifax wonderkid has been invited to compete at the English Institute of Sport with 15 other leading amateurs as qualifying begins (3-12 April) for the 47th World Championship (LIVE on Eurosport and discovery+).