TIAN AND LI COMPLETE WINNERS’ WEEK LINE-UP FOR BETVICTOR CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE SNOOKER

TIAN AND LI COMPLETE WINNERS’ WEEK LINE-UP FOR BETVICTOR CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE SNOOKER

News October 5th, 2020

Tian Pengfei and Li Hang are the final two players to advance to Stage Two of BetVictor Championship League Snooker, after topping tight, dramatic groups at Stadium MK on Monday.

Tian made a 122 in the final frame of his last match, against Noppon Saengkham, and that proved to be the pivotal tie-breaker when he ended up finished top of the group with an identical record to Robbie Williams, against who he’d earlier drawn 2-2 in the Group 31 opener.

Oliver Lines looked in great form as he sealed a 3-0 win over group seed Saengkham with a 122 break for a 3-0 win. Williams then got his second draw of the group, against Saengkham, and the fourth match also ended with a share of the spoils as Tian and Lines took a point each.

That meant any one of three players could still advance. Lines needed a point, while a 3-0 win would be enough for Williams. In the event that the match ended 3-1 in Williams’ favour, he’d need to equal Tian’s high break of 122 to advance.

The Merseyside man came agonisingly close to doing just that as he levelled the match at 1-1, but missed the yellow on 111. Williams did go on to win 3-1, but without that high break it was Tian who progressed.

On table two, 15-year-old Iulian Boiko became the youngest ever professional to win a frame on tour as he earned a 2-2 draw with John Astley, before Li registered consecutive 3-1 wins; first against Alex Borg before he then defeated Boiko.

That put Li in pole position but when Astley beat Borg 3-1, the north-east man forced the group to its final match, but he’d need to beat Li to progress.

However, the 30-year-old from China took the first two frames against Astley to secure at least a draw and book his place alongside Mark Davis, Joe Perry and Tian in Group H of Winners’ Week, before he eventually won 3-1.

BetVictor Championship League Snooker returns for Winners’ Week from October 26-30. Coverage of both tables will be available at Matchroom.Live, with UK television coverage on Freesports.

Live scoring can be found at www.wst.tv. Group fixtures, results, standings and details of how to watch can be found at https://championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk/.

Follow BetVictor Championship League Snooker on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news and scores from Stadium MK.

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