Defending champion Judd Trump remains on course for a record fourth Championship League title after a strong start in the Winners’ Group on Wednesday.
Trump heads into the final day with three wins from his opening four round-robin ties to all but guarantee his safe passage into the semi-finals.
The 27 year-old, who previously won the Championship League in 2009, 2014, and 2016, faces second placed Barry Hawkins and bottom of the table Anthony McGill in his last two league fixtures.
For one reason or another, Trump has taken kindly to this tournament since its inception in 2008, perhaps because of its short best of five format, or the fact it is played behind closed doors where the feeling is more of a competitive practice session rather than a pressurised challenge inside a packed arena.
Hawkins is similarly well placed to reach the last four with three victories, while 2015 runner-up Mark Davis has earned two triumphs to sit in third.
John Higgins, Ryan Day, David Gilbert, and Shoot Out champion McGill only managed a single victory but each played one match less than the trio they are chasing.
The Championship League isn’t one of the keenly followed tournaments on the calendar, usually aimed at bookmaker pundits instead of the traditional fan, but there is still plenty at stake for the seven players remaining in the hunt for glory.
Prize money is gained for each frame won while there is a £10,000 cheque for the champion plus the added bonus of a guaranteed spot in the lucrative Champion of Champions at the end of the year.
The event concludes on Thursday with coverage on selected online bookmaker websites.
