Robert Milkins prevailed in a tight group to reach Stage Three of Championship League Snooker on Tuesday in Leicester.
The reigning Welsh Open champion, who has risen back to number 13 in the world rankings, pipped Si Jiahui and John Astley by a point in Group H.
Milkins got off to a strong start when he recorded a 3-0 victory over Astley in his first fixture at the Morningside Arena.
The 47 year-old then secured a 2-2 draw with Si, the up-and-coming star who he lost to in the second round of this year’s World Championship.
It left the pair locked on four points at the top of the round-robin table, meaning the outcome of the group was to be decided in the last couple of games.
But Si’s defeat to Astley left the door open for Milkins, who safely advanced at the young Chinese competitor’s expense with a 2-2 tie against Pang Junxu.
Group C was also quite tight with three of the four contenders still able to qualify ahead of the last round of encounters.
But after a 3-0 defeat of Liu Hongyu and a 2-2 draw against Daniel Wells, Noppon Saengkham knew that his fate was in his own hands.
The Thai needed a victory over Ashley Carty to guarantee his place in the last eight of the competition, and the 31 year-old duly orchestrated a 3-1 triumph.
Both Robert Milkins and Noppon Saengkham will feature on Friday’s final day in the Championship League when the new snooker season’s first champion will be determined.
On Wednesday, Stage Two continues with Shaun Murphy back in the fray in Group D alongside former champion David Gilbert, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, and James Cahill.
Zhou Yuelong is the favourite in Group A with the Chinese competitor in action against countryman Xiao Guodong and English pair Ben Woollaston and Michael Holt.
Championship League Snooker
Stage Two draw
Group A (July 19) |
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Michael Holt |
Ben Woollaston |
Zhou Yuelong |
Xiao Guodong |
Group B (July 20) |
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Judd Trump |
Matthew Stevens |
Joe Perry |
Cao Yupeng |
Group C (July 18) |
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Noppon Saengkham |
Group D (July 19) |
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Shaun Murphy |
David Gilbert |
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh |
James Cahill |
Group E (July 17) |
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Chris Wakelin |
Group F (July 17) |
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Mark Williams |
Group G (July 20) |
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Long Zehuang |
Michael White |
Sam Craigie |
Jak Jones |
Group H (July 18) |
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Robert Milkins |
Featured photo credit: WST