The 2025 ranking event version of Championship League Snooker commenced on Monday with Stephen Maguire easily advancing from Stage One in Leicester.
As usual, the 128 players in the draw have been split into 32 groups of four for the initial phase of the competition.
Maguire, who would have been disappointed to squander a 3-0 lead to Marco Fu in last week’s British Open qualifiers, stormed through his group with three wins from three.
The former UK Championship winner beat James Cahill 3-1 in his opening fixture at the Mattioli Arena, which was the only frame he’d lose across the entire day’s play.
After that, Maguire thumped both Liam Graham and Michael Holt with whitewash displays to easily top Group 15.
In Group 26, rookie Yao Pengcheng made the most of one of his first opportunities to impress in a ranking event this season.
The 28 year-old topped the CBSA China Tour rankings to become a professional player for the first time in his career.
Yao opened his account with a 2-2 draw against Lyu Haotian before securing a pivotal 3-1 success over established pro Jamie Jones.
A subsequent 2-2 tie with fellow rookie Zhao Hanyang, in which he twice came from a frame behind, proved to be enough to see him top a tight league format.
Both Stephen Maguire and Yao Pengcheng will move onto Stage Two of the tournament, but they’ll have to wait about three weeks to reenter the fray.
Prior to that, there are 30 more groups to take place in Stage One with two of those on the schedule for Tuesday in Leicester.
In Group 3, one of the pre-tournament favourites Shaun Murphy will be joined by Robbie McGuigan, Bulcsu Revesz, and Alfie Burden.
Matthew Selt, Scott Donaldson, Fergal Quinn, and Umut Dikme will contest Group 22.
Championship League Snooker represents the opening ranking event of the fledgling 2025/26 snooker season.
The overall winner on July 23rd will take home £33,000 worth of prize money and ranking points, plus a ticket to the lucrative Champion of Champions invitational later this year.
Monday’s Results
Group 15
Stephen Maguire 3-1 James Cahill
Michael Holt 2-2 Liam Graham
Michael Holt 3-0 James Cahill
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Liam Graham
Liam Graham 2-2 James Cahill
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Michael Holt
Table
1. Stephen Maguire – 9 points
2. Michael Holt – 4 points
3. Liam Graham – 2 points
4. James Cahill – 1 points
Group 26
Lyu Haotian 2-2 Yao Pengcheng
Jamie Jones 2-2 Zhao Hanyang
Yao Pengcheng 3-1 Jamie Jones
Lyu Haotian 3-1 Zhao Hanyang
Zhao Hanyang 2-2 Yao Pengcheng
Jamie Jones 3-1 Lyu Haotian
Table
1. Yao Pengcheng – 5 points
2. Jamie Jones – 4 points
3. Lyu Haotian – 4 points
4. Zhao Hanyang – 2 points
Featured photo credit: WST
