Tom Ford got his 2026 calendar year off to a positive start by winning Group 1 of Championship League Snooker in Leicester.
A tight round-robin phase concluded with not much separating the seven players involved at the Mattioli Arena.
Indeed, Ford was a little fortunate to make it through to the knockout phase after winning only three out of his six league games.
That proved to be just about enough to seal fourth place ahead of Elliot Slessor on the back of a superior frames-won count.
Ford faced fellow Leicester potter Joe O’Connor in the semi-finals, the latter having topped the round-robin stage with four victories including one over the same opponent.
O’Connor got off to a good start with a break of 101, but Ford responded with runs of 96 and 66 to move in front and then triumphed by taking the fourth on the colours.
Jackson Page was the other finalist, the Welshman having edged Chris Wakelin 3-2 in a close last-four encounter.
Ford again went one frame behind, but he duly kicked into gear and compiled breaks of 107, 76, and 97 to win the opening group.
The former Shoot Out champion becomes the first player to advance to the Winners’ Group that will be held next month at the same venue.
Six more groups will be staged before that during the month of January, with Group 2 on the agenda for Sunday and Monday.
Page, O’Connor, and Wakelin, who compiled his maiden 147 break on Friday, will get another crack at qualifying.
Fifth-placed Slessor also moves forward to Group 2, with Gary Wilson, David Gilbert, and Noppon Saengkham entering the fray as newcomers.
Pang Junxu and Hossein Vafaei have been eliminated from the competition, meanwhile, after finishing at the bottom of Group 1.
This is the invitational version of Championship League Snooker and has no bearings on the rankings, unlike the summer edition that was won by Stephen Maguire.
There are various prize bonuses on offer, including money for frames won, reaching the group play offs, and recording the highest break.
Ford pocketed £6,200 in Group 1 and will add to that sum when he plays in the Winners’ Group in February.
Ironically, however, it’s often the players who can continue to survive from one group to the next across the series that will end up taking home the most prize money.
Championship League Snooker Group 1
Round Robin
1. Joe O’Connor – 4 points
2. Jackson Page – 4 points
3. Chris Wakelin – 4 points
4. Tom Ford – 3 points
5. Elliot Slessor – 2 points
6. Pang Junxu – 1 point
7. Hossein Vafaei – 1 point
Semi-Finals
Tom Ford 3-1 Joe O’Connor
Jackson Page 3-2 Chris Wakelin
Final
Tom Ford 3-1 Jackson Page
Featured photo credit: WST
