Elliot Slessor became the second player to reach the Winners’ Group after triumphing in Group 2 of Championship League Snooker on Monday.
In a Tyneside tussle to see who emerged from the group, Slessor beat pal Gary Wilson 3-1 in the final at the Mattioli Arena.
Earlier, the pair had both come through the round-robin phase in Leicester with a record of four victories and two defeats.
Wilson, who is preparing for next week’s prestigious Masters invitational at the Alexandrea Palace in London, finished in first place on the back of a superior frame difference and frames-won record.
In the semi-finals, the three-time ranking event winner subsequently defeated Joe O’Connor – making breaks of 85 and 51.
Slessor, meanwhile, prevailed from a scrappy last-four clash with Noppon Saengkham from which he won all three frames on the colours.
Wilson then got in first in the final with a break of 50 to go one in front, but Slessor responded with a terrific 108 to restore parity.
The world no.20 duly moved ahead with a run of 57 before an excellent concluding contribution of 138 sealed the deal.
Slessor joins Tom Ford in next month’s Winners’ Group, the latter having advanced from Group 1 on Saturday.
Wilson, O’Connor, and fifth-placed Chris Wakelin will stay in the competition and get another crack at qualifying when they participate in Group 3 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
David Gilbert and Jackson Page, who was a runner-up in Group 1, both exit the tournament after finishing last in Group 2, while Saengkham has opted not to pull out.
That means there will be four newcomers, with Xiao Guodong, Si Jiahui, Yuan Sijun, and Antoni Kowalski joining the fray.
There are various prize bonuses on offer, including money for frames won, reaching the group play offs, and recording the highest break in each group.
Championship League Snooker Group 2
Round Robin
1. Gary Wilson – 4 points
2. Noppon Saengkham – 4 points
3. Elliot Slessor – 4 points
4. Joe O’Connor – 3 points
5. Chris Wakelin – 3 points
6. David Gilbert – 2 points
7. Jackson Page – 1 point
Semi-Finals
Gary Wilson 3-1 Joe O’Connor
Elliot Slessor 3-0 Noppon Saengkham
Final
Elliot Slessor 3-1 Gary Wilson
Featured photo credit: WST
