Zhang Anda became the last player to qualify for the Winners’ Group of Championship League Snooker after winning Group 7 on Saturday.
The Chinese potter moved one step closer to the invitational title after a strong couple of days at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
The round-robin phase of Group 7 concluded with Jimmy Robertson and Jack Lisowski on top with a similar record of four wins and two defeats.
Robertson had been at the bottom of the table after the first day but won all three of his league fixtures on day two to progress in first place ahead of Lisowski.
However, both Englishmen duly bowed out in the semi-finals, respectively losing to Xu Si and Zhang who had each just sneaked through to the knockout stages on frame difference.
Xu comfortably beat Robertson 3-0 while Zhang twice fought his way back from behind to eventually deny Lisowski in a deciding frame.
The former International Championship winner then took the opening couple of frames of the final to move to within the brink of glory.
Xu responded with a break of 98 to briefly threaten a turnaround, but Zhang ended any of those aspirations with a run of 53 in the fourth.
The 34 year-old, who has found some form again after dropping out of the top 16 towards the end of last year, advances to next month’s Winners’ Group.
Tom Ford, Elliot Slessor, Si Jiahui, Matthew Selt, Mark Selby, and Wu Yize are the other six players who will strive for the silverware on February 10th and 11th.
For Selby, the world number six is bidding to triumph at the non-ranking edition of Championship League Snooker for the third year on the trot.
Slessor and Si, meanwhile, will have an opportunity to capture a professional title on the main tour for the first time.
Selby is the favourite in the outright betting market carrying odds of 2/1 while Group 7 winner Zhang has seen his odds slashed to 15/2, with JB Sportsbook providing more snooker odds for upcoming tournaments.
There are various prize bonuses on offer at the Championship League, including money for frames won, reaching the group play offs, and recording the highest break in each group.
The overall champion will receive an additional £10,000 prize, and there is a chance victory could pave the way to receiving an invitation to the Champion of Champions next season.
Championship League Snooker Group 7
Round Robin
1. Jimmy Robertson – 4 points
2. Jack Lisowski – 4 points
3. Zhang Anda – 3 points
4. Xu Si – 3 points
5. Lei Peifan – 3 points
6. Jak Jones – 2 points
7. Ryan Day – 2 points
Semi-Finals
Xu Si 3-0 Jimmy Robertson
Zhang Anda 3-2 Jack Lisowski
Final
Zhang Anda 3-1 Xu Si
Featured photo credit: WST
