Kyren Wilson cruises through to Championship League final day
A hat-trick of Championship League titles is within Wilson’s sight
Reigning champion Kyren Wilson remained on course to complete a hat-trick of Championship League titles after booking his place in the final day of action in Leicester.
The Warrior is aiming to become only the second player after Judd Trump to win the round-robin event on three occasions.
He resumed his quest by topping Group D with a match to spare at the Morningside Arena on Wednesday.
The world number six began with a stunning 92 clearance to complete a 3-1 victory over 1997 Crucible champion Ken Doherty.
He then put Oliver Lines to the sword by the same scoreline; producing breaks of 62, 59 and 87 along the way.
Already eliminated Lines, who went close to a 147 in that match before breaking down on 80, required just a draw against Doherty in his next outing to give Wilson top spot.
The former Asian Tour finalist went one better by inflicting a 3-0 defeat on the Darlin’ of Dublin, recovering from 67-0 down in the final frame to seal maximum points on the black.
Matthew Stevens – winner of this event in 2011 – also bowed out in style; breaks of 84 and 111 gave him a 3-0 victory over Wilson, who suffered only a second defeat in 16 matches since the Championship League became a ranking event last year.
Joining Wilson in Group One on Friday is Chinese teenager Bai Langning, who continued his remarkable run by heading Group C.
Though pegged back to 2-2 from 2-0 up against Noppon Saengkham, the 19-year-old then recorded an impressive 3-0 victory over 2015 finalist Mark Davis.
Following Davis’ 3-0 rout of Saengkham – in which he made breaks of 83, 113 and 102 – Bai needed just a point from his final game against World Seniors champion David Lilley.
Although Lilley opened with 71, runs of 88 and 92 gained the required draw as the rising Chinese star advanced to the final stage.
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Championship league Snooker 2021 Results
Wednesday August 11
Kyren Wilson 3-1 Ken Doherty (Group D)
Mark Davis 1-3 David Lilley (Group C)
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Oliver Lines (Group D)
Noppon Saengkham 2-2 Bai Langning (Group C)
Matthew Stevens 0-3 Ken Doherty (Group D)
Noppon Saengkham 3-1 David Lilley (Group C)
Kyren Wilson 3-1 Oliver Lines (Group D)
Mark Davis 0-3 Bai Langning (Group C)
Oliver Lines 3-0 Ken Doherty (Group D)
Noppon Saengkham 0-3 Mark Davis (Group C)
Kyren Wilson 0-3 Matthew Stevens (Group D)
David Lilley 2-2 Bai Langning (Group C)
| NAME | P | W | L | FW | FL | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyren Wilson | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Oliver Lines | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Matthew Stevens | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Ken Doherty | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| NAME | P | W | L | FW | FL | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bai Langning | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| David Lilley | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| Noppon Saengkham | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Mark Davis | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 |