Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan are set to clash in the same Championship League group later this month after a reshuffling of the schedule. Trump, fresh off his victory at the German Masters, secured his fourth ranking title of the season by defeating Si Jiahui in the final in Berlin. Originally slated to compete in Leicester this week, Trump’s impressive performance prompted organizers to reschedule his appearance to Group 7 on February 28-29, coinciding with O’Sullivan and Si’s entry into the tournament.
In the realm of Championship League snooker, withdrawals are a regular occurrence, casting uncertainty on whether the formidable duo of Trump and O’Sullivan will indeed grace Group 7. Nonetheless, the prospect of their clash looms large, promising an electrifying showdown. Anticipation mounts for a thrilling final group stage, with the potential to witness top-notch cue action before the seven group victors vie for championship glory on March 1-2.
Stuart Bingham and Chris Wakelin have successfully secured their berths in the prestigious Winners’ Group, leaving one more player to join their ranks come Tuesday.
In the intense battleground of Group 3, snooker heavyweights such as John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Gary Wilson, Tom Ford, and Xiao Guodong are fiercely competing to clinch the elusive third spot.
The player who emerges victorious on Tuesday will advance to the next stage, while the two players at the bottom of the standings will face elimination. The remaining four contenders will then progress to Group 4, where they will join forces with Barry Hawkins, Jimmy Robertson, and Ricky Walden for further battles on Wednesday’s slate of matches.
Group 5 begins on Friday with Dave Gilbert, Joe Perry and Fan Zhengyi joining the fray. After a pause in the action, Group 6 is played on 26-27 January, with Jack Lisowski, Hossein Vafaei and Ali Carter set to be involved
Carter’s absence from Group 3 this week led to Higgins stepping in, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive tournament victory.
Higgins, known as the “Wizard of Wishaw,” boasts an impressive track record in the Invitational Championship League, having clinched the title four times, a feat unmatched by any other player. Despite a recent drought in other competitions, Higgins is eager to maintain his stellar performance in this event.
‘After the last couple of seasons, where I haven’t been winning four, five or six titles, people have been very quick to point that out,’ he said. ‘It is nice to do it again this season.
‘Maybe hearing what some people say off the table pushes me to the level where I am able to produce it week in and week out. I have always been very dedicated. When you come to venues like this it just ignites something.’
Judd Trump’s exceptional season reached new heights as he secured his third German Masters title on Sunday. Reflecting on his triumph, Trump candidly revealed that he found motivation in the skepticism directed towards him during the past few years, particularly when his trophy cabinet wasn’t filling up as frequently. This inner drive fueled his determination to silence the doubters and reclaim his status as a dominant force in the snooker world.
Leave a Reply