Jak Jones edged one of many closest teams of this yr’s Championship League Snooker to achieve Stage Two on Friday in Leicester.
The Welshman has usually struggled to construct on his shock run to the 2024 World Championship ultimate and now sits solely simply contained in the world’s high 32.
Jones, nonetheless, made a constructive begin to this season’s opening rating occasion by prevailing from a dramatic Group 22 wherein all 4 gamers remained in rivalry heading into the ultimate spherical of fixtures.
The 31 year-old opened with a 3-0 victory over Michael Larkov earlier than sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Alfie Burden.
Jones then suffered a 3-1 defeat to Oliver Traces, however he crucially claimed the third body to disclaim his English opponent a whitewash.
That proved sufficient to see Jones end in a three-way tie on 4 factors with Traces and Larkov, advancing on body distinction to safe his place in Stage Two.
Becoming a member of the 32 year-old within the subsequent part of the competitors can be Iulian Boiko, who emerged unbeaten from Group 4.
The Ukrainian orchestrated two victories and a draw from his three spherical robin fixtures, tying with Lan Yuhao whereas additionally recording similar wins over Ian Martin and Joshua Thomond.
With each gamers ending on the identical variety of factors and an identical body distinction, Boiko’s highest break of 90 edged Lan’s greatest effort of 85 to ship the 20 year-old by.
Twenty-two of the 32 Stage One group winners have now been decided, leaving simply ten locations nonetheless up for grabs.
The motion continues on Saturday with the final two Championship League winners each getting into the fray.
Ali Carter, the 2024 champion, headlines Group 12 alongside Jamie Jones, Patrick Whelan, and Leone Crowley, whereas defending champion Stephen Maguire faces Robbie Williams, Anton Kazakov, and Ng On Yee in Group 19.
Championship League Snooker represents the opening rating occasion of the fledgling 2026/27 snooker season.
The general winner on July fifteenth will take dwelling £33,000 value of prize cash and rating factors, plus a ticket to the profitable Champion of Champions invitational later this yr.
Reside protection is accessible for Eire and UK viewers on the Matchroom Multi Sport and Matchroom Pool YouTube channels.
Friday, July 3
Group 4 Outcomes
Iulian Boiko 3-0 Ian Martin
Lan Yuhao 3-1 Joshua Thomond
Lan Yuhao 3-0 Ian Martin
Iulian Boiko 3-1 Joshua Thomond
Joshua Thomond 3-1 Ian Martin
Iulian Boiko 2-2 Lan Yuhao
Group 4 Desk
1. Iulian Boiko – 7 factors
2. Lan Yuhao – 7 factors
3. Joshua Thomond – 3 factors
4. Ian Martin – 0 factors
Click on right here for extra details about the event.
Group 22 Outcomes
Jak Jones 3-0 Michael Larkov
Oliver Traces 2-2 Alfie Burden
Michael Larkov 3-1 Oliver Traces
Jak Jones 2-2 Alfie Burden
Alfie Burden 2-2 Michael Larkov
Oliver Traces 3-1 Jak Jones
Group 22 Desk
1. Jak Jones – 4 factors
2. Oliver Traces – 4 factors
3. Michael Larkov – 4 factors
4. Alfie Burden – 3 factors
Featured photograph credit score: WST
