For the final time this week we have some action from the Championship League Snooker and we will today find out who will be the latest to join the all-important winners group…
Firstly here is a reminder that you can read my tournament preview here, which includes details on how you can watch the action live on the internet.
You can also view the schedule for group four over the next to days over at Matchroom Sport by clicking here.
Scroll down past my updates for a link to the latest scores.
11am
Coming into the day at the foot of the table with just one point each, it was crucial for both Neil Robertson and Mark Williams to get off to winning starts today and that is exactly what they have done.
For Mark it was a solid 3-1 win against Stuart Bingham who actually took the first frame, while Neil is currently leading 3-0 against another man on just one point, Stoke’s Dave Harold. Things are not looking too good for Dave as he faces the prospect of having lost three of his four matches without winning a frame and is now rooted to the foot of the table and looking doomed as far as survival is concerned…and there it is, 4-0 to Neil who does his frame difference a lot of good there!
12:45pm
In the clash of the group toppers John Higgins and Jamie Cope played out a 2-2 draw to further strengthen their positions at the top of the table. Jamie Cope actually moved into a 2-0 lead but Higgins fought back with breaks of 66 and 99 to keep his unbeaten run going.
In the other match Stuart Bingham currently leads Barry Hawkins 2-1 in what is a crucial match for both players. If Stuart can take the final frame to secure both points then it would leave him in a strong position to qualify for the semis…but he can’t, after not being able to pot a ball in the first two frames it has been a good response from Hawkins and a run of 64 secures another point for him to keep him third in the group.
2pm
This morning’s winners Neil Robertson and Mark Williams are in action again this afternoon as both desperately try to earn all the points that they can to at least survive in the competition if not make the semi-finals.
Neil got off to a good start by taking the opener but since then Cope has been magnificent, making breaks of 137 and 122 to turn it around and earn another point. The final frame won’t make too much difference to Jamie but it is is crucial for Neil that he takes it and earns at least one point going into the evening session.
Things are going better for Mark on the other table who currently leads Dave Harold 2-1. Like Neil he could really do with taking the fourth frame though because every point will make a big difference at this stage. Win it he does, no big break but that’s 3-1 for Williams with just one match for him to play against John Higgins later which if he can win, will secure his place in the competition and possibly put him into the semi-finals…
Well Neil Robertson has come back to take a point from his match with Jamie, but it was a match that he really needed to win. What this means now is that it will all come down to his final match with Stuart Bingham which will get underway shortly. A win would keep Neil in the competition and put Stuart out, but anything else and it is the Australian who will be going home…
3:30pm
It’s a good start for Barry Hawkins against poor old Dave Harold as he comes back from 42-0 down to win the frame with a break of 69. His last match of the Group, a win here for Barry would certainly secure a place in the top four for him and give him another shot at qualifying for the winners group in this evening’s semi-finals…
And that’s 2-0 and it is starting to look ominous again for Dave, he’s had a terrible time this week.
But full credit to him, a total clearance of 129 and victory in a scrappy fourth frame have salvaged some pride, if not survival in the competition. Barry Hawkins meanwhile has done enough to move into the semi-finals for the second straight group.
5:15pm
In the final two matches of the group it was crucially Stuart Bingham who came out on top against Neil Robertson with runs of 69, 50 and 47, putting the Australian out of the competition in the process.
This also puts Stuart into the semi-finals because Mark Williams could only draw with John Higgins in the other match which means that he cannot overtake Barry Hawkins and move into fourth place in the group. Mark will at least be back for group five having finished in fifth place.
Semi-finals/Final
Apologies for the brief updates today, have spent a large portion of it stuck in snow in town! Into the final though are John Higgins and perhaps surprisingly, Stuart Bingham, both running out 3-1 winners against Barry Hawkins and Jamie Cope respectively.
And the win goes to Stuart Bingham who wins it 3-1, despite Higgins pulling one back from 2-0 to make it 2-1 and putting some pressure on. Well done to Stuart, he now joins Mark Selby, Mark Allen and Joe Perry in the winners group.
Results
For today”s latest results, please click here to visit the Global Snooker Centre.