Stevens joins Robertson and Williams in reaching Championship League last 32

‘I’m not sure that’ll ever be done again’ – O’Sullivan’s review of the 2023-24 snooker season

Matthew Stevens finished his day in style at the Championship League as a 3-1 win over recent Crucible qualifier Robbie Williams saw the Welshman book his place in the last 32 of the season’s first ranking event in Leicester.

The world No. 48 began Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Haydon Pinhey in Group 25 before a 2-2 draw with Farakh Ajaib left Stevens needing to overcome Williams in his final outing of the section.

And classy breaks of 97, 51 and 91 were good enough to see Stevens finish as group winner, three points clear of Ajaib, and joining fellow former Masters and UK winners Neil Robertson and Mark Williams in the next group phase.

Elsewhere at the city’s Mattioli Arena, Ashley Carty enjoyed three straight wins to end his evening as Group 31 winner on nine points.

Carty defeated Mostafa Dorgham (3-0) and Simon Blackwell (3-1) before breaks of 59, 81 and 53 saw him beat Elliot Slessor in a winner-takes-all group decider.

Former UK champion Stephen Maguire takes to the table on Thursday on the fourth day of the event in Group 23 that also contains Ryan Davies, Michael White and Dean Young.

The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

Championship League: Latest Group Winners

Group 21: Neil Robertson (Aus)Group 11: Ryan Day (Wal)Group 4: Mark Williams (Wal)Group 17: Chris Wakelin (Eng)Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)Group 31: Ashley Carty (Eng)Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com