Barry Hawkins was dumped out of a detailed Group 1 as Championship League Snooker resumed on Monday in Leicester.
With so many prime names absent from the draw this time, Hawkins was truly the top-ranked contender within the Championship League discipline.
However the world quantity 9 missed out on body distinction, with Haydon Pinhey snatching first place and a spot in Stage Two as an alternative.
A decent day of play got here down to simply the odd body right here or there, with Pinhey, Hawkins, and Haris Tahir all ending with 4 factors from a potential 9.
The trio completed forward of newbie top-up John Astley, who went undefeated however nonetheless positioned final following a hat-trick of attracts.
Within the final recreation of the day, a single frame-winning break above 90 would have proved to be sufficient to see Hawkins by way of.
However Pinhey orchestrated the 3-0 victory he required to usurp each Hawkins and Tahir into the primary place primarily based on body distinction.
The early exit for Hawkins implies that there are solely two top-16 members left within the draw – Zhang Anda who has already reached the final 32 and Chris Wakelin who enters the fray in Group 5 on Wednesday.
There was an upset in Group 20 as properly with Zhou Yuelong crashing out of the working with a report of only one win and two defeats.
David Lilley superior as an alternative, beating Zhou and David Grace both facet of a 2-2 tie with Ashley Hugill.
Each Haydon Pinhey and David Lilley will function once more later this week when Stage Two commences on the Mattioli Area.
Earlier than that, there are nonetheless a couple of days from Stage One to finish with two extra teams on the agenda for Tuesday’s order of play.
Final 12 months’s runner-up Jackson Web page is in Group 24 alongside Jordan Brown, Liu Wenwei, and Zack Richardson, whereas Martin O’Donnell is in Group 31 with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Reanne Evans, and Gao Yang.
Championship League Snooker represents the opening rating occasion of the fledgling 2025/26 snooker season.
The general winner on July twenty third will take residence £33,000 value of prize cash and rating factors, plus a ticket to the profitable Champion of Champions invitational later this 12 months.
Reside protection is obtainable for Eire and UK viewers on the Matchroom Multi Sport and Matchroom Pool YouTube channels.
Monday’s Outcomes
Group 1
Barry Hawkins 2-2 John Astley
Haris Tahir 3-1 Haydon Pinhey
Haydon Pinhey 2-2 John Astley
Barry Hawkins 3-0 Haris Tahir
Haris Tahir 2-2 John Astley
Haydon Pinhey 3-0 Barry Hawkins
Desk
1. Haydon Pinhey – 4 factors
2. Barry Hawkins – 4 factors
3. Haris Tahir – 4 factors
4. John Astley – 3 factors
Group 20
Ashley Hugill 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
David Lilley 3-0 David Grace
David Lilley 2-2 Ashley Hugill
Zhou Yuelong 3-1 David Grace
David Grace 2-2 Ashley Hugill
David Lilley 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
Desk
1. David Lilley – 7 factors
2. Ashley Hugill – 5 factors
3. Zhou Yuelong – 3 factors
4. David Grace – 1 level
Featured picture credit score: WST
