Chris Wakelin and Joe O’Connor joined the final 32 of Championship League Snooker on the Mattioli Area on Wednesday.
Wakelin – considered one of solely two top-16 members left on this yr’s draw – went undefeated in Group 5 in Leicester.
The previous Shoot Out champion is thought to be one of the improved gamers on the circuit over the past couple of seasons.
With so many high stars absent from the Championship League discipline, Wakelin is regarded among the many betting favourites for glory within the 2025/26 season’s opening rating occasion.
The 33 year-old obtained off to a robust begin by beating beginner top-up Daniel Womersley 3-1 earlier than inflicting a 3-0 defeat on Mitchell Mann.
All he wanted to do in opposition to remaining opponent Julien Leclercq was keep away from defeat, and that’s exactly what he did.
Wakelin took the primary two frames of their contest to safeguard the draw he required.
O’Connor, in the meantime, moved by way of from Group 16 with an ideal file of three victories from his three round-robin fixtures.
The 29 year-old, enjoying on house soil in Leicester, beat Andrew Pagett, Liam Pullen, and Zak Surety to the lack of only a single body throughout a dominant day’s play.
Each Chris Wakelin and Joe O’Connor will rejoin the fray in Stage Two of the competitors, which commences on Friday.
Earlier than that, Stage One lastly reaches its climax on Thursday with the concluding two teams from the early section of the match on the schedule.
Group 27 will see Aaron Hill joined by Dylan Emery, Sahil Nayyar, and Gary Thomson, whereas Xu Si will contest Group 29 alongside Fan Zhengyi, Liam Highfield, and Michal Szubarczyk.
Championship League Snooker represents the opening rating occasion of the fledgling 2025/26 snooker season.
The general winner on July twenty third will take house £33,000 price of prize cash and rating factors, plus a ticket to the profitable Champion of Champions invitational later this yr.
Stay protection is obtainable for Eire and UK viewers on the Matchroom Multi Sport and Matchroom Pool YouTube channels.
Wednesday’s Outcomes
Group 5
Chris Wakelin 3-1 Daniel Womersley
Julien Leclercq 3-0 Mitchell Mann
Julien Leclercq 2-2 Daniel Womersly
Chris Wakelin 3-0 Mitchell Mann
Mitchell Mann 2-2 Daniel Womersley
Chris Wakelin 2-2 Julien Leclercq
Desk
1. Chris Wakelin – 7 factors
2. Julien Leclercq – 5 factors
3. Daniel Womersley – 2 factors
4. Mitchell Mann – 1 level
Group 16
Joe O’Connor 3-1 Andrew Pagett
Zak Surety 3-0 Liam Pullen
Zak Surety 3-1 Andrew Pagett
Joe O’Connor 3-0 Liam Pullen
Liam Pullen 3-1 Andrew Pagett
Joe O’Connor 3-0 Zak Surety
Desk
1. Joe O’Connor – 9 factors
2. Zak Surety – 6 factors
3. Liam Pullen – 3 factors
4. Andrew Pagett – 0 factors
Featured picture credit score: WST
