Page receives rankings boost despite Championship League final defeat

Jackson Page has moved inside the world’s top 40 despite losing 3-1 to Ali Carter in the Championship League final on Wednesday in Leicester.

The 22-year-old Welshman reached his first major final at the season’s first ranking event, but was left helpless as two-time world finalist Carter produced breaks of 116, 96 and 50 to claim his sixth ranking title at the Mattioli Arena.

Page moves up from 45 to a career high of 39 in the latest provisional rankings after earning £23,000 for reaching the final with world No. 10 Carter collecting £33,000 to close the gap on world No. 9 Mark Williams to only 4,500 points.

“I’m delighted with how I played in the final, I felt the most comfortable with the most at stake which is pleasing,” said Carter, who returns to action at the Shanghai Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+ (15-21 July)

“Jackson is such a great young player with a ton of potential and was playing great, so I’m delighted to get a victory over one of the young guns.”

Carter denied Williams the chance to contest an all-Welsh final with a 3-1 win over the three-time world champion in their Group 1 decider.

Page edged out Crucible semi-finalist David Gilbert on frame difference to top Group 2.

Elsewhere, recent Welsh Open finalist Martin O’Donnell was rewarded for his run to the final day of the event by moving up 10 places from 63 to the 53 in the world courtesy of the £8,000 he picked up while former World Seniors champion David Lilley is up to 57th for earning £8,000.