Williams sees off Si to qualify for Championship League final stage

Mark Williams displayed his enduring class by defeating Si Jiahui 3-0 in the Group D decider on Monday to qualify for Wednesday’s final group stage of the Championship League in Leicester.

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The three-time world champion produced a 96 in the second frame on his way to ending the hopes of Si, who defeated him 10-9 in the first round of the World Championship in April.

The Welshman had earlier compiled 90 and 87 in a 2-2 draw with Stuart Carrington and a fabulous 130 knock in a 2-2 draw with local favourite Ben Woollaston.

Woollaston kept alive his hopes with a 3-1 win over Carrington, but Williams eased past Si to win the section by a solitary frame on frame difference.

Williams lost 3-0 to Shaun Murphy in the final of the season’s first ranking event a year ago, but looks like he is well placed to challenge for a 27th career ranking title.

He was joined in the final group stage by Welsh Open finalist Martin O’Donnell, who topped Group H courtesy of the only victory of the day in the section.

After drawing 2-2 with Matthew Stevens and world finalist Jak Jones, O’Donnell downed Ma Hailong 3-1 to progress by two points ahead of Stevens and Jones, who drew all three of their matches.

Williams will join O’Donnell, Ali Carter and Scott Donaldson in Group 1 of the final group phase on Wednesday with Long Zehuang and David Gilbert in Group 2 before the final two places are confirmed on Tuesday.

Scottish and Welsh Open winner Gary Wilson is in action on Tuesday with Ryan Day also bidding to reach the final stage on the penultimate day of play.

Stage one consisted of 32 groups of four players. 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.