Captain Captures CLS Group Three
Ali Carter continued his return to form by winning Group Three of Championship League snooker, beating Mark Davis 3-1 in the final on Tuesday.
Carter, who has battled cancer for much of the past two years, reached the quarter-finals of last week’s Dafabet Masters, and proved again that his game is coming back with a fine display to reach the Championship League Winners’ Group.
Carter hit back from one frame down in the final, with the help of a 129 break in the second frame to earn the victory, bagging a place in February’s lucrative final group.
“It was a tough group but I really started to find my game towards the end in the semi-finals and the final,” said Chelmsford’s Carter. “I didn’t have a good first day but I played myself into it and I am delighted to get through to the Winners’ Group.
“I really enjoy this event and it would be nice to win and get myself into the Champion of Champions again as well.”
The Essex man had seen off Stuart Bingham in convincing fashion in the semi-finals, with a 110 break the highlight in a 3-0 win. Davis beat Day, who topped the round robin group table, in his semi-final.
Peter Ebdon came fifth so returns in group four along with Davis, Day and Bingham. They will be joined by Matthew Stevens, Michael White and David Gilbert. Marco Fu and defending champion Judd Trump have been eliminated.
The Championship League Snooker event is a venture between Matchroom Sport and Perform where 25 of the game’s elite players compete with all matches broadcast on a host of betting websites.
Results
The Final
Mark Davis 1-3 Ali Carter
68-37 (Davis 52), 0-129 (Carter 129), 16-87 (Carter 32, 55), 0-72
Semi-Finals
Ryan Day 1-3 Mark Davis
68-69 (Day 52), 57-15 (56), 39-58 (52), 35-79 (Day 34, Davis 35, 39)
Stuart Bingham 0-3 Ali Carter
1-102 (38, 64), 5-110 (110) 0-75 (46)
Tuesday Group Results
Ali Carter 3-1 Ryan Day
98-0 (51), 68-41 (Carter 30), 15-66 (44), 80-0 (80)
Judd Trump 1-3 Peter Ebdon
84-0 (84), 21-72 (63), 21-63 (38), 64-66 (Trump 47)
Stuart Bingham 1-3 Mark Davis
16-64 (34), 63-52 (Bingham 33, 30, Davis 52), 0-118 (118), 8-64 (32),
Judd Trump 2-3 Ryan Day
80-19 (36), 72-24 (36), 42-78 (51), 0-88 (37, 51), 24-74 (31)
Marco Fu 0-3 Peter Ebdon
49-65 (Fu 45, Ebdon 36), 46-72 (Fu 38), 13-89 (67)
Ali Carter 3-1 Mark Davis
33-67 (Carter 32, Davis 47), 73-0 (53), 61-18 (31), 74-66 (Carter 35, Davis 66)
Marco Fu 1-3 Ryan Day
16-76 (66), 75-42 (45, 41), 31-74 (42), 26-65 (55)
Ali Carter 1-3 Peter Ebdon
64-65 (Carter 32, Ebdon 48), 0-137 (137), 80-38 (Carter 51, Ebdon 38), 2-59 (41)
Judd Trump 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16-73 (73), 0-80 (80), 90-38 (90, 38), 68-32, 4-134 (104),
CENTURY BREAKS
Judd Trump 137 v Marco Fu
Peter Ebdon 137 v Ali Carter
Marco Fu 130 v Stuart Bingham
Ali Carter 129 v Mark Davis
Mark Davis 118 v Stuart Bingham
Stuart Bingham 115 v Ryan Day
Ali Carter 110 v Stuart Bingham
Marco Fu 108 v Judd Trump
Stuart Bingham 134 v Judd Trump
Judd Trump 103 v Marco Fu
Peter Ebdon 101 v Stuart Bingham