Luo And Un-Nooh Top CL Groups
Luo Honghao knocked out Mark Allen while Thepchaiya Un-Nooh won a group-deciding match against fellow Thai player Sunny Akani to advance to Stage Two of the BetVictor Championship League.
Both groups came down to deciding head-to-heads, with Luo facing Allen knowing a draw would be enough. The Chinese player took the first frame with a 58 break but Allen replied with a 53 to keep his hopes alive.
However, those hopes were soon dashed as 20-year-old Luo took the third frame to ensure at least a point. Allen made a 97 in the last to draw 2-2.
On table two, Un-Nooh faced Akani knowing only a win would be enough to advance. Akani entered the match with wins over Peter Lines (3-1) and Lee Walker (3-0), giving him the advantage over Un-Nooh, who had drawn with Lines.
Un-Nooh took the first frame but Akani hit back with a 76. However, that was his last significant visit, as Un-Nooh took the last two frames to top the group.
“I am happy to progress,” he said. “When it was 1-1 I thought I wasn’t going to qualify but I made a long brown and cleared up for 2-1. In the last frame, I knew if I lost I was finished but I was so happy to win.
“Sunny is a good long potter, good at break building and has good safety. I watched his game against Walker and he made a brilliant break in every frame and I thought it would be trouble for me in the last match.”
BetVictor Championship League Snooker continues on Wednesday with former champion Scott Donaldson among those in action . Coverage of both tables will be available at Matchroom.Live, with UK television coverage on Freesports.
Group fixtures, results, standings and details of how to watch can be found at http://www.championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk/.
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FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
GROUP 9
| P | W | D | L | FW | FL | +/- | PTS | |
| Luo Honghao | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Mark Allen | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Jamie Wilson | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 2 |
| Billy Castle | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 1 |
GROUP 19
| P | W | D | L | FW | FL | +/- | PTS | |
| Thepchaiya Un-Nooh | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Sunny Akani | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Peter Lines | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 2 |
| Lee Walker | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 1 |