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O'SULLIVAN AND JONES THROUGH TO WINNERS' WEEK AT CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE SNOOKER

Reigning world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Welsh star Jamie Jones got off to the perfect start of the season, winning Groups One and 27 respectively at BetVictor Championship League Snooker at the Morningside Arena, Leicester.


O’Sullivan, starting the season as newly crowned 7-times champion of the world, opened his campaign with a quick-fire 3-0 win over Farakh Ajaib, a match in which he conceded just 46 points.

A closer match against long-time practice partner Alfie Burden saw O’Sullivan concede his first frame of the group, and despite seeing Burden make the highest break of the match (79), it was the world number one who was the 3-1 victor.

Heading into the evening, O’Sullivan required just a point against Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher who had registered 3-1 wins against both Burden and Ajaib. The Rocket went one better than that, beating Ursenbacher 3-1 with a century break (121) in the final frame, to maintain his perfect win record in the group, booking his spot in winners’ week in doing so.

Speaking afterwards, O’Sullivan said: “I just enjoyed playing, it felt good to be out there hitting balls again I suppose.

“Even if I play rubbish, it doesn’t bother me, I can quickly get over it and move onto the things I enjoy.”

It’s the first competitive outing on the baize for O’Sullivan following his historic 7th world title in Sheffield, reflecting on that feat he said: “I felt like my game was okay heading into Sheffield, it was enough to get the job done. The reaction was great, but also wasn’t great as I enjoy going under the radar these days.”

It was even more routine for Jamie Jones in Group 27 who, thanks to two draws from the two opening matches not involving the world number 31, qualified for winners’ week with a game to spare.

Jones started the day with a somewhat scrappy 3-1 victory over Estonia’s first ever professional snooker player Andres Petrov in the opening match on table two.

The Welsh potter found another level however, when facing the former world snooker seniors champion David Lilley, winning 3-0 with a group high break of 134 in the 2nd frame. A break of 54 in the third and final frame enough to complete the win and earn a spot in winners’ week before facing Sam Craigie in what resulted in a 2-2 draw.

On his group victory, Jones said: “I’ve been practicing well and playing as much as I’ve ever done in the off season. This year, I’ve done a little bit of coaching where in previous years I’d usually put the cue down for two months. Now, I feel sharp and am glad to get through to the next stage.

“I have been a notoriously slow starter to the season, so I did feel a little bit of pressure coming into today as I didn’t want to start this season how I usually do.

“I’m currently 31st [on the tour] and I’ve given myself the hefty goal of trying to get into the Masters by January. It’s a massive goal, but if you don’t aim high what are you going to achieve? I’d also love to pick up my first trophy this season.”

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