Ali Carter claims sixth career ranking title at 2024 Championship League Snooker

This latest victory for Englishman Carter represents his sixth career ranking event title and his first on home soil following wins in Wales (2009 Welsh Open), China (2010 Shanghai Masters, 2016 World Open) and Germany (2013, 2023 German Masters).

• Results and breaks from the 2024 Championship League Snooker Ranking Event

Plenty of determination was shown by ‘The Captain’ during his visits to the Mattioli Arena in Leicester; he was on the brink of elimination in stage one as he trailed Xing Zihao by a significant gap in the final frame of their decisive contest before coming through on the final pink.

In stage two, Carter topped a three-man group against opponents Jack Lisowski and Wu Yize to book a place in Wednesday’s Finals Day where the eight remaining contestants from an initial field of 128 congregated.

The world number 10 began his day with a 3-0 win over Scott Donaldson before coming back from 2-0 down to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw with Martin O'Donnell; fashioning a break of 118 in the final frame.

Carter returned later in the day for the final fixture of the group needing a victory against Mark Williams - who also had to pick up three points - in order to top the pool. Despite going one-nil down, Carter was resilient as he strung together the next three frames in denying both Williams and Scott Donaldson (who required the last match being a draw to qualify) for a 3-1 win.

Waiting for Carter in the title match was 22-year-old Page who was appearing in his maiden ranking event final.

The Welshman - who had previously lost in stage one in each of the four previous editions - finished top of Group 2 with five points alongside David Gilbert, although with a marginally better net frame difference which put him through.

44-year-old Carter had little time to prepare for the final with a quick turnaround, but he started the tie superbly as he compiled a break of 116 in the opening frame, although world number 45 Page responded very well with an effort of 83 in frame two to level up.

However, Carter was not to be denied, as he capitalised on a fluke on the opening red in frame three and went on to produce a 96 before making a 50 in the fourth frame on his way to the trophy.

Carter - who has been a stalwart of both the invitational and ranking versions of the Championship League - collects £33,000 for the achievement and a spot at the Champion of Champions in November.