David Grace eliminates Zhao Xintong from Championship League Snooker

Grace and Surety won their respective groups on Thursday at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester and both advance to stage two of the £328,000 tournament where the first trophy of the new professional season will be lifted next week.

Former UK Championship semi-finalist Grace progressed at the expense of Zhao Xintong, pipping the 2025 World Champion to top spot on frame difference with both players finishing the day undefeated and on seven points.

World number three Zhao - the current holder of four professional titles - began his term in style as he compiled a total clearance of 140 during a 3-0 win over Simon Blackwell.

Next up on the baize was Grace who stayed on for back-to-back matches, whitewashing both Gao Yang and Blackwell 3-0 to put himself in a very healthy position at the summit.

Zhao returned for the second session to play Chinese compatriot Gao. What would later turn out to be crucial, Gao took the opening frame before Zhao strung together the next three (105 break, frame three) for a 3-1 victory.

Going into the final fixture of the pool where they faced each other, both Zhao and Grace sat on six points, but it was the latter who held top place with a frame difference of +6 compared to +5. This meant that a draw would do for Grace, while his opponent had to take all three points.

Last season's leading century break maker Zhao racked up his third ton of the day with a 139 in the first frame, but Grace levelled up with the aid of a 70 in the second.

A de-facto deciding frame climax was created after Zhao claimed frame three on the colours. In a dramatic ending, with three reds left, Grace missed the red that would have left his peer needing penalty points. Zhao had a very decent chance to counter, but missed the black after potting the first red, and it wasn’t long until he offered his hand out in concession.

It seems a bit brutal that Zhao was eliminated having picked up seven points from nine, but that’s the quirky nature of the Championship League - he dropped three frames compared to Grace’s two.

Over on table two, Surety qualified after denying Matthew Selt in Group 32’s concluding tie.

Former World Open semi-finalist Surety won his opening game of the day 3-1 (68 break, frame four) against Gong Chenzhi before fashioning runs of 137 and 55 in a 2-2 draw with Andrew Higginson. Elsewhere in the pool, ranking event winner Selt defeated both Higginson and Gong 3-1 to collect maximum points.

Qualification came down to the final match, and final frame. Surety needed a win, a draw would do for Selt. Surety (73 break, frame one) went 2-0 up before Selt halved the deficit.

All-or-nothing for both cueists in frame four, and it was world number 42 Surety who came through in style with an effort of 136 to win 3-1 and replace Selt at the top of the table with seven points.

Stage Two begins on Friday in Leicester with Grace and Surety returning, and playing in the same group. Ranking event winners Hossein Vafaei and Lei Peifan are scheduled for the baize, as too is 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel.