Elliot Slessor impresses in qualifying for next stage of Championship League Snooker

Slessor and Robertson - who were both the top seeds in their respective groups - advance to the last 32 of the £328,000 professional ranking competition in a few weeks’ time.

On the main feature table at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, Slessor finished top of Group 9 with seven points, racking up a century break and six further efforts over 50 in the process.

The 31-year-old began the group registering runs of 62, 57, and 50 in a 3-1 win over two-time ranking event winner Robert Milkins who was invited as a Q School top-up having been relegated from the professional ranks last term.

Slessor returned for the late afternoon session where he drew 2-2 with second-season pro Liu Wenwei. The North-East cueman made a 55 in the final frame and had a chance to take all three points but had to make do with a draw.

Going into the final fixture of the pool between Slessor and Liam Pullen, both players - at the time on four points each - knew a victory would see them finish on top. However, a draw between the pair would have meant that Liu - who was on five points - won the group by one frame on frame difference.

But Slessor seemed to put those equations out of his mind as he produced a brilliant three-frame burst, fashioning contributions of 84, 130, and 68 in a resounding 3-0 victory, allowing his opponent Pullen to score a total of just 11 points throughout the tie.

Progression for Slessor will be a morale-booster having lost his opening two matches of this 2026/27 top-flight season at the China Open and Wuhan Open qualifying rounds earlier in June.

A five-time ranking event semi-finalist, the world number 19 is one of the highest ranked players in this tournament.

Over on table two in Group 23, former European Masters champion Robertson ended top of the pile despite not winning either of his opening two fixtures.

The world number 33 shared the spoils with Hammad Miah before later salvaging a 2-2 draw with Antoni Kowalski after claiming the final frame.

The destiny of the group winner was not decided until the final tie of the day when Robertson faced Martin O'Donnell.

O'Donnell had earlier defeated Kowalski 3-0 and drew with Miah meaning he was sat on four points and required only a draw to advance.

Robertson's only way out of the group was a win, and that's exactly what he achieved, scoring a 3-0 victory with the help of a 59 in frame three.

We are now halfway through stage one of the tournament - 16 groups have been completed, 16 more to go. Set to be in action on Wednesday is reigning Scottish Open champion and world number 13 Chris Wakelin.