Emery and Xu top opening Championship League groups, Wilson withdraws due to burglary

The first trophy of the 2026/27 professional snooker season will be raised at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester next month, and the 21-day Championship League began on Monday with the focus on Groups 3 and 24.

One of the main star attractions in this year's edition was Kyren Wilson, and the 2024 World Champion got his new season off to an ideal start as he registered breaks of 81 and 59 in a 3-0 victory over Haydon Pinhey.

However, Wilson later discovered that his house had been burgled whilst playing, understandably resulting in him withdrawing from the competition immediately.

The current Masters champion posted on social media about the distressing incident, including details on several sentimental and luxury items which were stolen.

Wilson's withdrawal meant that his earlier result was scrubbed from the record books and the group continued with only three players.

Welshman Dylan Emery had put himself in a good position having scored an impressive 3-1 win over 15-year-old Michal Szubarczyk along with breaks of 103, 65, and 107.

The 25-year-old then registered another century break (100) during a 2-2 draw with Pinhey, with the latter taking the final frame to salvage a point.

With Wilson pulling out, that meant the only remaining fixture was Szubarczyk versus Pinhey.

Because of his earlier defeat, Szubarczyk could no longer finish top of the group, but Pinhey - who currently doesn't have a professional tour card having been relegated from the World Snooker Tour back in April - could with either a 3-0 win, or a 3-1 win with a break of over 107 (Emery's highest break of the day which acted as a tiebreaker).

Szubarczyk pinched the opening frame after a final red to pink ball clearance, although Pinhey equalised. Needing to win both of the final two frames and compile a run over 107, Pinhey had a chance of ticking off the latter whilst on a break of 55 before missing, but winning frame.

Pinhey was unable to craft the required contribution in frame four, which was taken by Poland's Szubarczyk anyway for a 2-2 draw, although he did claim second place in the group and a £2,000 payday.

Emery therefore won the group and advances to the last 32 of the £328,000 competition in a few weeks' time.

Currently on the second year of a two-year tour card, Emery has made a very decent start to the new term.

Last week he won three qualifying matches to reach the last 32 of the Wuhan Open held in the Far East in August, and is already guaranteed £4,000 in prize money for his Championship League results so far. This could all prove very handy in trying to retain his professional stripes beyond this season.

Xu through on table two

Over on table two, the identity of Group 24's winning player was also not discovered until the final frame of the day, with Xu booking his ticket to the next phase.

World number 34 Xu kicked off the group with a 3-1 victory over Craig Steadman before returning for the evening session where he drew 2-2 with Belgian youngster Julien Leclercq.

Going into the final fixture of the day, Xu faced Michael Holt who was on three points having defeated Leclercq 3-1 but then lost 3-0 to Steadman.

Xu needed ‘only’ a draw to top the group, while Holt would finish first with a win of any description. Both Leclercq and Steadman were already eliminated.

Chinese cueist Xu deposited the opening frame, but breaks of 60 and 58 from recent maximum man Holt helped him turn around proceedings and go 2-1 up.

However, with qualification resting on the final frame, Xu - who reached Finals Day here last year - compiled a run of 61 to get the job done with a 2-2 draw.

At the China Open qualifiers earlier this month, 28-year-old Xu missed the final black for his fourth maximum 147 break in top-flight competition. It would have meant matching Holt's feat of perfection from earlier in the same week, and earning a share of the £15,000 highest break prize.

Championship League Snooker action continues on Tuesday with two more opening stage groups. On the feature table is one of snooker's hottest young properties in Chang Bingyu. He's set to be playing alongside four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day, Jamie Clarke, and Phil O'Kane.