Vafaei and Saengkham qualify for next stage of Championship League Snooker

Following the opening week of action at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, the 21-day tournament recommenced with two more players booking berths for stage two which takes place there next month.

Vafaei finished last season on a high by reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship at the Crucible for the first time in his career; eliminating world number one Judd Trump along the way. Iran's number one has carried that fantastic form into the new professional season.

Earlier this month, Vafaei qualified for the main draw stages of both the China and Wuhan Opens, and now he can look forward to another day out at the Championship League after winning a cosmopolitan Group 18.

The 31-year-old - who was top seed of this pool as the world number 28 - began his day with a 3-1 win over rookie Oliver Sykes from England. Vafaei returned a few hours later to compile a break of 104 during a 3-0 victory against Austria's number one Florian Nuessle.

Elsewhere in the group, former European Masters champion Fan Zhengyi (China) picked up four points from his opening two fixtures by drawing 2-2 with Nuessle, and defeated Sykes 3-0.

It meant that going into the final tie between the two, Fan needed a win to finish top, while Vafaei only required a share of the spoils. Neither Nuessle (who ended on four points) or Sykes (zero points) could qualify.

Fan got off to an ideal start as a run of 64 helped him claim the opening frame. However, former Shoot Out champion Vafaei levelled up with the aid of a 59, before a 71 in frame three was important in him getting the two frames he desired from the encounter.

The final frame could not affect any position in the group, although Fan took it for a 2-2 draw and to remain undefeated on the day.

Over on table two, Group 29 was decided on a highest break tiebreaker after a unique set of results saw three players all end up on the same points and frame difference.

Saengkham, Liam Davies, and home city cueman Ben Woollaston all defeated bottom-of-the-table Huang Jiahao, 3-0.

However, in results against each other they each crafted a 3-1 win; Saengkham defeated Davies, Davies defeated Woollaston, and in the last match of the day, Woollaston defeated Saengkham.

With the trio unable to be separated on points, frame difference, or head-to-head results, the determining factor was who had made the highest break during the day.

Welsh youngster Davies - who is back on the World Snooker Tour having recently graduated through Q School - was in pole position should it go down to that factor after fashioning a run of 121 in the penultimate fixture.

However, Thai ace Saengkham bettered that with a 123 as he levelled up 1-1 with Woollaston.

It meant that Davies - who had already finished his work for the day - could not finish top of the group, and Woollaston had to win the last two frames for a 3-1 win, and make a break over 123.

Woollaston achieved the first part of that equation, but couldn't realise the second, and ended up third in the standings behind group winner Saengkham and second-placed Davies.

Play continues on Tuesday in Leicester with Elliot Slessor and Jimmy Robertson the top seeds in Groups 9 and 23 respectively.