Judd Trump got his latest season off to a good start by winning his opening Championship League group, but he only just made it through to the second stage.
The 2019 world champion looked like a summer break had done him good as he began the new campaign on Tuesday with back-to-back 3-0 wins over Reanne Evans and Jimmy White.
The 33-year-old knocked in a century in the win over Evans then made breaks of 120, 95 and 75 in a rapid victory over the Whirlwind.
He just needed a draw with Xu Si in his final game, which he got, but only after falling 2-0 behind and his future in the tournament looking in danger.
Trump held his nerve, though, knocking in his third ton of the day (102) and a 52 in the final frame to secure the 2-2 draw and progression to the second group stage.
25-year-old Xu finished second in the group with a win and two draws, with Evans claiming third place after finishing level with the Chinese star and picking up a win over White.
It represents an encouraging start to the new season for the 12-time women’s world champion as the only wins she picked up over the last year were in the Shoot Out and 6-Reds World Championship qualifying.
Evans has won another two years on the World Snooker Tour after finishing last season at the top of the women’s world rankings and will hope to kick on from the solid start of a win and a draw on her first day of the season.
On Table Two on Tuesday, Joe Perry topped Group 18 with wins over Andy Lee and Jamie Clarke and a draw with Stuart Carrington.
The lengthy Championship League is nearing the end of the first group stage, with three more days to play before all 32 group winners have been decided.
The second group stage then runs from 17-20 July, with the final day of the event on 21 July, when a winner will be crowned, picking up the first ranking title of the season and £33,000 in prize money.
Trump is now the favourite with the tournament sponsors Bet Victor to lift the trophy, ahead of the likes of Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy.
A number of big names have chosen not to play in the event this summer, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, world champion Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, John Higgins and Mark Allen.
MORE : John Higgins opens up on Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams relationships
MORE : Ronnie O’Sullivan replaced by Michael Holt in Championship League Snooker draw
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