Gary Wilson Stunned in Shock Championship League Exit Despite Unbeaten Run
World No. 19 Gary Wilson saw his Championship League hopes cut short in the opening round despite remaining unbeaten in Group 7. Wilson ended the day with a solid three points from two matches, including a high-quality 2-2 draw against women’s world champion Bai Yulu. However, it wasn’t enough to secure his place in the last 32, as Amir Sarkhosh edged past Alex Clenshaw 3-1 in the final match of the group, clinching qualification at Wilson’s expense.
Wilson looked in fine form, showcasing his trademark break-building with excellent runs of 129 and 91 against Bai. In a thrilling encounter, Bai responded with an 82 in the opening frame and nearly matched Wilson’s firepower with a classy 96 in her second match against Sarkhosh. Not to be outdone, Sarkhosh held his nerve under pressure and produced a superb 106 in the second frame of that tie, ultimately doing just enough to top the group.
The Championship League, held from June 30 to July 23, features 32 initial groups of four players each. Only the group winners advance to the next phase, where they are divided into eight more groups. From there, two final groups will determine who competes for the title in the grand final on July 23. The winner not only pockets £33,000 but also earns a prestigious spot in the Champion of Champions event in Leicester this November.
For Wilson, the early exit is a bitter pill to swallow given the quality of his performances, but the format’s ruthless structure leaves no room for error.
