BetVictor Championship League: Twelve Players Progress from Week One in Leicester
The opening week of the 2025/26 BetVictor Championship League has come to a close, with 12 players securing their places in Stage Two of the season’s first ranking event.
Six groups were completed across the opening week in Leicester, producing a mixture of dominant performances, dramatic finishes and surprise qualifiers as the race for the Championship League title got underway.
Emery and Xu make winning starts
Monday’s action saw Welshman Dylan Emery and China’s Xu Si become the first players to book their places in Stage Two.
Emery impressed throughout Group 3, opening his campaign with a 3-1 victory over Michal Szubarczyk, compiling breaks of 103, 65 and 107. He followed that with a 2-2 draw against Haydon Pinhey, adding another century break of 100 to finish top of the group. Unfortunately, Kyren Wilson was forced to withdraw before completing his fixtures after his home was burgled.
In Group 24, Xu Si came through a closely contested group. After defeating Craig Steadman 3-1 and drawing with Julien Leclercq, Xu needed only to avoid defeat against Michael Holt in the final match. Trailing 2-1, he produced a timely break of 66 to force a deciding draw and secure qualification.
Chang and Burns produce perfect performances
Tuesday belonged to Chang Bingyu and Ian Burns, who both won all three of their matches to progress.
Chang continued the fine form that saw him reach the Scottish Open final last season, dominating Group 27. He recorded successive victories over Phil O’Kane, Jamie Clarke and Ryan Day, producing the tournament’s highest break so far—a superb 145—along with further centuries of 127 and 102.
Burns was equally impressive in Group 2, defeating Jamie O’Neill, Jeff Cundy and Steven Hallworth. Consistent scoring, including breaks of 97 and 96, helped the Englishman complete a flawless day’s work.
Page and Zhang continue strong starts to the season
Wednesday’s play saw Jackson Page and Zhang Anda safely negotiate their groups.
Page remained unbeaten in Group 25, defeating Ashley Hugill before drawing with Artemijs Zizins and Long Zehuang. A top break of 120 helped the Welshman edge a tightly contested group.
Meanwhile, Zhang Anda produced one of the week’s most commanding displays, winning all three matches in Group 10. Breaks of 115, 104 and 95 highlighted an excellent day’s work as the Chinese star comfortably secured his place in Stage Two.
Gilbert rolls back the years as Donaldson advances
Former Championship League champion David Gilbert demonstrated his experience in Group 21.
Gilbert began with a convincing victory over newly crowned World Women’s Champion Panchaya Channoi before recovering from 2-0 down to draw with Mahmoud El Hareedy. That left a decisive final match against Ricky Walden, where Gilbert produced another composed performance to claim a 3-1 victory and top the group.
Joining him in Stage Two is Scotland’s Scott Donaldson, who progressed from Group 20. After opening with a win over Sahil Nayyar and drawing with Bai Yulu, Donaldson defeated Yuan Sijun 3-1 in the group’s deciding fixture, with a break of 76 proving crucial.
He and Wilson impress on Friday
Friday’s action saw He Guoqiang and Gary Wilson become the latest players to secure their places in Stage Two.
He Guoqiang produced one of the most dominant displays of the week, conceding just a single frame as he topped Group 28. The Chinese cueist opened with a 3-0 victory over Dylan Smith, making a highest break of 86, before defeating Liu Yang 3-1 with breaks of 60, 75 and 93. He completed a perfect day with another 3-0 success over Sean O’Sullivan to continue the momentum from his impressive debut season, which culminated in a first appearance at the Crucible.
In Group 14, Gary Wilson showed his quality to finish top of the table. The three-time ranking event winner defeated Duane Jones 3-1 before whitewashing Alexander Ursenbacher 3-0. Despite trailing Lyu Haotian 2-0 in his final match, Wilson recovered well to earn a 2-2 draw, ensuring he progressed as group winner.
Young shines as Pang edges dramatic finish
The final completed groups of Week One produced another memorable storyline as amateur Dean Young topped Group 8.
Competing as a Q School top-up after losing his tour card last season, Young recovered from 2-0 down against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to draw 2-2 with breaks of 82 and 107. He then defeated Louis Heathcote and Reanne Evans to seal a memorable place in Stage Two.
Group 15 went down to the finest of margins. Pang Junxu and fellow Chinese player Luo Zetao could not be separated in their head-to-head encounter, but Pang’s 3-0 victory over Fergal Quinn and crucial 2-2 draw against David Lilley saw him finish top of the table on frame difference.
Week One Qualifiers
The 12 players progressing to Stage Two are:
- Dylan Emery
- Xu Si
- Chang Bingyu
- Ian Burns
- Jackson Page
- Zhang Anda
- David Gilbert
- Scott Donaldson
- He Guoqiang
- Gary Wilson
- Dean Young
- Pang Junxu
With Week One complete, the Championship League now moves into its next batch of opening-stage groups, where more places in Stage Two will be up for grabs as the battle for the first ranking title of the 2025/26 season continues.
