Jak Jones Wins Championship League as Snooker Season Qualifiers Heat Up

Jak Jones claimed his first title by defeating David Gilbert in the deciding frame of the Championship League final. The event also saw players Noppon Saengkham, Elliot Slessor, Lei Peifan, Zhang Anda, Hossein Vafaei and Dylan Emery secure places in the third qualification phase, with Emery climbing from the 70s into the world‑ranking top 61.

A series of maximum breaks highlighted the season: Michael Holt recorded his first 147, Si Jiahui achieved a perfect break in the Championship League, Chang Bingyu did so during the Shenzhen Open qualifier, and Liam Highfield posted the fourth 147 of the season at the British Open qualifying round. Organisers noted the packed schedule of events—including the China Open, Wuhan Open, Shenzhen Open, British Open and English Open—while acknowledging the lack of a live audience at the Leicester venue.

Other notable developments involved Zhao Xintong’s brief appearance and Kyren Wilson’s early exit, leaving him ranked 22nd after his prize money from two years prior was withdrawn.