'I want to buy a pool club' – David Gilbert reveals plan after reaching Championship League snooker last 32

ByEurosport

Updated 20/07/2022 at 21:54 GMT

David Gilbert won Group 16 to make an unbeaten start to the defence of his Championship League title at Leicester's Morningside Arena on Wednesday. Gilbert was joined in the last 32 by former Welsh Open champion Jordan Brown, who emerged victorious from Group 19. "I want to buy a pool club," said world No. 19 Gilbert afterwards. Watch snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+

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David Gilbert made an unbeaten start to the defence of his Championship League title to reach the last 32 at Leicester's Morningside Arena.

Gilbert enjoyed two 3-0 wins over Florian Nuessle and Zak Surety respectively before claiming the 2-2 draw he needed against Joe O'Connor – making runs of 78 and 100 – to win Group 16 on seven points, one point clear of Nuessle.

Gilbert joins Xiao Guodong and Robert Milkins in Group H for the second stage of the season's first ranking event on Tuesday.

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“It’s a weird one being back, my game isn’t very good at the minute, but I’m really happy to get through," said Gilbert, who lifted his first ranking title with a 3-1 win over Mark Allen in last season's final.

I’ve not put much preparation in for this season yet, I’ve been playing lots of pool, I just want to buy a pool club if I’m honest with you.

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"The aim for this year, and every year, is to try and get in the Players Championship.”

Northern Irishman Jordan Brown topped Group 19 with a 2-2 draw and a 3-0 win over Ross Muir with a 3-1 victory and 2-2 against Mark Davis respectively seeing him progress on eight points.

The group was reduced to a three-man competition after six-time world finalist Jimmy White was forced to withdraw due to travel issues.

Brown enjoyed breaks of 115 and 100 and will join Stuart Bingham, Ben Woollaston and Jamie Jones in Group C on Tuesday.