Ronnie O'Sullivan's 'future world champion' prediction Si Jiahui makes winning start at Championship League snooker

ByEurosport

Updated 09/07/2023 at 12:43 GMT

The first phase of the Championship League will be completed this week with 22 of the 32 groups at the season's first ranking event already concluded. World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui and former Crucible qualifier James Cahill were the latest winners on Saturday at the Morningside Arena in Leicester. The tournament has total prize money of £328,000 with the final on Friday, July 21.

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Si Jiahui showed why Ronnie O'Sullivan expects him to become a future world champion with a classy display at the Championship League in Leicester.

Returning to competitive action for the first time since the dejection of his agonising 17-15 loss to Luca Brecel in the World Championship semi-finals in April, Si picked up from where he left off by winning Group 25.

O'Sullivan has been quick to praise the talents of 20-year-old Si, who led Brecel 14-5 and was within two frames of the final on his Crucible debut.

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“In another three or four years’ time, he might win the tournament. It’s just experience,” O'Sullivan told reporters during his trip to China to promote the new Macau Masters invitational event, which is due to be held over the festive period (December 25-29 at the Wynn Palace Hotel).

The Chinese player – who turns 21 on Tuesday – completed a 3-1 win over Haydon Pinhey before a 2-2 draw with Mohamed Ibrahim was followed by a 3-0 victory over Mark Joyce at the Morningside Arena.

Meanwhile, former Crucible last-16 competitor James Cahill was boosted by a new cue as he emerged victorious in Group 20 with two 3-0 wins over Andres Petrov and Matthew Selt, respectively.

A 3-0 defeat to Sydney Wilson ultimately proved meaningless in the final-section standings with Cahill finishing above Selt from their head-to-head meeting.

Noppon Saengkham, Mark Davis and Michael Holt take to the table in Monday's action at the Championship League.

The tournament carries total prize money of £328,000 with the final on Friday, July 21 also worth a spot in the Champion of Champions in November.

'Goodness me!' - Phenomenal plant from Si

Championship League latest group winners

Group 3: Ashley Carty (Eng)
Group 30: Daniel Wells (Wal)
Group 11: Martin O'Donnell (Eng)
Group 21: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Group 10: Michael White (Wal)
Group 22: Robbie Williams (Eng)
Group 5: Kyren Wilson (Eng)
Group 29: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
Group 6: Mark Williams (Wal)
Group 27: Barry Pinches (Eng)
Group 32: Xiao Guodong (Chn)
Group 16: Ben Woollaston (Eng)
Group 15: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
Group 28: Anthony Hamilton (Eng)
Group 17: Zhou Yuelong (Chn)
Group 26: Jak Jones (Wal)
Group 7: Long Zehuang (Chn)
Group 24: Pang Junxu (Chn)
Group 8: Robert Milkins (Eng)
Group 23: Sam Craigie (Eng)
Group 20: James Cahill (Eng)
Group 25: Si Jiahui (Chn)

Championship League Stage 1

June 26-30
July 3-8
July 10-14

Championship League Stage 2

July 17-20

Championship Stage 3

July 21

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