Ben Mertens flies flag for Belgium in Luca Brecel's absence with three centuries at Championship League, Sam Craigie continues winning return
Published 11/07/2025 at 10:20 GMT+1
Former world champion Luca Brecel may be taking an extended break at the start of the new season, but Ben Mertens is doing a fine job of flying the flag for Belgium in his absence. The talented 20-year-old breezed through his Championship League group in Leicester on Thursday by remaining unbeaten to reach the last 32. He was joined in the next phase by comeback cueist Sam Craigie.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Ben Mertens showed his class to reach the Championship League last 32 on Thursday by hitting three centuries on his way to topping Group 10 in Leicester.
The 20-year-old Belgian talent began his run to the winning post by producing a 131 break in a 3-0 win over Brazil's Jonas Luz, before adding further sublime efforts of 130 and 131 in a 2-2 draw with Alfie Davies.
With the destination of the section coming down to a winner-takes-all meeting with 2024 Crucible finalist Jak Jones, who was unbeaten in his first two matches, world No. 72 Mertens continued his fine scoring form with runs of 64, 59 and 76.
Those finalised a 3-0 victory, and his spot in the next group phase on July 18.
It continues a solid start to the season for Mertens, who defeated Fan Zhengyi 5-3 to qualify for the Wuhan Open, before edging Liam Pullen 4-3 to secure his spot at the British Open.
He will be joined in returning to the city's Mattioli Arena by Sam Craigie, who enjoyed a 3-0 win over Jimmy Robertson, before 2-2 draws with Mark Davis and Connor Benzey were enough to see him edge through as Group 23 winner.
Former German Masters semi-finalist Craigie missed last season with a neck injury, but was granted a fresh two-year tour card on medical grounds.
He has already qualified for the British Open with a 4-1 win over Yao Pengcheng and illustrated his break-building attributes with a fine 101 against Davis.
In the end, Robertson's 2-2 draw with three-time six-red world champion Davis in the concluding group match was enough to see Craigie progress on frame difference by a solitary frame.
With the heat rising across the UK over the next few days, the action will be no less intense indoors with Shoot Out winner Tom Ford and Noppon Saengkham taking to the table on Friday.
Recent Crucible qualifiers Si Jiahui and Ben Woollaston begin their respective campaigns at the season's first ranking event on Saturday.
The Championship League runs between June 30 and July 23, with 32 groups of four producing 32 winners, who are then split into eight groups of four.
Two final groups of four will determine who contests the final on July 23, with the winner earning £33,000 and a place in the Champion of Champions event in Leicester in November.
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Championship League group winners
- Group 15: Stephen Maguire (Sco)
- Group 26: Yao Pengcheng (Chn)
- Group 3: Alfie Burden (Eng)
- Group 22: Matthew Selt (Eng)
- Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
- Group 18: Yuan Sijun (Chn)
- Group 28: Ricky Walden (Eng)
- Group 9: Wu Yize (Chn)
- Group 2: Zhang Anda (Chn)
- Group 32: Ng On Yee (HK)
- Group 11: Stuart Bingham (Eng)
- Group 17: Elliot Slessor (Eng)
- Group 6: Liam Davies (Wal)
- Group 7: Amir Sarkhosh (Irn)
- Group 13: Jack Lisowski (Eng)
- Group 14: Pang Junxu (Chn)
- Group 12: David Gilbert (Eng)
- Group 19: Lei Peifan (Chn)
- Group 10: Ben Mertens (Bel)
- Group 23: Sam Craigie (Eng)
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