Chris Wakelin shows Crucible class to advance in Leicester as last 32 at Championship League set to be finalised

Chris Wakelin found the form that saw him defeat Neil Robertson and Mark Allen to reach the World Championship quarter-finals in April as breaks of 136, 75 and 68 helped him win Group 5 and reach the last 32 at the Championship League. He was joined in ending the day unbeaten by Joe O'Connor, who rolled in 116, 96, 75 and 65 to book his spot in the next phase of the season's first ranking event.

Wakelin struggles to play shot with long rest against Robertson

Video credit: TNT Sports

World No. 16 Chris Wakelin produced a superb 136 break in booking his spot in the last 32 of the Championship League in Leicester.

The recent World Championship quarter-finalist produced the century in a 3-1 win over Daniel Womersley at the city's Mattioli Arena before defeating Mitchell Mann 3-0 and drawing 2-2 with Julien Leclercq to top Group 5, two points clear of the Belgian player.

Wakelin lost 5-3 to Marco Fu in Wuhan Open qualifying, but the world No. 16 is aiming to build on the form that saw him defeat Neil Robertson (10-8) and Mark Allen (13-6) before losing 13-5 to tournament winner Zhao Xintong in the Crucible last eight.

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The former Shoot Out winner also reached the final of the International Championship last season, losing 10-7 to Ding Junhui in Nanjing.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, fellow Crucible qualifier Joe O'Connor enjoyed an unbeaten run to top Group 16 with three straight wins.

The World Open finalist produced a fine 116 to seal top spot with a 3-1 triumph against Andrew Pagett after earlier enjoying impressive 3-0 victories over Liam Pullen and Zak Surety.

'Goodness!' - O'Connor lands outrageous fluke double against Trump

Video credit: TNT Sports

O'Connor returns to action when the second group phase begins at midday on Friday when he takes on Ng On Yee in Group A, a section that also includes Elliot Slessor and Haydon Pinhey.

Meanwhile, Wakelin faces Lui Hongyu, Ricky Walden and David Gilbert in Group E on Monday.

The final day of the first group stage concludes on Thursday with former European Masters winner Fan Zhengyi facing Liam Highfield, Michal Szubarczyk and Xu Si in Group 29.

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.

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)
Group 21: Liu Hongyu (Chn)
Group 8: Tom Ford (Eng)
Group 4: Artemijs Zizins (Lat)
Group 30: Robbie Williams (Eng)
Group 1: Hayden Pinhey (Eng)
Group 20: David Lilley (Eng)
Group 31: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
Group 24: Liu Wenwei (Chn)
Group 5: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
Group 16: Joe O'Connor (Eng)

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