Jack Lisowski progresses as Championship League first round reaches halfway stage in Leicester, Pang Junxu also tops group

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The first round of the Championship League, the season's first ranking event, has reached the halfway stage. Six-time ranking event runner-up 'Jackpot' Jack Lisowski and Pang Junxu are the latest players to advance in Leicester. Former winner David Gilbert is in action on Wednesday afternoon with Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan also taking to the table at the city's Mattioli Arena.

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Jack Lisowski continued his winning start to the new season by advancing at the Championship League as the first round reached the halfway stage in Leicester.

Lisowski won Group 13 and Pang Junxu topped Group 14 on Tuesday as 16 of the 32 qualifiers for the second group phase of the 128-player ranking event at the city's Mattioli Arena.

The world No. 25 has also enjoyed victories in qualifying for the Wuhan Open (5-3 against Amir Sarkhosh) and British Open (4-3 against Liam Highfield), and remained undefeated to secure his spot in the next stage.

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A 2-2 draw with Gong Chenzhi was enough to see him win the section after he produed a 101 run in a 3-1 win over Ashley Carty before contributing 66, 79 and 59 in a 3-0 success against Ross Muir.

Meanwhile, Pang Junxu emerged as Group 14 winner boosted by a 101 knock in a 3-0 win over Oliver Lines his his final match of the day.

The Crucible qualifier opened with a 136 break in a 3-0 victory over Dean Young before losing 3-1 to Jiang Jun, who finished second in the section, two points behind Pang.

Former Championship League winner David Gilbert and Scottish Open champion Lei Peifan are both in action on Wednesday.

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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)

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