Championship League: Group 4 - Day 1

As we approach the halfway point of this seasons Championship League, things couldn't be more even after day one of this fourth group. After writing my piece on both day two of the third group and a look ahead to this group this morning I suddenly realised that Martin Gould the 2013 champion who was meant to be in this group as far as I was aware had been replaced by David Gilbert, but the days play otherwise went off without any further problems.

David is one of four players who have one win from their opening three games with just a few frames won separating those players from 7th to 4th in the as it stands table. Meanwhile, Peter Ebdon and Michael White have won 3 of their opening four games, with Peter at one stage today, having won his first three games, sitting on three points winning all three of those matches 3-0. Stuart Bingham is the man in the middle in 3rd place having picked up two wins from his first four games, so his place in the semi-finals is hardly safe just yet, though you would think that White and Ebdon should be safely through to the play-offs tomorrow evening. Here as usual is my little notepad picture detailing todays results and that all important day one League table in full:

As you can see from this it really is anyone's game for the other two semi-final spots between Stuart Bingham, Matthew Stevens, Mark Davis, Ryan Day and David Gilbert. Due to David's unfortunate frames won tally today you have to feel that he may need two further wins just to make fifth place and survive elimination, and Ryan Day may well be in a similar boat there as two wins probably won't cut it to avoid those bottom two spaces. In terms of semi-finals spots though I also expect that 3 wins from 6 games will be the mark to make it into 4th, so you'd think that one further win from Stuart Bingham's final two games will see him comfortably into the semi-finals, while Matthew Stevens will be in a great position with two further wins and may avoid elimination with just one more win having won 7 frames today, losing the two matches he did in deciding frames. Mark Davis looked the strongest of the players who sit on 1 point from today though and after making the group 3 final it would certainly be a dramatic turnaround in fortunes if he were to be eliminated.

So then, it really is all to play for as we head into the final day of Championship League group 4 and i'll be back either tomorrow night once play has finished or on Friday evening with the final update on all of tomorrow's results and of course the group 4 champion to join Barry Hawkins, Matt Selt and Ali Carter in the Winners Group.