Maguire and Walden dominate day one of group three

Stephen Maguire and Ricky Walden lead the way after the opening day of the third group in this years Championship League. Maguire was able to win his first three matches in the afternoon, dropping four frames on the way to wins against Marco Fu, Mark Selby and Michael White (from 2-0 behind and after his opponent made a break of 63 in the decider) and then enjoying the evening's session off. Ricky Walden has also won three games, the difference for him being that he has also lost one against Marco Fu. His wins came against Michael White (featuring two centuries) and then scrappy deciding frame victories against Joe Perry and Mark Williams, the latter of which saw Williams miss a red that would have left Walden requiring snookers to avoid a 3-1 loss.

Mark Selby and Michael White both managed two victories from their four games on day one. Selby's two victories were 3-0 wins against Mark Williams and Joe Perry, two centuries coming in the win against the Gentleman, while he also made centuries in his losses to Stephen Maguire and Michael White. White had four breaks of 50+ in that win with Selby, with his other win on the day coming against Marco Fu in a whitewash. His two losses on the day were to Walden in his opening match, and then against Maguire in a match he could easily have won also, and one that may come back to haunt him.

Joe Perry and Marco Fu are on just a singular point from their opening three games. Fu making a century in the only frame he lost over the course of his two defeats, while Perry was a deciding frame loser to Walden and managed his singular victory in another deciding frame against Mark Williams, who is stranded at the bottom with three losses from his three games.

Tuesday's Remaining Group Games:

Stephen Maguire Vs Mark Williams
Marco Fu Vs Joe Perry
Michael White Vs Mark Williams
Ricky Walden Vs Mark Selby
Stephen Maguire Vs Joe Perry
Marco Fu Vs Mark Selby
Michael White Vs Joe Perry
Marco Fu Vs Mark Williams
Stephen Maguire Vs Ricky Walden


As you can see there, Maguire has three matches from which you would expect him to win at least one which would nail on his qualification for the evening's semi-finals, but after that it is anyone's. Ricky Walden's position obviously looks favourable but playing against two guys in Selby and Maguire who appear to be playing well while Ricky still looks very hit and miss, his work is certainly not done yet.

Mark Selby is going to win at least one of his final two games against Walden or Fu and the way he has played on day one with four centuries and two 3-0 victories you would be surprised not to see him win at least one more match and put himself firmly in the driving spot for the top four.

Michael White faces tricky games with Joe Perry and Mark Williams who too will be desperate for wins so nothing is guaranteed there for the young Welshman.

Perry as I mention will be desperate for wins and being in the same position as Marco Fu, the first game on day two when those two play each other will be a key one to deciding which one has a chance of making a late push for the semi-finals and which will be fighting to stay in for Group 4 participation at the very least. Joe's other game besides the ones with Michael and Marco comes against group leader Stephen Maguire, while Fu's games besides the one with Perry are against Mark Selby and Mark Williams.

Mark Williams will need at least two wins to avoid relegation and with games against Marco Fu and Michael White he has half a chance, because beating them both would in turn drag them into danger. His first game on the day is against group leader Stephen Maguire, and you feel he will need to lay out his intentions there to avoid going four losses from four, making the last two matches do or die, and putting himself in a confidence damaging situation.


Overall, it really is still anyone's group coming into day two and will all be very exciting to see how it unfolds. I will have a full round-up of the play as the group three winner is decided, as well as a look ahead to Group 4 starting on Wednesday at the same time tomorrow.