Moody and Liu Advance as Championship League Group Stage Heats Up
Moody Tops Group 30 With Unbeaten Record
Stan Moody made an assured start to the 2026/27 ranking season on Thursday, claiming top spot in Group 30 of the Championship League Snooker at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The 19-year-old finished his round robin undefeated, accumulating enough points to progress directly to Stage Two of the competition.
Moody's route through Group 30 began with a 2-2 draw against Thailand's Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon — a result that left him needing to win both remaining matches to guarantee first place. He duly delivered, recording back-to-back victories over Stuart Carrington and Daniel Wells to seal top spot. It was a measured and composed display from a player whose stock has risen sharply over the past twelve months.
The Kettering-born cueman had a breakthrough 2025/26 campaign by any measure. He reached quarter-finals at a pair of ranking events and climbed inside the world's top 50 for the first time in his professional career — a significant landmark for a teenager still finding his footing on the main tour. Most notably, Moody qualified for the Crucible for the first time, where he pushed reigning champion Kyren Wilson to the brink before eventually exiting in the last 32. That performance alone signalled that he is capable of competing with the very best on the circuit.
Expectations heading into the new season are understandably elevated. A positive first-day showing at the Championship League, the opening ranking event of 2026/27, suggests those expectations may well be justified.
Liu Hongyu Survives Early Stumble to Claim Group 17
Also securing passage to the last 32 on Thursday was China's Liu Hongyu, who topped Group 17 despite a difficult opening fixture. Liu could manage only a 2-2 draw against Oliver Brown in his first match of the day, leaving him with just a single point and facing the prospect of an early exit if results did not improve.
However, Liu responded decisively. Wins over Paul Norris and, crucially, Joe O'Connor were enough to lift him to seven points and confirm his place in Stage Two. The match against O'Connor proved to be the pivotal contest of the group — and it carried considerable significance given the Englishman's pedigree in this competition.
O'Connor, who finished as runner-up at the 2025 Championship League, entered his final group fixture knowing that a single point would be sufficient to advance. Liu denied him that opportunity in emphatic fashion, constructing a 121 break on his way to a 3-1 victory. It was a clinical performance when the pressure was most acute, and it ended O'Connor's involvement in the tournament at the earliest stage.
Group 17 — Full Results (Thursday, 2 July)
Joe O'Connor 3-0 Paul Norris
Liu Hongyu 2-2 Oliver Brown
Liu Hongyu 3-0 Paul Norris
Joe O'Connor 3-0 Oliver Brown
Oliver Brown 3-1 Paul Norris
Liu Hongyu 3-1 Joe O'Connor
Source: CueTracker / snooker.org
Friday's Groups: Jones and Boiko Among the Headliners
With more than half of the Stage Two berths now confirmed, attention turns to Friday's action, where a further two group winners will be determined. Group 4 features Ukrainian professional Iulian Boiko alongside Lan Yuhao, Joshua Thomond, and Ian Martin — a competitive quartet that should make for an unpredictable round robin.
The more prominent billing goes to Group 22, which is headlined by Welsh Open champion Jak Jones. The Welshman, who has demonstrated he can perform on the biggest occasions, will need to navigate challenges from Oliver Lines, Michael Larkov, and Alfie Burden to claim top spot.
What's at Stake in 2026/27's Opening Ranking Event
The Championship League Snooker holds additional significance beyond the ranking points on offer. The overall winner, to be confirmed on 15 July, will receive £33,000 in prize money and earn an invitation to the Champion of Champions — one of the most lucrative invitational events on the snooker calendar. For players like Moody, progressing through the group stage is not merely a question of early-season form; it is a genuine opportunity to secure meaningful financial reward and a high-profile platform before the full ranking schedule begins in earnest.
Live coverage of the event is available to viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland via the Matchroom Multi Sport and Matchroom Pool YouTube channels.
