Judd Trump’s recent victory at the German Masters has led to a rescheduling of the Championship League, placing him and Ronnie O’Sullivan in the same group at the end of the month. Originally slated to compete in Leicester this week, Trump will now participate in Group 7 on February 28-29 alongside O’Sullivan and Si Jiahui. The potential for a high-caliber final group exists, with withdrawals not uncommon in the Championship League.
Already securing spots in the Winners’ Group are Stuart Bingham and Chris Wakelin, with another player set to join them on Tuesday. In Group 3, players such as John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Gary Wilson, Tom Ford, and Xiao Guodong are vying for the third spot, with the winner progressing and the bottom two being eliminated. The remaining four will join Group 4 alongside Barry Hawkins, Jimmy Robertson, and Ricky Walden on Wednesday.
Group 5, starting on February 9-10, features Dave Gilbert, Joe Perry, and Fan Zhengyi, while Group 6, scheduled for February 26-27, includes Jack Lisowski, Hossein Vafaei, and Ali Carter, who withdrew from Group 3 this week, allowing Higgins to take his place.
The tournament culminates in the Winners’ Group on March 1-2, where the champions of each group compete for the title. Trump, celebrating his fourth ranking title this season, acknowledges the motivation provided by critics in recent years, driving him to consistently perform at a high level.
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