Stevens on track for play-offs as everything to play for - 23/03/2011

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MATTHEW STEVENS, who battled through flight delays and motorway chaos to compete in Group 7 and ultimately win it, had a great first day at the final group of Championship League, winning three out of four games to head the table.

He beat Mark Allen, Ryan Day and Shaun Murphy and looks favourite to be one of the four players going through to Thursday night’s play-offs where a £10,000 prize awaits the winner as well as place in the 2011 Premier League.

Below Stevens, four players are on two wins – Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter and Mark Allen – while Mark Williams is on one. Ryan Day, who suffered three defeats from his three matches today, has it all to do tomorrow.

There are seven players competing in each Championship League Snooker Group and they each play the others once, with a point for a win. All matches are the best of five frames.

Play continues tomorrow at 10.30am and there are a further nine league matches before the semi-finals and the final.

In the final group, players now earn £300 per frame won. The top four players after the remainder of the group matches tomorrow then play in best of five semi-finals. The money stays at £300 per frame won and the overall winner receives £10,000 plus a spot in the 2011 Premier League.

The runner-up takes home £5,000 and the beaten semi-finalists £3,000 each. There is also a prize of £1,000 for the top break, currently held by Mark Williams with a 143 against Ali Carter.