The sites showing the event LIVE were Betfair   Bet365   William Hill     
Group 8: RESULTS   LEAGUE TABLE

JOE Perry will be playing in the 2008 PartyPoker.com Premier League Snooker after winning the qualifying event - The Championship League.

Perry (right) defeated Mark Selby 3-1 in the final to claim the trophy and a place competing against the sport's elite in the Premier League.

“This is beyond my wildest dreams and this is definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever won," said a delighted Perry.

"But this is not the end for me, this is now just the beginning and I’ve got so much more to look forward to.

“I could never dream of a finish to the season like this. I thought the World Championship (where he reached the semi-finals) was the best way to end the season but this has eclipsed that.

“If I’m brutally honest I watched the Premier League and doubted if I was ever going to get into it. You have to be World Champion or world number one and I’m not likely to do that at the moment. I’m not a big face so to be able to play in it is the ultimate dream.

"The Premier League is a great event and something different to what you play in week in, week out.

“You don’t have the pressure of ranking points, play at great places and everyone wants to play in front of packed crowds every week.”

“I’ve played really well today and to be honest I was not at the races yesterday. I came into the second day bottom of the group and just trying to get some money on board.

“I was probably just more relaxed today and I had real tough start yesterday playing Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy."

Perry, who looked to be heading out of the competition after losing two and drawing one of his first three league matches, took the lead in the final.

Selby was first to make a significant impact in the second as he compiled a break of 32 before missing a straight-forward black into the centre pocket.

It was a scrappy frame as Selby made a thin cut on the red but left it hanging over the pocket, although Perry could not take full advantage before a lengthy safety battle.

Selby came out on top with a break of 31 to win the frame 75-44 to make it 1-1.

Perry took charge in the third as he made his sixth century of the day as a break of 135 took him to within one of a place in the Premier League.

A misjudged safety from Selby left Perry in a golden position to seal the match as all the reds were spread out.

Perry made 43 before missing a red with the rest and then threw his head back in frustration as that could have been the shot that cost him a place in the Premier League.

Selby had been given another chance but only scored one before a failed attempt on the black gave Perry another great opportunity, which he took to become the champion.

The competition was only available to watch online and fans needed to go to one of three betting websites - bet365.com, betfair.com and willhill.com -  to be able to watch all the action live.

Each player played the others in the league over best of four frame matches in a round-robin format.

The top four players move into the group play-offs (semi-finals and then final) and the eventual champion is guaranteed a place in the Premier League Snooker competition.

The Premier League Snooker tournament is one of the most prestigious competitions in the snooker calendar with each round screened live on Sky Sports every Thursday between September and December.

The PartyBets.com Premier League Snooker will be screened live on Sky Sports on Thursdays from September to December.

The players confirmed in this are: Ronnie O'Sullivan (1), John Higgins (5), Stephen Hendry (6), Ding Junhui (11), Joe Perry (12), Steve Davis (29) plus one Matchroom Sport wildcard.

Championship League Snooker - Winners' Group
Fixtures / results   - All matches take place at Crondon Park Golf Club, Stock, Essex
Wednesday, May 14
Table 1
Ryan Day 3-1 Ken Doherty, Joe Perry 1-3 Mark Selby
Not before 3pm: Ken Doherty 4-0 Anthony Hamilton then Mark Selby 4-0 Mark King
Not before 6.30pm: Ken Doherty 1-3 Shaun Murphy then Anthony Hamilton 1-3 Mark King

Table 2
Anthony Hamilton 1-3 Shaun Murphy, Mark King 1-3 Ryan Day
Not before 3pm: Shaun Murphy 4-0 Joe Perry then Ryan Day 1-3 Anthony Hamilton
Not before 6.30pm: Joe Perry 2-2 Mark King then Mark Selby 3-1 Shaun Murphy

Thursday, May 15
Table 1
Ryan Day 1-3 Mark Selby then Shaun Murphy 3-1 Mark King
Not before 2.30pm: Ryan Day 2-2 Joe Perry then Ken Doherty 3-1 Mark Selby
Not before 7pm: Play-off - 1st v 4th - Ryan Day v Joe Perry
Not before 8.30pm: Final

Table 2
Ken Doherty 0-4 Joe Perry then Anthony Hamilton 1-3 Mark Selby
Not before 2.30pm: Ken Doherty 2-2 Mark King then Anthony Hamilton 2-2 Joe Perry then Ryan Day 3-1 Shaun Murphy
Not before 7pm: Play-off - 2nd v 3rd - Mark Selby v Shaun Murphy

Final league table (top four advance to play-offs, rest are eliminated)

Joe finishes above Ken as he won their match 4-0.
Mark Selby finishes above Shaun as he won their match 3-1.

Play-offs (£300 per frame, £3,000 - losing semi-finalist):
1st v 4th: Ryan Day 1-3 Joe Perry.
2nd v 3rd: Mark Selby 3-2 Shaun Murphy

Final (£10,000 to the winner, £5,000 to the runner-up)
Joe Perry 3-1 Mark Selby 

Date updated: May 15, 2008

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