The bookmakers screening the Championship League Snooker are Bet 365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power (Ireland only), Skybet, Sportingbet, IBC and Unibet.

CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE SNOOKER
GROUP SIX

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JOHN Higgins has closed in on an instant return to the Premier League Snooker competition.

Higgins became the sixth man to advance to the Winners' Group of the Championship League, where the winner will play in Matchroom Sport's Premier League.

He moved a step closer to that by defeating Steve Davis 3-0 in the final of Group Six at the Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex.

"It would be disappointing if I don't get to play in this year's Premier League," said Higgins, who won the competition in 1999, but finished sixth in 2008.

"It's the type of tournament where you always play in front of packed houses and the way the snooker season is with it not being full it would be great to get into the Premier League. You know you're playing top-class players in top class venues.

"It's an important tournament for every player, Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the last few years but it just gives you so much exposure and is a very well-run event."

Higgins and Davis reached the final of Championship League Group 6 after both staed undefeated through the league phase. But Higgins was on top form in the final as he regstered breaks of 81, 93 and 86 to win 3-0 with Davis only potting one red in three frames.

Two-time World Champion Higgins now joins Mark Selby, Mark Allen, Joe Perry, Stuart Bingham, Mark King, with one qualifying spot still available, in the Winners' Group of the Championship.

"I will go into it and just try my best," added Higgins. "Everyone is there on merit and had to come through a tough group but with the format of only four frames it is short and sharp so everyone has a chance to win.

"Against Steve I didn't miss a ball. He didn't either but made just a couple of sloppy safety shots and I managed to get in and make three match-winning breaks.

"But it's great to see Steve playing like he used to in the last couple of days. Everytime you play him it's a great occasion and he is a player that has always been my idol."

The competition, which is screened live on a number of betting websites, featured four former Crucible winners among the seven.

But one of them - Ken Doherty - was eliminated, along with Jamie Cope, as they finished in the bottom two places in the league.

Davis and the rest of the players - Matthew Stevens, Joe Swail and Graeme Dott - now move on to the Group Seven, where they will be joined by three new players - Judd Trump, Liang Wenbo and Ricky Walden.

This is the last regular qualifying group before the Winners' Group so competition promises to be fierce on Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24.

Matches listed first are on table one unless otherwise stated
Wednesday, March 4
Ken Doherty 1-3 Jamie Cope, John Higgins 3-1 Joe Swail.
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Graeme Dott, Steve Davis 3-1 Ken Doherty
Jamie Cope 1-3 John Higgins, Joe Swail 3-1 Matthew Stevens
Graeme Dott 1-3 Steve Davis, Ken Doherty 2-2 John Higgins
Jamie Cope 3-1 Joe Swail, Matthew Stevens 2-2 Steve Davis
John Higgins 2-2 Steve Davis, Graeme Dott 2-2 Joe Swail

Thursday, March 5
Ken Doherty 3-1 Graeme Dott, Jamie Cope 0-4 Matthew Stevens
Joe Swail 1-3 Steve Davis, John Higgins 3-1 Graeme Dott
Ken Doherty 2-2 Matthew Stevens, Jamie Cope 1-3 Steve Davis
John Higgins 1-3 Matthew Stevens (table 2)
Jamie Cope 0-4 Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty 1-3 Joe Swail
Play-off - first v fourth - Steve Davis 3-1 Joe Swail
second v third - John Higgins 3-1 Matthew Stevens
Final (table 1) - John Higgins 3-1 Steve Davis

FIXTURES BY TABLE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
TABLE 1
Ken Doherty 1-3 Jamie Cope
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Graeme Dott
Jamie Cope 1-3 John Higgins
Graeme Dott 1-3 Steve Davis
Jamie Cope 3-1 Joe Swail
John Higgins 2-2 Steve Davis

TABLE 2
John Higgins 3-1 Joe Swail
Steve Davis 3-1 Ken Doherty
Joe Swail 3-1 Matthew Stevens
Ken Doherty 2-2 John Higgins
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Steve Davis
Graeme Dott 2-2 Joe Swail

THURSDAY, MARCH 5
TABLE 1
Ken Doherty 3-1 Graeme Dott
Joe Swail 1-3 Steve Davis
Ken Doherty 2-2 Matthew Stevens
Jamie Cope 0-4 Graeme Dott
Play-off - first v fourth - Steve Davis 3-1 Joe Swail
Final - John Higgins 3-0 Steve Davis

TABLE 2
Jamie Cope 0-4 Matthew Stevens
John Higgins 3-1 Graeme Dott
Jamie Cope 1-3 Steve Davis
John Higgins 1-3 Matthew Stevens
Ken Doherty 1-3 Joe Swail
Play-off - second v third - John Higgins 3-1 Matthew Stevens

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Date updated: March 5, 2009

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