Championship League Group Four

Mark Allen is the fourth man through to the 2013 Winner's
Group after beating Stephen Maguire 3-2 in the final of Group Four

Mark Allen became the fourth player through to the Winner’s Group of Championship League snooker after an excellent run of form in Group Four. The Northern Irishman won all six of his group matches, his semi-final and the final against Stephen Maguire.

Allen needed a final frame decider to beat his Scottish opponent in the group final. Maguire had taken an early lead with an 89 break in the opening frame but Allen hit back to go 2-1 up by taking the next two. Maguire took a closely fought fourth frame to force the decider but Allen finished the match off in style with an excellent 109 break to progress.

He had earlier finished off Martin Gould with ease after whitewashing him 3-0 in the semi-final. Maguire’s semi was much harder fought with a final frame decider seeing him beat Ricky Walden. Maguire was cruising at 2-0 but the Chester-man hit back to win the next two and had a good opportunity in the fifth but broke down on 25 allowing Maguire to seal the match.

Maguire had finished behind table-topper Allen but earned £500 extra for the group’s high break prize, an impressive 146 against Barry Hawkins in his 3-2 win. Hawkins will stay on for group five after finishing fifth alongside Maguire, Gould and Hawkins plus Joe Perry, Peter Ebdon and Ryan Day when the competition resumes a week on Monday. Judd Trump was eliminated from the competition on frame scores after tying on two wins with Hawkins alongside Mark Selby, who finished bottom of the group.

Final Table	Pld	Won	Lost	FW	FL	Pts	Money
Mark Allen	6	6	0	18	3	6	£6,600
Stephen Maguire	6	3	3	12	11	3	£5,200
Ricky Walden	6	3	3	11	13	3	£2,700
Martin Gould	6	3	3	9	13	3	£1,900
Barry Hawkins	6	2	4	12	15	2	£1,200
Judd Trump	6	2	4	11	14	2	£1,100
Mark Selby	6	2	4	9	14	2	£900