Is snooker set to witness a new teenage title challenger from Latvia as unbeaten Artemijs Zizins turns on style at Championship League?

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Professional snooker has not exactly been overburdened with an array of teenage title winners in recent decades, with the Luke Littler effect on darts proving a touch more elusive with cue in hand.
Ronnie O’Sullivan remains the youngest winner of a ranking event via his celebrated 10-6 win over Stephen Hendry at the age of 17 in the 1993 UK Championship final in Preston.

O’Sullivan’s fellow seven-time world champion Hendry is also the youngest Crucible winner of all time with his 18-12 win over Jimmy White achieved in 1990 at the age of 21.

History suggests it is perhaps premature to predict the emergence of a new contender, but 19-year-old Artemijs Zizins, who joined the main circuit as his country’s first professional last year, showed glimpses of what could be possible with an impressive display at the Championship League on Saturday.

The teenage Latvian potter defeated former world semi-finalist Si Jiahui 3-0 with breaks of 75 and 74 in the Group 4 decider at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.

Earlier, he made a 92 in a 3-1 win over Farakh Ajaib 3-1, before a 3-0 victory over Kayden Brierley set up him to usurp Si.

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O’Sullivan reflects on 30 years since first UK Championship title – ‘No one knew who I was’

Video credit: TNT Sports

The former European U16 champion will face Jack Lisowski when he returns to Leicester for the next group phase of the Championship League, which begins on Friday.

Meanwhile, Robbie Williams joined Zizins in the last 32 of the season’s first ranking event by winning Group 15.

A 110 break helped the former British Open semi-finalist complete a 3-0 win over Florian Nuessle before a 2-2 draw with Iulian Boiko left him needing a win over Ben Woollaston in his final group match.

Despite dropping the first frame, runs of 72, 60 and 53 were enough for Williams to win 3-1 and advance to the next stage of the competition.

Elsewhere, 21-year-old Liu Hongyu topped Group 21 on Friday with breaks of 104, 89 and 55 helping him defeat Ian Burns before a 133 saw him down Patrick Whelan 3-1.

Further efforts of 93 and 89 earned him a 2-2 draw with Noppon Saengkham to finish the day unbeaten.

Shoot Out champion Tom Ford topped Group 8 on frame difference ahead of Simon Blackwell.

A 2-2 draw with Blackwell was followed by a 3-0 win over Mink Nutcharut that included a break of 132 before a 2-2 draw with Allan Taylor was enough to see the Leicester player edge through.

Two final groups of four will determine who contests the final on July 23, with the winner earning £33,000 and a place in the Champion of Champions event in Leicester in November.

World No. 9 Barry Hawkins takes to the table on Monday to face John Astley, Haydon Pinhey and Haris Tahir in Group 1.

Championship League group winners

  • Group 15: Stephen Maguire (Sco)
  • Group 26: Yao Pengcheng (Chn)
  • Group 3: Alfie Burden (Eng)
  • Group 22: Matthew Selt (Eng)
  • Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
  • Group 18: Yuan Sijun (Chn)
  • Group 28: Ricky Walden (Eng)
  • Group 9: Wu Yize (Chn)
  • Group 2: Zhang Anda (Chn)
  • Group 32: Ng On Yee (HK)
  • Group 11: Stuart Bingham (Eng)
  • Group 17: Elliot Slessor (Eng)
  • Group 6: Liam Davies (Wal)
  • Group 7: Amir Sarkhosh (Irn)
  • Group 13: Jack Lisowski (Eng)
  • Group 14: Pang Junxu (Chn)
  • Group 12: David Gilbert (Eng)
  • Group 19: Lei Peifan (Chn)
  • Group 10: Ben Mertens (Bel)
  • Group 23: Sam Craigie (Eng)
  • Group 21: Liu Hongyu (Chn)
  • Group 8: Tom Ford (Eng)
  • Group 4: Artemijs Zizins (Lat)
  • Group 30: Robbie Williams (Eng)
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