'It feels great' – Carter celebrates Championship League title victory

Ali Carter made a glorious start to the new season by claiming the season’s first ranking title with a 3-1 Championship League final win over Jackson Page in Leicester.

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Championship League: Final Day results Championship League: Last-32 group winners Championship League: First-stage group winners

After topping Group 1 with a 3-1 win over three-time world champion Mark Williams in their group decider, the world No. 10 defeated Group 2 winner Page boosted by knocks of 116, 96 and 50 at the city’s Mattioli Arena.

It is the sixth ranking event victory of Carter’s 26-year professional career and the Essex player’s second in two years following his success at the German Masters in Berlin last year.

There was £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

‘It feels great. I’m delighted,” said an emotional Carter. “I’ve been working hard. I’ve got to dedicate this win to a good friend of mine, Mike Diggins, who taught me to fly, he has had a terrible stroke. So this one is for him.

“It is great to be involved in another Champion of Champions, and its great that I’m playing the best stuff that I’ve ever played. Hopefully, there is a few more wins to come.”

Carter is the only player to compete in all 23 editions of the Championship League since its 2008 debut.

He won Group 1 by a point ahead of Scotland’s Scott Donaldson after a 3-0 win over Donaldson and producing a 118 break in a 2-2 draw with Welsh Open finalist Martin O’Donnell before his pivotal win ended Williams’ hopes.

Meanwhile, Page reached the final on frame difference ahead of David Gilbert after both players ended on five points.

The World Open semi-finalist completed a 3-0 win over David Lilley before drawing 2-2 with Long Zehuang and Gilbert, who needed the victory to progress with a closing 135 not enough to deny Page.

Williams had earlier began his quest for a 27th career ranking title victory with two stunning centuries in his opening match.

He produced breaks of 139 and 112 to move 2-0 ahead of O’Donnell before wrapping up a rapid win by dominating the third frame against an opponent who was restricted to only 22 points.

World No. 9 Williams claimed the British Open and Tour Championship titles last season, but was bidding to win the Championship League for the first time in his 32-year professional career having lost 3-0 to Shaun Murphy in last year’s final.

Stage one consisted of 32 groups of four players with the eight group winners reaching the final two groups.