Carter sees off two former world champs
ALI Carter booked his BetVictor Championship League Snooker finals day place after seeing off the challenge of former world champions Shaun Murphy and Graeme Dott.
Carter, who has vowed to fight his way back into the world’s top 16, beat both men 3-1 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester before securing his passage from Group E with a 3-1 victory over Gerard Greene on the second day of stage two.
Carter told the World Snooker Tour’s official website: “I’ve been working hard back home and trying to do the right things. I’ve come here today, and it’s paid off.
“I knew it was going to be a tough group – obviously Shaun and Graeme are both former world champions, I knew I had work to do. They are all tough players.
“It’s great to be involved, it’s a great tournament. I’m really enjoying it. If I can turn up on Friday and enjoy it again, I’ll be happy.”
Carter will be joined on finals day by Group F winner Ryan Day, who beat another ex-world champion, Stuart Bingham, 3-0 in his final match to go through after drawing 2-2 with Alexander Ursenbacher and defeating Ashley Hugill 3-1. ‘I’M EXCITED TO BE A FAN AGAIN’: Tigers’ George Worth playing against Bath in the Premiership in 2019
GEORGE Worth has become the latest Leicester Tigers player to be released early from his contract during 2021.
The 24-year-old utility back spent a large portion of the 2020/21 season out on loan in Australia with the Rebels, but returned to Leicester for pre-season training ahead of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season.
Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick confirmed that an “opportunity came up for George” and the club has chosen “not to stand in his way”.
Worth said: “As a youngster I dreamt of playing for this club, so to have achieved over 60 appearances is something I am really proud of.
“I’ve seen tons of awesome people and players come and go, and now it’s my turn to move on.
“I am excited to be a Tigers fan again.”
Worth, who made 62 appearances for Tigers after making his debut, becomes the latest member of Borthwick’s squad to be released before the end of their contract.
Agreements were reached with Blake Enever, Facundo Gigena, Jake Kerr, Shalva Mamukashvili, Jordan Taufua, Tom Hardwick and Luke Wallace during the 2020/21 season to move on from Mattioli Woods Welford Road. During the off-season, six more players left Tigers upon the conclusion of their deals as Ryan Bower and Darryl Marfo, and backrowers Jordan Coghlan and Sam Lewis moved on along with Joaquin Diaz Bonilla and Ben White.
Tomás Lavanini (Clermont Auvergne), Luan de Bruin (Edinburgh) and Johnny McPhillips (Carcassonne) also moved on to pastures new.
Those departures have been offset by the arrivals of former Tigers star Freddie Burns, Hosea Saumaki Bryce Hegarty, Dan Lancaster, Juan-Pablo Socino, Dan Richardson, Eli Snyman, South African Test star Marco Van Staden and Francois Van Wyk.