The first of World Snooker’s Players Tour Championship events has kicked off in Sheffield, with professional Main Tour players and amateurs alike battling for a prize fund of £50,000.

Thursday

Chen Zhe was the first Grove player to take part, in the amateur qualifying round, and was unfortunate to lose 4-3 to Stephen Ormerod having raced into a 3-0 lead.

Saturday

Zhang Anda went out in his 1st round match to Alfie Burden, 0-4.

Two Grove players found themselves drawn against each other – Liu Chuang edging out Jack Lisowski 4-3. Chuang started with breaks of 46, 70 and 62, and Jack came back with 85 and 77 but wasn’t able to win the deciding frame.

Liu Chuang then came up against Barry Pinches and lost 3-4, being beaten 24-73 in the deciding frame.

Liu Song beat Robert Milkins in the first round 4-3, including breaks of 59 and 79, but then was defeated in the last 64 by Paul Davison by the same scoreline, 3-4.

Matthew Selt also won his first round game 4-3, against Craig Barber, but was then defeated 4-2 in the second round by Xiao Guodoung.

Judd Trump had the most success of the Grove players on the Saturday. He played and won all three matches – 4-1 against Jack Jones in the first round, including breaks of 55, 83, 68 and 111; 4-3 against Liam Highfield in the second round and 4-2 against Paul Davison in the third round, in a match which finished around 2am.

Sunday

Judd was up at around 8am to get ready for his morning match against Mark Williams in the last 16, but probably could have done with a bit more rest as he was defeated 4-0.

Mark Williams went on to beat Barry Pinches, Jamie Cope and Stephen Maguire to become the first ever PTC winner. The second PTC event takes place in Sheffield from 9-11 July.