ASHLEY HUGILL was unable to progress from his BetVictor Championship League group after finishing with two draws and a defeat from the season-opening event.

The York snooker star managed 2-2 stalemates against Anthony Hamilton and Steven Hallworth and was beaten 3-1 by Noppon Saengkham at Leicester’s Morningside Arena.

Those trio of results saw Hugill place third in group 31, which was topped by Hamilton, thus claiming £1,000 in prize money.

World number 70 Hugill faced Hamilton first up and the Nottingham veteran won the opening frame 73-2 through a 72 break.

Hugill responded to claim the next two frames in tight fashion, via 73-66 and 51-43 scorelines.

The former world number 10, now ranked at 50, earned a draw thanks to a game-high 93 break in a 93-0 frame win.

Saengkham was next for Hugill and, at 37 in the world, was the highest-ranked player in the group.

The first two frames were shared, with Saengkham taking the first 57-54 and Hugill having the second 62-43.

The Thailander reeled off a 90 break in the third, which he won 113-16, before edging the fourth 61-53.

Hugill was able to finish with a draw which secured third over bottom-placed Hallworth, who had earlier lost 3-0 to both Saengkham and Hamilton.

World number 81 Hallworth started well, hitting a 61 break in his 89-10 opener, to win his first frame of the day.

In reply, Hugill won frames two and three, producing his first half-century break (65) in the former (69-56) and winning the latter by a clear margin (73-41).

Melbourne’s Hugill was denied a first victory of the day though as Hallworth finished in style - scoring a 96 break in a 96-0 final frame.