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JOE Perry remains on course for an instant return to the Premier League Snooker event after he won the latest Championship League qualifying group.

Perry advanced after winning through a tough third group that comprised of six other players all ranked inside the top 16 on the provisional rankings.

Last year Perry won the 2008 Championship to play in the Premier League for the first time - and then performed well by reaching the semi-finals.

"I loved taking part in the Premier League," said Perry. "Apart from the World Championship, the Premier League is now the biggest showpiece event in snooker and held in such high regard.

"The general public always talk to me about being in the Premier League and not any of the other ranking events I've been in. The Premier League is a really big event and you're always playing in front of big crowds.

"Winning the Championship last year was a great experience but playing in the Premier League was something else. My game has benefited both from this and the Premier League."

Perry defeated Mark Williams 3-0 in the final but had a big slice of good fortune in one of his group games as opponent Neil Robertson was docked two frames for turning up to the Crondon Park Golf club late after getting lost.

That match ended 3-1 in Perry's favour and that proved crucial as he scraped into the semi-finals by one point.

"It was a huge slice of luck," admitted Perry. "Neil has been playing well over the last two days and I wasn't looking forward to that game.

"A two-frame start in a four-frame match is a big help and that was the catalyst to go and do well today.

"The Championship League is a great tournament to be involved in but you have to get through one of them to get to the Winners' Group.

"I've participated in eight groups in the two years and I always get off to a slow start. But I really enjoy the format and it's very exciting.

"If you can get yourself into the top four then you have a chance as the semi-finals and final are only best of five so anything can happen so I have as much chance as anyone of winning it again."

Perry now joins Mark Selby and Mark Allen, who triumphed in groups one and two respectively, in the Winners' Group at the end of March.

The eventual champion will qualify for Matchroom's Premier League, which is held most Thursdays between September and November with all the action shown on Sky Sports and played out in front of capacity crowds.

Elsewhere in group three, two-time World Champion John Higgins narrowly avoided an early exit from the competition.

Higgins, competing in the event for the first time, drew one and lost twice in his opening three matches on the first day of two of the third group.

He was defeated 3-1 against Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins and secured a 2-2 draw against Mark Williams but needed good results against Ding Junhui, Joe Perry and Ali Carter on Tuesday.

However, Higgins remained undefeated on the second day with draws against Ding and Perry before a victory against Carter saw the Scot scrape through, at the expense of the man from Essex.

The two players to be eliminated from the third group were Carter and Chinese star Ding Junhui.

Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Barry Hawkins and John Higgins now advance to group four where they will be joined by three new players - Stuart Bingham, Jamie Cope and Dave Harold.

Monday, February 9
Joe Perry 1-3 Ding Junhui, Ali Carter 2-2 Mark Williams
John Higgins 1-3 Neil Robertson, Barry Hawkins 2-2 Joe Perry
Ding Junhui 2-2 Ali Carter, Mark Williams 2-2 John Higgins
Neil Robertson 2-2 Barry Hawkins, Joe Perry 2-2 Ali Carter
Ding Junhui 1-3 Mark Williams, John Higgins 1-3 Barry Hawkins
Ali Carter 3-1 Barry Hawkins, Neil Robertson 2-2 Mark Williams

Tuesday, February 10
Joe Perry 3-1 Neil Robertson (Robertson docked two frames for late arrival), Ding Junhui 2-2 John Higgins
Mark Williams 3-1 Barry Hawkins, Ali Carter 1-3 Neil Robertson
Joe Perry 2-2 John Higgins, Ding Junhui 1-3 Barry Hawkins
Ali Carter 1-3 John Higgins
Ding Junhui 0-4 Neil Robertson, Joe Perry 2-2 Mark Williams
Play-off - first v fourth - Neil Robertson 1-3 Joe Perry
second v third - Mark Williams 3-1 Barry Hawkins.
8pm: Final - Joe Perry 3-0 Mark Williams

Each match is broadcast live on a number of betting websites and all matches in the league phase are played over four frames. The play-offs and final are the first to 3.

The Championship League Snooker consists of eight groups. Seven regular groups and then a winners' group features the seven previous successful players.

In groups one to six, the winner of the final will advance to the winners' group. The loser in the final, the two losing semi-finalist and the player finishing fifth in the league will advance into the next group. They will then be joined by three new players for the next group.

Date updated: February 10, 2009