The former world number one went straight to the top of the group following his perfect start in Essex, comprising wins over Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter.
Mark Davis is a point behind after he won two of his three opening matches.
Scot Higgins hit a 126 break against Shaun Murphy, who endured a miserable day, to lead the way in the race for the highest break.
Murphy lost his opening three matches 3-0, but his hopes are still alive after he recovered to beat Martin Gould in his final match.
Twenty-five of the world's top players are competing in the Championship League, the Premier League qualifying event.
Seven groups of seven players produce seven winners who play in one further group in March to determine the winner who will play in the 2013 Premier League.
In each group the top four players from the round robin stage will contest the semi finals and final over the best of five frames.
The players coming sixth and seventh in the group will be relegated and will not feature in any further group matches and therefore three players will leave and be replaced by a further three players.
RESULTS:
Shaun Murphy 3 - 2 Martin Gould
Mark Davis 3 - 0 Allister Carter
John Higgins 3 - 2 Allister Carter
Martin Gould 3 - 0 Matthew Stevens
Judd Trump 3 - 0 Shaun Murphy
Mark Davis 3 - 0 Martin Gould
Allister Carter 3 - 0 Matthew Stevens
John Higgins 3 - 0 Shaun Murphy
Matthew Stevens 3 - 2 Mark Davis
Martin Gould 3 - 0 Judd Trump
Allister Carter 3 - 0 Shaun Murphy
John Higgins 3 - 1 Judd Trump
LINE-UP:
Group 1 - Judd Trump, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Matthew Stevens, Mark Davis and Martin Gould
Group 2 - Four players from Group 1 plus Stephen Maguire, Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham
Group 3 - Four players from Group 2 plus Mark Selby, Mark Williams and Ding Junhui
Group 4 - Four players from Group 3 plus Ricky Walden, Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins
Group 5 - Four players from Group 4 plus Joe Perry, Peter Ebdon and Ryan Day
Group 6 - Four players from Group 5 plus Marcus Campbell, Marco Fu and Dominic Dale
Group 7 - Four players from Group 6 plus three Andrew Higginson, Tom Ford and Robert Milkins
Winners' Group - Winners of groups 1 to 7
