The opening day of the Champion of Champions sees Group 3 as the focus of attention which means right from the start we get to see Ronnie O’Sullivan in action as he bids to make it into the semi-final.
As with each of the first four days of the tournament we will have two semi-finals over the best of seven frames in the afternoon with the two winners returning in the evening for the group final over the best of 11.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Robin Hull
The first match of the tournament sees the Masters champion Ronnie O’Sullivan taking on the Shootout winner Robin Hull. O’Sullivan has been playing a lot more this season and usually targets the UK swing as his time to win titles and having won this tournament twice he certainly knows how to get it done.
Robin Hull is a relative newcomer to invitation events like these so it will be interesting to see how he settles early on. If he is to win this he will have to settle quickly but that isn’t necessarily beyond him. If he does settle we know he is a very heavy scorer but even then it would be a major surprise if O’Sullivan doesn’t win this one. That said he is pretty short so I’ll leave this one alone.
Martin Gould vs Mark Davis
The German Masters champion Martin Gould takes on the World Seniors winner Mark Davis in the second semi-final and this one looks a much closer match on paper at least. You would have to say that Gould arrives here in mixed form which has to be a concern.
Mark Davis is one of those players who you never really notice but quite often he plays well and scores well and before you know it he has a head of steam up and he is difficult to beat. Given Gould’s form I would imagine Davis would fancy his chances here and at the prices in what is pretty much a 50/50 match I think he is worth taking a chance on too.
Group Outright
It is hard to see O’Sullivan not coming through here. Brave punters could take a chance on either Gould or Davis to beat him in the group final but really O’Sullivan has landed a plum draw here and I expect him to take advantage of that so it is just the Davis match punt for me on the opening day.
Tips
Back M.Davis to beat M.Gould for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Bwin
Back him here:
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