The third day of action at the Champion of Champions event at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry will see the players in Group 3 of the tournament in action and after two less strong groups the action is set to go up a notch in quality.
That is because the world champion Mark Selby and one of the box office attractions in the game Judd Trump are among the players on show on Wednesday. As ever over the two sessions we will have group semi-finals followed by the group final but once again time restrictions will mean we can only preview the semis.
Mark Selby vs Liang Wenbo
The opening match of the group sees the world champion Mark Selby taking on the World Cup winner Liang Wenbo for a place in the group final later in the day.
The first issue we need to address here is the fact that Selby was playing the final of the International Championship in China as late as Sunday so he has had a real dash to make it back for this match. That said we know he doesn’t have to be on top form to come through on the green baize.
Liang Wenbo has had the better of the schedule but he will be out to put memories of when these two met here last year out of his head. Wenbo was shocking on that afternoon and Selby won 4-0 without breaking sweat but there are signs the Chinese player is coming back to form here and I’m going to play on that.
After a slow start to the season Wenbo made two centuries in the International Championship last week and three in two matches in the English Open before that including the 147 so I think the 3/1 that he makes a ton here is a shade on the big side. If Selby is slightly off Liang could get a few early chances and he’s scoring well enough to take advantage.
Judd Trump vs Luca Brecel
The second semi-final sees the stablemates Judd Trump and Luca Brecel in action. Trump qualifies as the European Masters winner while Brecel won the China Championship to make his debut in the tournament.
These two have met twice previously in tournament play and it is fair to say that Brecel has not had the better of it. He has won just one frame in the nine they have played and there is a feeling that his style is perfectly suited to the former Champion of Champions, Trump.
Trump looks to be in pretty decent form at the minute. It took a special Mark Allen to deny him in China last week while Jack Lisowski was at his best to beat him in the English Open too. Trump is playing well and given that he has a good record and a perfect style for Brecel I fancy he’ll come through with a touch in hand here.
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Group Betting
Mark Selby is the favourite to win the group but you’ve got to think the longer the day goes on the more tired he will become which could well play into the hands of the winner of the Trump vs Brecel match. I think it will be Trump but at 13/8 there isn’t oceans of value in him in what would be two good wins to come through the group regardless of Selby’s physical wellbeing. Trump would be my pick to come through the group but initially there isn’t much value. There could be a bit of value in the final if Selby puts in a tired afternoon performance though.
Tips
Back L.Wenbo – Over 0.5 centuries for a 2/10 stake at 4.00 with Bet365
Back him here:
Back J.Trump (-1.5 frames) to beat L.Brecel for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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