The snooker season is just starting to properly get going and this week it pays homage to one of its brightest talents which has sadly left us when many of the best in the game head to Germany for the Paul Hunter Classic.
With this tournament following on so soon from the China Championship the cast list this weekend is not as strong as it could have been which is a shame but we should still get some decent snooker.
Recent Winners
2016 – Mark Selby
2015 – Ali Carter
2014 – Mark Allen
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2012 – Mark Selby
2011 – Mark Selby
2010 – Judd Trump
2009 – Shaun Murphy
2008 – Shaun Murphy
2007 – Barry Pinches
The Format
This tournament continues to be run like what the former PTC events were with half the field playing down to the last 16 on Friday and the other half doing likewise on Saturday. The tournament then concludes from the last 16 stage on Sunday until we have a winner. All matches are the best of seven frames.
Top Quarter
This part of the draw is incredibly weak in terms of lack of truly big names. In terms of seeding for the competition Dominic Dale is the highest in here while Jamie Jones is next so there is not a top 16 player in sight.
Gary Wilson, David Grace and Fergal O’Brien are just some of the lesser ranked players who will be looking for a big weekend and the chance to earn a few quid.
Second Quarter
This is a quarter where some of the bigger names are housed. The recent China Championship runner-up Shaun Murphy is in this part of the draw as is Stuart Bingham while Ricky Walden and the 2016 finalist Tom Ford are also part of this quarter.
There is a little more strength in depth to this section with the likes of Ben Woollaston, Robert Milkins, Jimmy Robertson and Ken Doherty among the dangerous names looking for some big scalps.
Third Quarter
The tournament favourite, defending champion and world number one Mark Selby tries to defend his title from this part of the draw. He will face competition from Kyren Wilson, Michael White and Michael Holt, who the Jester faces in the first round in an unfortunate draw.
Matthew Selt, Alan McManus and Kurt Maflin are three others who could launch a title bid from this part of the draw although they might need some help from Selby to come through.
Bottom Quarter
The final quarter of the draw is where the recent China Championship winner Luca Brecel is sat. What sort of state he will be in having only won on Tuesday across the other side of the world remains to be seen. Mark King and Mark Williams will be looking to take advantage of any fatigue from the Belgian.
Martin Gould, Peter Ebdon, Matthew Stevens and Jack Lisowski are some of the names just under the top level who will be looking to take advantage of the absent big names from this part of the draw.
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Betting
As ever with these fast and furious events I like to take a player from each quarter in the hope of getting a pay out from one of them although scandalously bookmakers are paying to just two places.
In the top quarter I think there is a chance worth taking with Fergal O’Brien despite him making it to the quarter final in China. That QF was on Sunday though so he shouldn’t be in too bad a condition here. He is clearly in decent enough nick having seen off Mark King and Alan McManus last week and in a quarter as weak as I can remember 125/1 is a big price.
In the second section I think it is worth a go with Tom Ford to go one better than he did last year. I’ve regularly mentioned how this format suits him and his aggressive style and we saw that here 12 months ago. His quarter is tougher than O’Brien’s but the genuinely big names are in the other half of it so there could be another run to be had for the Leicester man.
Quarter three is all about Mark Selby but he didn’t look himself in China last week and I think he has to be taken on. Kyren Wilson never went anywhere near the Chinese event having failed to qualify for it so he should be fresh and extra motivated this week. We know his quality and if he can get on an early run and anything does happen to Selby he could land another title.
In the bottom quarter I think Brecel has to be taken on and I’m going to take a chance on young Sam Craigie. With Paul Hunter being a young star who broke through it would be fitting if Craigie confirmed his undoubted talent with a win in this event and having beaten Judd Trump 5-0 earlier in the campaign he should not be fearing anyone. He might not have the necessary consistency just yet but if he starts hot he could run very well this weekend.
Tips
Back K.Wilson to win Paul Hunter Classic (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 15.00 with Betfred (1/2 1-2)
Back T.Ford to win Paul Hunter Classic (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Betfred (1/2 1-2)
Back S.Craigie to win Paul Hunter Classic (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 251.00 with Betfred (1/2 1-2)
Back them here:
Back F.O’Brien to win Paul Hunter Classic (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Titanbet (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
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