The Players Championship begins with two matches in the opening night of action in the tournament. After a hectic recent schedule those involved have been given the day to make it up to Wales which is why there is only one session of play but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of talent on show.
Four tournament winners are in action to kick us off so we should be getting quality right from the start of the competition.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Liang Wenbo
For the second time this year Ronnie O’Sullivan plays Liang Wenbo to open up a tournament on the main table. The two met at The Masters to kick that event off and Wenbo won’t need reminding he should’ve won that match. He should have won their match in Shanghai too but lost in a deciding frame both times.
Liang lost early in Gibraltar but he has been in decent form in recent times and we know he enjoys playing O’Sullivan even if he can’t quite get over the line. The last time we saw O’Sullivan he was being swept aside by Mark Davis in the Welsh Open.
Recent meetings between these two suggest that this will be a tight match. O’Sullivan hasn’t shown his best snooker for a while and Liang is very competent so I’m expecting to see at least eight frames in this one if not all nine.
Stuart Bingham vs Anthony Hamilton
The other match on the opening night is a repeat of the German Masters semi-final which Anthony Hamilton saw off Stuart Bingham in before going on to win the title so there is a reason for revenge for Bingham.
It must be said that Anthony Hamilton looks to be hitting the ball really well still. He looked every bit the winner of the Shootout until Anthony McGill outsmarted him and he was playing well in Gibraltar too before he ran into a train of a performance from Jack Lisowski. Bingham is playing much better now having won the Welsh Open so this should be a cracking match.
Hamilton has a good record against Bingham. I’ve mentioned before that he either beats him or runs him really close and there’s nothing I’ve seen from the Sheriff in the last month or so that says to me he can’t go all the way here if not beat Bingham again. This really does look tight and at the prices I’m with Hamilton on a handicap.
Tips
Back R.O’Sullivan vs L.Wenbo – Over 7.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.30 with Coral
Back it here:
WON – Back A.Hamilton (+1.5 frames) to beat S.Bingham for a 4/10 stake at 2.15 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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