The first round of the Players Championship concludes on Wednesday afternoon and the quarter finals begin in the evening on another busy day of snooker action at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
We’ve had 12 big names in action so far in the week and the four remaining men to get their tournaments underway are of a similar ilk but already all eyes are turning to the evening session and the battle of the box office stars.
Afternoon Session
The match on the main table looks to be of the highest quality as Ding Junhui takes on John Higgins in a battle of two men who have won titles in China this season. Higgins has also won the Champion of Champions too. On the other table two more tournament winners collide when Gibraltar Open champion Shaun Murphy takes on World Open winner Ali Carter.
Evening Session
The two most watchable players in the game meet in the opening quarter final in this session. When the draw came out the potential clash between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump jumped off the screen and that is the match up we get to enjoy. It should be an absolute belter.
Betting
I’m going with a couple of bets on Wednesday. The main table match in the afternoon looks an even contest but amazingly Ding Junhui had won nine of the last 10 matches against John Higgins prior to losing to the Scot at the Champion of Champions earlier in the season. Ding pulled out all the stops in that match though making an insane four centuries and losing.
There is clearly something about playing Higgins that inspires Ding and he always seems to produce his best against him. We know Ding has been indifferent this year but we now know why too. I sense he’ll finish the season well and in a 50/50 match he’s value at odds against. Throw the record between the two in and he has to be backed.
In the big match in the evening I’m with Judd Trump. I accept Ronnie O’Sullivan was really good in the first round but I sense after the Masters he knows Liang Wenbo can’t beat him. Trump can. He’s done it this season already and a theme of the campaign for O’Sullivan has been getting results but then coming up short against the elite. Much was made of how well Ronnie played in the first round but Trump has been in daunting form for a while. I just feel this is his time once again.
Tips
WON – Back D.Junhui to beat J.Higgins for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with 888sport
Back him here:
WON – Back J.Trump to beat R.O’Sullivan for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Titanbet
Back him here:
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