Such is the way in the snooker world these days as one tournament ends in China another begins in mainland Europe the day after as the European Masters gets going in Belgium on Monday. Another decent prize pool is up for grabs over what should be another exciting week on the baize.
64 men will make up the main draw this week with a couple of players having withdrawn and a couple of players having to play their held over qualifying matches. They will all be looking to dethrone Judd Trump as the champion.
Recent Winners
2017 – Judd Trump
2016 – Judd Trump
The Format
The tournament has a pretty simple format with the first round right the way through to the quarter finals being the best of seven frames so it is fast and furious early on. The semi-finals will be the best-of-11 frames and then the champion will be determined over the best of 17 frames on Sunday evening where a spot in the Champion of Champions will be among the prizes for whoever lifts the trophy.
Top Quarter
The defending champion Judd Trump will be in this quarter if he can come through his held over qualifying match. He will join fellow top 16 players Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson in this quarter of the draw if he comes through. There are some talented outsiders in this quarter too with Joe Perry, Fergal O’Brien and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in this part of the draw as well.
Second Quarter
It was meant to be about the China Championship runner-up John Higgins in this quarter but he withdrew after his exerts out in Guangzhou which means there is not a single top 16 player left in this part of the draw although Luca Brecel will change that if he wins his qualifying match. Jack Lisowski is now the highest ranked player in the quarter with Yan Bingtao not too far behind him. Anthony Hamilton is another who could take advantage of the openness of this section.
Third Quarter
World number one and the new China Championship champion Mark Selby is the main draw in the third quarter although given his exertions last week it would be no surprise were he not to turn up. If he doesn’t then Barry Hawkins, Stuart Bingham and Ryan Day will be top 16 players looking to take advantage. Ricky Walden is another player capable of going deep while Zhao Xintong made the semi-fiinals in Guangzhou. Dave Gilbert and Mark King make this a tough looking section with or without Selby.
Bottom Quarter
The world champion Mark Williams was due to be in here but he has also withdrawn from the tournament. That leaves Mark Allen and Anthony McGill as the only top 16 players in the quarter although in fairness Ali Carter is a top 16 player in all but ranking. Zhou Yuelong, Peter Ebdon and Gary Wilson will be among the players who will be looking for a big week in what is another open quarter.
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Betting
I’m going to go with three players this week. My main bet is going to be on Neil Robertson who hasn’t done a huge amount wrong in the last two tournaments other than run into players in sensational form. He has already won a tournament similar to this one this season when he took down the Riga Masters right at the beginning of the campaign. Since then he has run into players scoring well against him but Robertson generally goes well in these sort of events with his power scoring and with big names pulling out all the time he’ll spend most of his time on the main table. That will suit him and at 12/1 he’s my main play.
I’ve got to take a player in the two open sections and in the bottom one Ali Carter is ready to do some damage somewhere. He smashed in the highest break of the tournament last week despite losing in the first round but that showed he is cueing well and an early exit there could serve him well here. His draw looks like it could easily open up and having won in Germany in the past we know he goes well in Europe. At 40/1 he looks a solid enough punt.
Anthony Hamilton is another player who has won in Germany and he has already gone well in these best of seven events in the past too. He is in the quarter which John Higgins has pulled out of so if someone takes care of Luca Brecel there is no high ranked player in it so someone is going to make the semi-final under the radar. With that in mind the 200/1 on Hamilton is worth a bit of support.
Tips
Back N.Robertson to win European Masters (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 13.00 with Betfair (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
Back A.Hamilton to win European Masters (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 201.00 with BetVictor (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
Back A.Carter to win European Masters (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 41.00 with Betfred (1/2 1-2)
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