The snooker circuit heads back to the UK this week with the third last ranking event of the season taking place in Llandudno when the leading 16 players in the earnings from this campaign battle it out for a massive first prize in the Players Championship.
As ever in the snooker world these days there is a storyline running alongside the tournament with the race for automatic qualification to the World Championship really intensifying. Those who have not yet secured their path have just this event and the China Open next month to do so.
Recent Winners
2017 – Judd Trump
2016 – Mark Allen
2015 – Joe Perry
2014 – Barry Hawkins
2013 – Ding Junhui
2012 – Stephen Lee
2011 – Shaun Murphy
The Format
The big thing about this tournament is the best of seven matches are a thing of past. We are the best of 11 frames right the way through the event until the final which is the best of 19 frames so we are guaranteed a decent event.
The bracket has been pre-drawn in line with how the players have ranked in the season earnings with 1 vs 16 in the first round and 2 vs 15, 3 vs 14 and so on. That has generated some tasty matchups right from the beginning.
Top Half
Ronnie O’Sullivan has earned the most money this season so he is the number one seed and therefore in the top quarter of the draw. He will go up against Graeme Dott in the first round with the other two players in the first quarter being top class. We have The Masters champion Mark Allen and the extremely talented Ding Junhui.
The main seed in the second quarter is Judd Trump despite him having a largely quiet season by his standards. He will take on Stephen Maguire in the first round while two tournament winners will join them in this part of the draw as Luca Brecel goes up against Neil Robertson in a section which will have massive implications on the World Championship qualifying picture.
Bottom Half
John Higgins is the main man in the third quarter as he goes in search of a third title of the season. Once again he goes up against Anthony McGill in the first round with the other two players looking to deny the Scots a semi-final berth being the Champion of Champions winner Shaun Murphy, who is going in search of a second ITV title of the campaign, and Kyren Wilson who has been knocking on the door all season.
Mark Williams is the second seed in the tournament after landing titles on Northern Ireland and Germany in this campaign. He faces the man he beat to win in Belfast in the first round in Yan Bingtao while the other two men in the quarter are the world champion Mark Selby and the man looking for three titles in a row in Ryan Day.
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Betting
Given that we have the leading 16 players of the season in this tournament it is difficult to find an open section of the draw or much value in the outright market so this is one of those weeks where we just have to back a player we think will go well and save the value route for the two remaining events of the season.
The player I like is Mark Williams. If there is a part of the draw that is nice he probably has it. He is likely to have the beating of Yan Bingtao and if it is Selby in the quarter final he isn’t playing overly well. If it is Day you would think his winning run will end soon. From there on the tournament will be anyone’s. Williams will have plenty of support this week with the tournament being in Wales and he’s been playing well all season. He looked excellent at the Welsh Open but ran into an inspired performance in a best-of-seven. The longer format should see form come to the fore which makes Williams a massive runner in my eyes.
Tips
Back M.Williams to win Players Championship (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 21.00 with Boylesports (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
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