The Championship League snooker tournament continues on Saturday afternoon when two more groups are played out in full in what should be another decent day of action on the baize inside the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
The standard is going up all the time in this tournament as the players arriving have had something to practice for and have put some work in. The big names keep on coming as well and we have another former world champion entertaining us on Saturday.
The Format
The whole tour were invited into the tournament with the highest ranked 64 players getting into the draw. The 64 man field have been split into 16 groups of four in the first round. Each group is a round robin with everyone playing everyone else over the best of four frames with two points for a win and one for a draw. The player who tops the group goes through to the group winner stage where the 16 remaining players are split into four more groups of four over the same format. Those four winners then go into the Championship group which is once again played out over the same format. Whoever tops that group is the champion. Two groups will be played on each day until the final day when the Championship group is played. The entire tournament is live on ITV4 in the UK.
Friday Recap
It looked like being a day for the favourites on Friday and that is exactly how it played out with the two men expected to come through doing so, and doing it with plenty in hand. Ronnie O’Sullivan was the star attraction on the main table and he won all three of his matches without conceding a frame, scoring well and looking good. It was a similar story on the other table where our outright bet Tom Ford dominated proceedings. Like O’Sullivan, Ford won all three of his matches although he did drop one frame. Chris Wakelin and Robert Milkins were the closest challengers to the pair.
It was a frustrating day for us betting wise though. All we could get from our two bets was a push and even that felt like a loser after Ian Burns failed to convert a 2-0 lead into a win against Robert Milkins, eventually being pegged back to a draw. Prior to that Michael Georgiou just never got going against Chris Wakelin and some bad run of the ball against him didn’t help so it was our first losing betting day of the event.
Group 1
Fixtures
Stuart Bingham vs Jamie Clarke
Ricky Walden vs Jordan Brown
Ricky Walden vs Jamie Clarke
Stuart Bingham vs Jordan Brown
Jordan Brown vs Jamie Clarke
Stuart Bingham vs Ricky Walden
Preview
The group on the main table on Saturday afternoon will see the former world champion Stuart Bingham look to make it into the next round. Bingham swaps the commentary box for the cue and appears to have a nice section on the face of it. Ricky Walden would appear to be the biggest danger to The Masters champion but you would think Bingham would be suited by the format. Jordan Brown has shown signs of life and improvement this season and he’ll want to be competitive here. Jamie Clarke will hope he isn’t just making up the numbers.
Group 8
Fixtures
Ben Woollaston vs Liam Highfield
Jimmy Robertson vs Thor Chuan Leong
Jimmy Robertson vs Liam Highfield
Ben Woollaston vs Thor Chuan Leong
Jimmy Robertson vs Ben Woollaston
Liam Highfield vs Thor Chuan Leong
Preview
One of the more open groups takes place on the second table when the former European Masters winner Jimmy Robertson puts his top ranking on the line in what looks like being a competitive section. Ben Woollaston has gone quiet in his career in terms of getting to the latter stages of a tournament so he would welcome a decent run here, while Liam Highfield gets another chance to show his talents on the big stage. Thor Chuan Leong might be free rolling in this event as he came in at the last minute in place of Alexander Ursenbacher.
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Group Betting
This is a tough day to get involved in the group betting in. Group 1 is headlined by Stuart Bingham who I think will win the group but at 4/5 he is no price when there is a decent enough challenger in the form of Ricky Walden. Bingham is always prepared for a tournament and plays in everything he can so he will be used to quirky formats. He’ll also target this as decent practice ahead of the World Championship. I’d be surprised if ‘Ballrun’ doesn’t come through but I just can’t be backing anyone at 4/5.
In the other group you pays your money and takes your choice over any one of three really. I think Jimmy Robertson is a worthy favourite. He was in good form before lockdown and has enough natural talent to be competitive here. I’m less sure about Ben Woollaston but I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes through while Liam Highfield rates as a serious danger. The rankings suggest Thor Chuan Leong is making up the numbers and the odds suggest likewise but always beware the man who has nothing to lose. Neither group offer a betting opportunity.
Match Betting
That leaves me with the match betting from which to form a bet for the day on Saturday and the game I like is the opening one on table two where Liam Highfield is a touch of value to see off Ben Woollaston. I like Highfield and keep waiting for him to land a major breakthrough and who knows it could be here. I certainly think he’ll embrace the tournament and he has enough natural talent to be a success in it. The match going scrappy probably won’t do him any harm either.
The Shootout fired Ben Woollaston into life as having made the quarter final there he went on to make the last 16 in Gibraltar but the shutdown probably didn’t come at a good time for him and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is slow out of the blocks. Woollaston played in the proper version of the Championship League earlier in the campaign and lost four of his six matches so there are enough reasons to take him on and the attacking intentions and solid temperament of Highfield is the player to do it with.
Tips
Back L.Highfield to beat B.Woollaston (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 2.10 with Coral
Back him here:
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