The Championship League Snooker continues on Thursday when we get into the second part of the opening week of the competition inside the Mattioli Arena in Leicester as two more groups get played out in full.
We don’t have what you would call a standout player in terms of someone who is in the top 16 in either group on Thursday but what we are left with is a competitive pair of sections which could yield some dramatic snooker.
Day 3 Recap
It was a day without a standout name on Wednesday as well and we saw some decent snooker. It was also the first time this week where the higher seeds didn’t come through. Matthew Stevens was the man who came through on the main table at the expense of the top seed Robbie Williams while over on table two Elliot Slessor was meant to be the man progressing but the second seed in that group came out on top in the form of Ashley Carty.
We didn’t do a preview for the Wednesday action but we didn’t have a great day with the Tuesday stuff where our one bet on that day didn’t really get started. Liam Pullen actually had the first chance in the opening frame against Ian Burns but once he didn’t take it, it was obvious that he couldn’t get started and in the end he lost 3-0 without really registering a blow on the game. That leaves us with a bit to do on Thursday.
Group 22
Fixtures
Joe O’Connor vs Harvey Chandler
Aaron Hill vs Oliver Lines
Aaron Hill vs Harvey Chandler
Joe O’Connor vs Oliver Lines
Oliver Lines vs Harvey Chandler
Joe O’Connor vs Aaron Hill
Preview
The action on table one will see Group 22 of the tournament being played out where the former Scottish Open finalist Joe O’Connor is the leading seed but he is yet to make it out of his first group so the other three players will certainly fancy their chances with that in mind. Aaron Hill is the second seed in this section and after probably his best season on tour to date last term he’ll fancy the job here. Oliver Lines is in as the third seed while the amateur Harvey Chandler makes up the quartet in this group.
Group 23
Fixtures
Stephen Maguire vs Ryan Davies
Michael White vs Dean Young
Michael White vs Ryan Davies
Stephen Maguire vs Dean Young
Dean Young vs Ryan Davies
Stephen Maguire vs Michael White
Preview
The action over on table two on Thursday comes from Group 23 where Stephen Maguire is the headline act. He is one of those players who I never feel completely comfortable being on early in a season. He didn’t play in this tournament last year but did get out of his group in 2022. Michael White also got out of his group in 2022 and he is the second seed in this section. He also got out of his group last year so he’ll fancy his chances here. Dean Young is one of the weaker third seeds in the event while Ryan Davies remains an amateur but gets in here as a top up.
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Group Betting
I actually think that both of the group favourites are opposable on Thursday with Aaron Hill the man I like in the table one section. Joe O’Connor is the top seed but as I mentioned in the preview above he has never come out of his group and it might just be that the format doesn’t suit him. Hill has only come out of his group once but he started last season well which is encouraging. You have to respect Oliver Lines but he is tumbling down the rankings while Harvey Chandler is a late call up so might not have done any preparation. I like Hill in this group, especially with him having won the only meeting with O’Connor in the past.
Over on the other table I’ve got to take Stephen Maguire on. He doesn’t start seasons well. He hasn’t reached the last eight of a tournament earlier than the Northern Ireland Open since 2018 and he has only twice made the last 16 since then. He’s much better than that so that tells you that he just doesn’t practice as much as others in the summer. That isn’t the case for Michael White who is generally up for things right from the start and given that his ranking still isn’t where he would want it I see no reason why that won’t continue here. I do think the group is between them two because Dean Young barely won a match last season and while Ryan Davies is talented he is still an amateur for a reason. White looks a good thing here.
Match Betting
I’m a little disappointed when it comes to the match betting on Thursday because I had identified Craig Steadman as a player to take on but he has pulled out of the tournament and the bookmakers aren’t giving much away on the other three players to get the better of Harvey Chandler over the course of the day. That puts me off betting on the action on table one because I can’t really find a way in elsewhere although I have Hill running for me in that group.
The other group isn’t much easier to bet on because I think this is even more about the top two seeds and I wouldn’t be surprised if the section comes down to their match at the end of it. If that is the case then I’m already on Michael White to win it so I don’t need to go in again. Both men are pretty short to win the other two matches but I can’t really convince myself to take them on so I’ll just leave the two group bets as my interest on Thursday.
Tips
Back A.Hill to win Group 22 for a 2/10 stake at 4.50 with Boylesports
Back him here:
Back M.White to win Group 23 for a 2/10 stake at 3.00 with William Hill
Back him here:
