After a lengthy break to recharge the batteries and get the English Open played, the Championship League Snooker returns on Monday as the second phase of the competition begins as we start winner’s week in some style.
We saw some big names and some lesser lights come through the first group stage of the tournament and we have a couple of very good looking groups being played out on Monday as spots in the third groups are up for grabs.
The Format
The whole tour were invited into the tournament with it now getting ranking event status. The 128 man field have been split into 32 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 second stage where the 32 remaining players are split into four more groups of four over the same format. Those eight winners then go into two more groups where the winner of each will battle it out in a best of five frame final for the title. Two groups will be played on each day until the final day when the Championship group and final is played. The second stage of the tournament is on Free Sports.
Day 16 Recap
We had a surprise and an expected result in the final day of the first round group stage. The surprise came on table two where it was Robbie Williams who progressed courtesy of making the highest break in the group after he and Tian Pengfei couldn’t be separated any other way. Things went more to form on the main table when the withdrawal of Ronnie O’Sullivan opened the door for Li Hang to march through and the Chinese player certainly didn’t disappoint in that regard.
We went with one bet to round off the first phase of the competition which was for Robbie Williams to get the better of Tian Pengfei. Despite twice leading in the match Williams couldn’t get over the line, although to be fair to Pengfei he put together some excellent breaks to stay in it. The 2-2 draw meant that we had to settle for a push to end the first round with.
Stage 2 Group A
Fixtures
Judd Trump vs Robert Milkins
Barry Hawkins vs Ryan Day
Barry Hawkins vs Robert Milkins
Judd Trump vs Ryan Day
Ryan Day vs Robert Milkins
Judd Trump vs Barry Hawkins
Preview
In any tournament that involves group stages there is always a group dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ and in this competition it would definitely appear to be this one as the world number one Judd Trump is joined by three genuine tournament winning challengers. Barry Hawkins hasn’t done a lot for a while but now that he has dropped out of the top 16 he needs every win he can get while Ryan Day went close to winning the previous Championship League and is a regular at the business end of this tournament. The format doesn’t hamper Robert Milkins any either.
Stage 2 Group C
Fixtures
Zhao Xintong vs Alexander Ursenbacher
Stuart Bingham vs Luo Honghao
Stuart Bingham vs Alexander Ursenbacher
Zhao Xintong vs Luo Honghao
Stuart Bingham vs Zhao Xintong
Luo Honghao vs Alexander Ursenbacher
Preview
The action doesn’t look too much worse on table two either where the Masters champion Stuart Bingham headlines what should be a nice and competitive section throughout the afternoon and inter the evening. The two talented Chinese players Luo Honghao and Zhao Xintong will certainly bring a strong challenge to the former world champion while Alexander Irsenbacher is one of the European stars in waiting in this game and has a wonderful chance to show just why over the course of the day.
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Group Betting
Both these groups look a little too competitive for me to get involved in with any clarity. The one thing I would be sure of is I don’t want to be on either of the favourites as they both look plenty short enough when you consider what they are up against. On the main table there is a part of me that thinks Ryan Day could be overpriced but it is just hard to see anyone winning three matches and I’m not sure I want to be betting on a group which could come down to the highest break.
On the other table Bingham has a pretty good record in this event and he made the final group of the last Championship League but the young three are all talented and if Bingham is slightly off his game one of them could capitalise. Which one it will be is anyone’s guess though. If I had to pick someone I’d take Alexander Ursenbacher but it wouldn’t be with anything like the confidence I’d want to have.
Match Betting
I will take those two players in a couple of their matches though starting fairly early in the day on the main table when Ryan Day takes on Barry Hawkins. This is a big day for Hawkins but I’m not sure that is going to help him very much. These two played in the last Championship League and drew 2-2 but it was late in the day and Day only needed a frame to go through and took his foot off the pedal. They meet in their opening match here so there won’t be any of that. I think Day has good memories of this tournament and while there was an improvement in Hawkins at the English Open, Day was just unlucky to come up against Ronnie O’Sullivan early on. The Welshman can make up for it here by winning his opener.
Over on the other table the final match that Alexander Ursenbacher plays could well have some significance as he takeson Luo Honghao in a match that the Swiss is rightly the favourite to win but I’m a little surprised he is only a marginal one. I think he is a high quality operator who is capable of producing big things this season. Honghao looked like he was going to be another Chinese superstar when he burst onto the scene a couple of seasons ago but he’s been a little on the quiet side recently and was fortunate he didn’t have to go to Q-School in the summer. Ursenbacher is the player on the up and if there is a winner here I expect it to be him.
Tips
Back R.Day to beat B.Hawkins (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with Coral
Back him here:
PUSH – Back A.Ursenbacher to beat L.Honghao (DNB) for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfair
Back him here:
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