The Championship League Snooker competition opens up the new season on Monday when two first round groups get played out in the newly named Mattioli Arena in Leicester as eight players get their campaign underway.
The aim for all eight who are taking to the two tables is simple. They are aiming to get the results needed to top their section and book their spot in the next stage in three weeks. We have a couple of big names opening up the day.
Group 11
Fixtures
Ryan Day vs Liam Davies
Marco Fu vs Hammad Miah
Marco Fu vs Liam Davies
Ryan Day vs Hammad Miah
Hammad Miah vs Liam Davies
Ryan Day vs Marco Fu
Preview
The action on Table One will be headed up by the former British Open winner Ryan Day who will be looking to make a fast start to the season to get back into the top 16. On the face of it though he has a tricky little group because Marco Fu is the second seed in it but had he not had his injury issues and Covid problems he would have been in the top seed bracket. Hammad Miah started last season well and he is the third seed in the group while Liam Davies is said to have a decent future and he’ll have a good platform to show that here.
Group 21
Fixtures
Neil Robertson vs Zachary Richardson
Jamie Clarke vs Ka Wai Cheung
Jamie Clarke vs Zachary Richardson
Neil Robertson vs Ka Wai Cheung
Ka Wai Cheung vs Zachary Richardson
Neil Robertson vs Jamie Clarke
Preview
It is a weird thing that the highest profile player is actually going to be on Table Two on Monday when Group 21 plays out with Neil Robertson at the head of proceedings. His ranking has dropped so much that he is only the second highest on the day hence he is on table two. You’ve got to say that he has drawn a nice section because Jamie Clarke has proven to be better over the longer formats and he is the second seed while Ka Wai Cheung plays his first day as a professional here as a third seed and Zack Richardson isn’t even a professional so all eyes will be on the Australian to see if he can come through.
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Group Betting
We have a competitive looking group on show on Monday and one which on the face of it would appear a little less close. The quartet on table one are the tighter group and that is evidenced by the fact that it is 13/10 the field. Ryan Day is the favourite and given that he had an acceptable World Championship that is a fair price but I actually think Marco Fu is the man to be on here at 6/4. Liam Davies and Hammad Miah have the potential to be dangerous and things but if Fu is on it I believe he’s the best player here. He scored very well towards the end of last season. He made six tons in his last six matches to round off the previous campaign and if he is in that form I think he’ll see off the lower ranked two and has every chance against Day. At 6/4 he’s my pick in that group.
The other group has a much shorter favourite with Neil Robertson being strong odds on. My gut tells me that he should be taken on but I can’t really find someone to do it with. Jamie Clarke is 4/1 to win the group but he doesn’t tend to start seasons well and I believe he is better in the longer formats and the other two in the section are either new to the tour and making their debut on it or still with amateur status so when you look at it like that perhaps Robertson is a good thing albeit an unbackable price.
Match Betting
Regular readers will know that usually in this tournament I like to take the outsiders in the matches without the draw in play but those pesky bookmakers have done away with the draw no bet markets at the minute so we are going to need to change the strategy. I still don’t think there is a lot of value in backing odds on shots in a best of four but there will be times where I’m sure someone will be a short price that makes sense.
That isn’t really the case on Monday though because the bet I like is for the new professional Ka Wai Cheung to get the better of the amateur Zack Richardson. Richardson played in both Q-School events last week, which might give him a bit of an edge but this is the third game for them so that advantage will have lessened a bit. The two things I like about this one is Cheung is on in the match before so he’ll have the recent feel of the table and also he scored really well in the WSF Championship which he won to book his place on tour and led Ross Muir 9-6 in World Championship qualifying but couldn’t get over the line. There is clearly a player in the man from Hong Kong and at 7/4 we have a decent price on him too.
Tips
Back M.Fu to win Group 11 for a 2/10 stake at 2.50 with William Hill
Back K-W.Cheung to beat Z.Richardson for a 2/10 stake at 2.75 with William Hill
Back them here:
