The Tour Championship is the final ranking event before next month’s World Championship and the top 12 players on the one-year ranking list head to Manchester to do battle on the baize.
Judd Trump, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson have been seeded through to the quarter-finals of the event, while Xiao Guodong, Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, Ding Junhui, Si Jiahui and Wu Yize will contest the first round in a bid to join that quartet.
All matches will be the best-of-19-frames, played over two sessions and the event is certainly a true test of its competitors.
Tour Championship Betting Tips
- Neil Robertson to win Tour Championship @ 11/2 each-way with Paddy Power
- Wu Yize to beat Xiao Guodong @ 6/5 with Paddy Power
Thunder from Down Under set to strike
Neil Robertson qualified for the Tour Championship as the third seed and this season has marked a welcome return to form for the Australian.
The former world champion has taken down the English Open and World Grand Prix titles this term and the success in the Grand Prix was the standout performance.
The Aussie defeated Yuan Sijun, Dave Gilbert, Xiao Guodong and Shaun Murphy on his way to the Grand Prix final, and the effort to lift the Hong Kong crown was an incredible performance.
The Thunder from Down Under hammered Stuart Bingham 10-0 in the final, and for all that Ballrun isn’t as consistent a performer as he once was, the Basildon potter is a former world champion and that was an eye-catching success for Robbo.
Robertson beat Bingham and Mark Selby on his way to the last four of the Players Championship last week and only a 6-5 defeat to eventual champion Kyren Wilson stopped the Aussie from making further progress.
It’s pretty clear from those efforts that Robertson is back to being a major contender for snooker’s biggest prizes and the Tour Championship looks no exception.
There is potential for a quarter-final tie against Selby, but the Jester from Leicester will have to get past Si Jiahui in round one, while Robertson is already sitting comfortably in the last eight.
Tournament favourite Judd Trump has been housed in the opposite half of the draw from Robbo, which means the Aussie will avoid the Ace until the final at least, and there looks plenty of merit in an each-way bet on the resurgent Robertson.
Tour Championship Tip 1: Neil Robertson to win Tour Championship @ 11/2 each-way with Paddy Power
Wu Yize can conquer countryman
There’s an all-Chinese battle in the first-round of the Tour Championship with Wu Yize taking on Xiao Guodong and the former can overcome his compatriot.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic season, highlighted by runs to the final of the English Open and Scottish Open.
The youngster has soared up to number 12 on the one-year rankings and we have only had a small glimpse of Yize’s talents.
Guodong has enjoyed an excellent campaign, but the Chongqing cueman looks opposable on Monday afternoon.
Tour Championship Tip 2: Wu Yize to beat Xiao Guodong @ 6/5 with Paddy Power
