Snooker
Judd Trump favoured for Snooker Players Championship glory
The Players Championship returns to Telford this week, bringing together the top 16 performers on the oneyear ranking list for one of the most exclusive events on the calendar.
With a short field, long matches and all the inform names present, the William Hill outright market is headed by Judd Trump, with Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize all in close attendance.
Judd Trump – 5/2
Trump goes off favourite at 5/2 and it’s easy to see why. He snapped a title drought by winning his 31st ranking event on 1 February, beating Shaun Murphy 10-4 in the final, and arrives in Telford with momentum and confidence restored. His scoring power remains unmatched and he’s coming off yet another centuryladen. For backers who like to side with the hottest hand in the game, Trump is the obvious starting point.
Mark Selby – 9/2
Selby is next in the betting at 9/2 and profiles as the main danger to Trump. The fourtime world champion has quietly pieced together a solid campaign, and his tactical game and matchplay traits are perfectly suited to the slightly longer format used at the Players Championship. If the table plays a little slower or matches turn cagey, Selby’s ability to grind out frames could see him move deep into the week once again.
Zhao Xintong – 9/2
Sharing secondfavourite status is Zhao Xintong at 9/2, who brings explosive scoring and a fearless shotselection to the draw. When Zhao clicks he can rattle off frames in one visit and blow opponents away, as Trump and Selby have both discovered in recent seasons. The concern for punters is consistency, but in a top16 only field his upside is as high as anyone’s and he looks a lively alternative to the two English favourites.
Neil Robertson – 7/1
At 7/1, Neil Robertson offers a touch more value. The Australian remains one of the game’s cleanest ballstrikers and has a strong record in “elite” events, including previous deep runs at the Players Championship. His scoring has perhaps dipped slightly from its absolute peak, but if he finds early rhythm against a tough firstround opponent like John Higgins, he has the allround game to play his way into form as the week progresses.
Shaun Murphy – 9/1
Murphy sits at 9/1 and is hard to ignore given his recent final against Trump. The 2005 world champion has reinvented himself over the last 18 months, combining heavy scoring with a more measured tactical approach. If he can park that heavy defeat in their most recent meeting and channel the positives of his run to that final, he looks a genuine contender from the second tier of prices
Wu Yize – 12/1
Rounding out the main contenders in the market is Wu Yize at 12/1, one of the most exciting young talents in the sport. Wu has already shown he can handle big stages and elite opposition, and his inclusion in the top16 only field underlines how quickly he has climbed the rankings. No wonder his and Neil Robertson’s price to both win by two frames has been boosted out to 10/3 from 3/1. This may come a year or two early for a full title tilt, but as an eachway or speculative outright, he’s easy to make a case for.
With form, field strength and recent results all considered, Trump deserves favouritism, but Selby and Robertson look the most credible threats, while Zhao and Wu provide plenty of upside for those chasing a bigger price.
