The final instalment of this season’s Home Nations series sees the snooker stars head to Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, where they will contest for the Welsh Open title.
There was a big upset in last year’s event, with Northern Ireland’s number two Jordan Brown belying his status to defeat six-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-8 in the final.
Considered a 750/1 outsider for tournament glory, the then world number 81 became the lowest-ranked winner of a ranking event since 1983 with his dramatic final-frame victory.
However, given the quality on the snooker tour, upsets of that magnitude happen very rarely and it would be a surprise if this year’s silverware didn’t go to a well-known figure, housed inside the world’s top 20.
John Higgins will be one player hoping for a change of luck after he suffered defeat in the final of the other three Home Nations events, in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson arrive in peak form and have to be feared, but Mark Selby and Judd Trump have a point to prove having both made sluggish starts to the season.
Rising Force Xintong Primed for More Success
Zhao Xintong may not have been considered one of snooker’s elite at the start of the season but he certainly is now and his reputation could be enhanced further in Newport.
Qualifying matches involving the top 16 seeds are being held over to the Welsh venue, so Xintong must come past Ollie Lines before entering the main draw.
However, coming through that opening test would sharpen the Chinese star up and see him rewarded with a place in the first quarter of the draw, which is by far the weakest section on paper.
Xintong has risen up to world number seven and tops the one-year ranking list having secured titles at the UK Championship and German Masters this season.
Those successes show the calibre of player we are dealing with and there has been no fluke of his rapid rise.
An excellent break-builder, with the temperament to match, Xintong could take some stopping at the Celtic Manor Resort and has to be considered at 12/1 for another high-profile success.
Anthony McGill, Ryan Day and Shaun Murphy are his biggest obstacles before the semi-finals but on this season’s evidence he should have little to fear from that trio, making him a serious contender.
Trump, Robertson or Barry Hawkins, who all line-up in the second quarter, are potential last-four challengers, but Xintong would be a serious danger to all.
Allen and Lisowski Strike Value in Ultra-Competitive Bottom Half
The infamous Class of ’92 – O’Sullivan, Higgins and Mark Williams – are still going strong despite being well into their 40’s and they are understandably going to attract plenty of support in Wales.
However, there are reasons to take each of them on. O’Sullivan was kept busy at last week’s European Masters and may be vulnerable to the quick turnaround, while Higgins faces a stern test in his opening game from Pang Junxu, who defeated Neil Robertson in Milton Keynes last week.
With Williams and Higgins in line to meet in the last 16 and Selby and Stuart Bingham struggling for form, it could be best to look elsewhere in the fourth quarter with Jack Lisowski a fascinating contender at 40/1.
Jackpot is supremely talented and although a first ranking title still eludes him, he is a six-time runner-up and it is surely only a matter of time. He faces Chris Wakelin in round one but can come through to tee himself up nicely for a deep run.
Mark Allen, housed in the third quarter with O’Sullivan, is another to consider at 14/1.
The Pistol won his home event, the Northern Ireland Open, earlier in the season and hinted at a return to form when making the semi-finals of last month’s German Masters.
Allen should ease through the early rounds before his first real test comes in the last 16 against Kyren Wilson. However, he is in better nick than the Warrior at present, so a quarter-final spot should be well within his capabilities.
*All odds correct at time of writing.