Hawkins may face a battle against Noppon Saengkham

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Consistent performer Barry Hawkins showed his wellbeing when reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters earlier this month but the Kent-based potter may not have things all his own way against Noppon Saengkham in round two of the China Championship.

Saengkham has stepped things up nicely in the last few months and the Thai could be a potential title-winner in the next couple of seasons.

He is too short to be any value with a start of 3.5 frames against the Hawk, who is the likelier victor, but Saengkham can still be considered with 2.5 frames on his side.

The favourite would need to win five of the first seven frames contested and that looks acceptable given his ability among the balls.

World number one Mark Selby is seldom far from his brilliant best, but the Leicester cueman could face a tougher time than the oddsmakers believe against Chang Bingyu.

Selby just about did enough to see off promising Akani Songsermsawad 5-3 in his Guangzhou opener, but Chang entered some notebooks when dismissing seasoned campaigner Robert Milkins by the same scoreline.

Recommendation
N Saengkham +2.5 frames
1pt 4-6 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

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