In-form Saengkham has the game to dethrone King

German Masters qualifying
From 10am Thursday

Noppon Saengkham had a stuttering start to the season but a string of impressive results suggests he has rediscovered his form and the heavy-scoring Thai looks ready to spring a surprise against Mark King in their German Masters qualifier.

Yan Bingtao, Michael White and Stephen Maguire have already failed to qualify for the Temprodrome in Berlin and a busy King, thumped 4-1 by Zhang Anda in his Scottish Open curtain-raiser, could swiftly follow suit.

King is a classy operator and at his best would silence Saengkham but his dream quarter-final run in the Betway UK Championship may have taken plenty out of him and at the prices he must be opposed.

Saengkham's results are beginning to show consistency. The Thai has reached the last 32 of his last three events and a repeat of his early-round Scottish Open wins over Martin Gould and Zhang Yong, in which he made three centuries, could see him oblige.

Neil Robertson eased the pain of missing out on a Masters berth by clinching the Scottish Open - his first ranking title since June 2016 - but the Aussie ace looks short enough against capable Chris Wakelin.

Robertson's game is clearly in excellent nick - he made 11 centuries en route to glory in Glasgow - but 1-7 is ludicrously short and Wakelin is good enough to push the contest close.

Wakelin took Mark Selby to a decider in Shanghai last month and, with Robertson unlikely to relish the quick turnaround, is strongly fancied to win at least three frames.

Recommendations
N Saengkham
1pt 13-8 general
C Wakelin +2.5 frames
2pts 5-4 Sky Bet

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