Judd Trump the value pick in strong Champions field

ITV4, 12.45pm Monday

It’s quality over quantity on show at the Ricoh Arena this week with a 16-strong field out to be crowned the Champion of Champions.

Ronnie O’Sullivan unsurprisingly tops the bill having made the final in all four of his appearances in the event. However, most bookmakers are going 7-1 bar the Rocket, so there are definitely value alternatives.

The Rocket’s chances are crystal clear but if anything he’s on the skinny side and a tricky opener against English Open hero Stuart Bingham followed by a showdown with Ryan Day or old foe John Higgins makes his task that bit tougher.

Defending champion Shaun Murphy and Chinese ace Ding Junhui have had a touch of luck being drawn in the same group as Michael Georgiou and Jimmy Robertson.

The pair should battle it out for a spot in the last four but neither is playing well enough to suggest they are certainties to capitalise on their generous draw and, on current form, the victor wouldn’t be fancied to silence O’Sullivan in a potential semi-final.

So the bottom-half of the draw is where punters could make their money and Judd Trump makes plenty of each-way appeal at 10-1.

Trump, an 11-2 chance for this event 12 months ago, has started the season in solid rather than spectacular fashion but quarter-final appearances at the China Championship and the International Championship suggest his game is in good enough nick to strike.

The Juggernaut was beaten by Luca Brecel in the opening round last season but gets his chance to avenge that defeat and should ease past the Belgian, who has not gone beyond the third round in six ranking events this term and is in danger of dropping out the world’s top 16.

Mark Williams or Kyren Wilson will be lying in wait but both arrive at the Ricoh Arena following early exits in the English Open and International Championship and Trump can have their measure.

The final group pits world number one Mark Selby against Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins against Mark Allen in what looks the most competitive heat by some way.

Picking a winner isn't easy and the reward could well be a semi-final with Trump, who was a finalist in Coventry in 2014 and is playing well enough to tee up another title decider.

Recommendation
J Trump
1pt each-way 10-1 general

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