Played-in Ding Junhui ought to make light of Murphy

Group One final
ITV4, 7pm Monday

Shaun Murphy is hoping to stage a successful defence of his Champion of Champions title but the Magician, now resident in Ireland, may have to defer to Ding Junhui in Monday's Group One final.

Ding is 8-11 and considering he has been playing a lot more snooker than Murphy this season, he could be a spot of value.

Murphy had runs of 96, 68 and 76 in a 4-2 first-round triumph over Jimmy Robertson, but the feeling is that those numbers would have had three figures if the champion was at his brilliant best.

That could change, of course, but Ding posted breaks of 45, 139 and 85 in ousting Michael Georgiou 4-2 in his Coventry opener and the Chinese number one should be looking to impose himself more in these types of matches.

Murphy is still a fine battler, but if Ding carries over his afternoon form there may be only one victor.

Recommendation
Ding Junhui
1pt 8-11 general

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