Snooker: World Cup 2011

[kevshat]

Although the season begun a couple of weeks ago with the first PTC tournament of the season the proper televised snooker begins on Monday with the newly formed World Cup. There's something like 19 televised snooker events this season so the snooker punters we have will have plenty to get stuck into this season. The World Cup sees 20 nations made up of teams of 2 players taking part in matches which includes singles and doubles similar to the Davis Cup format played in tennis. This just screams as a tournament which is going to have plenty of value with the players and teams involved and the format being used. It all kicks off on Monday and is live all week on Eurosport so there should be some decent cash able to be made :ok.

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: World Cup 2011 Couple of outrights for me. 3pts Scotland to win Snooker World Cup 3/1 Blue Square I'm a bit surprised Scotland are this price really. Not only are they the strongest duo in the competition but they have a really really easy opening group which it would defy belief if they fail to get out of. The format for this tournament is exactly the same as the Darts World Cup which Bazza reinstated at the end of last year and one thing I eventually worked out in that tournament is it isn't the strongest player in the side you need to look at when analysing teams either outright or in matches but it's the strength/weakness of the second player because a poor second player can lose matches no matter how strong his partner is. There is no weakness in this Scotland side. Stephen Maguire will compete and probably beat most team captains in this event so Scotland are fine on that score. Quick word about the 4 sides I rate as the dangers - Wales will be there or thereabouts but Stevens' loss to Yu De Lu at the Wuxi Classic puts me off there. Selby and Carter are in the Wuxi Classic final on Sunday so they'll turn up in Thailand at the last minute which isn't ideal. Ding and Liang Wenbo could go very well for China but Liang's a bit up and down for my liking and Northern Ireland - in Mark Allen and Gerard Greene don't look quite strong enough to deal with Scotland on paper. I can't see past the World champ and the former UK champ especialy when you factor in they are good mates and know each others games perfectly (as well as both liking a bit of a flutter - allegedly ;) :lol). Scotland for me at a perfectly acceptable 3/1. 0.5pts ew Malta to win Snooker World Cup 100/1 Boylesports (1/3 1,2) I might be wasting a point here but another thing we learnt in the Darts version of this event is a big priced pairing can come through with the shortfire format. If anyone is better suited to one frame snooker than the Tornado, Tony Drago I haven't met him yet. He can have his frame done and dusted in a couple of minutes without expanding any energy at all. His partner, Alex Borg, has been a tour professional for a good number of years and he knows the game inside out and he'll be able to contribute sufficient back up to Drago when needed. He'll beat some weak top men in some sides in this group and would have most 2nd men covered aside from the elite 4-5 sides. With his pool background Drago will have played a lot of scotch doubles so that format will suit him too and with a group which there's no real standouts behind China if you consider Neil Robertson is partnering a complete unknown for Australia, Malta could surprise a few. If they can get out of the group and into a QF with a favourable draw then who knows. One frame shootouts guarantee one thing - there will be upsets. At 3 figures I'll pay to see if the Maltese men can produce enough of them.