Snooker: Premier League 2007

[kevshat]

Tonight sees the start of the 2007 Premier League. 7 of the best players in the game lineup for a chance to be Premier League champion. From last year, out go Graeme Dott and Ken Doherty who are replaced by the Aussie sensation Neil Robertson and the world champion John Higgins. As before each match is best of 6 frames and the shot clock is in play.

Best odds/All odds
O'Sullivan, R	2.6	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.37	2.62	2.5	2.37	2.37	2.25	2.5	2.5	2.25	2.25	2.25	2.54
Higgins, J	5	5	5	4.5	5	5.5	4.33	4.5	4.5	5	4.33	4.5	4.5	5	5	5	4.6
Junhui, D	4.5	4.5	5	5	4.5	4.5	4.5	5	5	5	6	5	4.5	5	6	5	5.2
Robertson, N	5.5	5.5	5	5	5.5	6	5	5.5	5.5	5.5	6	5.5	5.5	6	5	5	5.9
Hendry, S	7.5	7	7.5	7.5	7	7	9	8	9	8	7.5	8.5	8	8	8	8.5	10
Davis, S	51	51	67	51	51	51	67	67	67	41	67	81	51	41	51	67	70
White, J	67	67	81	101	67	51	151	101	126	51	151	67	101	67	101	151	29
Each-way terms:	2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3		2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3		2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3	2 at 1/3	2 at 1/2	2 at 1/3

Only 1 outright really. 10pts R.O'Sullivan to win 2007 Premier League 13/8 Coral Since Sky Sports and Matchroom got together and changed the format and concept of the Premier League, 1 man has been completely dominant. That 1 man is the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan. In the 3 leagues in the new format, O'Sullivan has won all 3 and didn't lose a frame in any of the finals beating Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams 6-0 and last year Jimmy White 7-0. We all know Ronnie has his demons but one thing he loves is entertaining big crowds and the Premier League is played in front of sellouts each week. His place at the end of season playoffs is a given - he's too good not to make the top 4 in this company - and that's when the afterburners gets pushed. His game is totally suited to the shot clock and the attacking nature of the tournament and come December 2, I fully expect Aberdeen to be saluting O'Sullivan as Premier League champion for the 7th time.

[kevshat]

Re: Snooker: Premier League 2007 I'll have a punt in both tonight's matches as well.

Thursday 6 September 2007
	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Junhui v White (19:40 BST)	1.44	4.70	8.50	103%	Related markets...Match ResultPlayer to Pot First RedHandicap ResultMatch Result (with Draw)- - -Frame BettingCurrent Frame WinnerFirst Ball PottedFirst Frame WinnerFourth Frame LeaderHighest Break In MatchPot First Red- - -Total Frames- - -First to 3 FramesFirst 4 Frames Score
Higgins v O'Sullivan (21:30 BST)	3.50	3.30	2.37	101%

2pts J.White to beat D.Junhui 15/2 Blue Square There's absolutely no doubt Jimmy is an outsider to win this match but is he a 15/2 to shot over 6 frames? I don't think so. In their corresponding fixture last season Jimmy actually beat Ding 5-1. The interesting thing here and something that gives me belief in Jimmy tonight is the paths the players careers are taking. Jimmy White is slipping down the rankings and invitation tournaments like this could be the only chance he gets to play in front of big crowds and on TV this year while Ding is sure to be a contender in almost all of the ranking events. That could lead to White taking this very seriously and if he plays well he's capable of causing an upset. He made the final in this last year so obviously likes the format. Ding has looked really poor since getting thrashed by O'Sullivan in the Masters final 8 months ago and a 5-1 defeat to Graeme Dott in Shanghai last month is unlike him. The crowd got to him bigtime at Wembley in that Masters final and they'll all be against him tonight in Haywards Heath against the people's champion. Jimmy is rightly outsider but he's a big price and with upsets very much possible in this competition he's worth a smallish interest. 10pts R.O'Sullivan to beat J.Higgins (DNB) 4/6 Blue Square I've already highlighted O'Sullivan's credentials in this tournament in the outright bet but although this is a start neither player would've wanted to their Premier League campaign it's one I feel the Rocket can rise to and win. These 2 are the best two players in the world of snooker today and it's sure to be a classic but with Higgins just coming back into the competition after missing last year's renewal, O'Sullivan could just have the edge. The draw is very much a runner over 6 frames here but I expect O'Sullivan to come out and look to lay down a marker for the competition and if there is a winner I strongly believe it will be him.