Premier League Snooker 2009

[kevshat]

The snooker season kicks off tomorrow night when the 1st night of the Premier League takes place. I know this tournament isn't everyone's cup of tea but it can throw up some good betting opportunities as the weeks go on. It's a league format where everyone plays everyone with 2pts to the winner and 1pt for a draw. As ever the 25 second shot clock is in play. Top 4 hit the semis and then the final which is at the end of November.

[kevshat]

Re: Premier League Snooker 2009 I'm going to go with 2 outrights. 6pts R.O'Sullivan to win Premier League 11/10 Betfred Since the format of this competition changed only one man has won the tournament. That man is Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's won the last 5 runnings of this competition and he's perfectly suited to it. We don't have to worry a great deal about his mental state in this tournament because he enjoys entertaining packed houses and that's what we get in this event. With less ranking events this season, O'Sullivan can use this as an opportunity to win a stack load of dosh. He won this tournament last season when the field was much stronger. Instead of the likes of Ding and Selby this season he's got Murphy, a Higgins who doesn't like the format, Hendry whose better days are behind him, Fu who could be the dark horse and the erratic and inconsistent Robertson and Trump. The shot clock doesn't worry O'Sullivan and his record in the event says this 11/10 is big value even if we do have to wait 3 months for the reddies. If we liken this event to darts' equivalent, we wouldn't be getting 11/10 about Phil Taylor so I'm happily all over the 11/10 that is the genius O'Sullivan in this. 1pt J.Higgins to finish bottom 12/1 Bet365 John Higgins is a class act, he further emphasised that by winning the world title in May but he doesn't get on with this competition. Firstly he takes ranking events more seriously than this which is fair enough, but the 25 second shot clock doesn't agree with him. He's a guy who likes to create his chances with well worked out safety play but that's a luxury this competition doesn't allow. For some reason he seems rushed even though his natural speed in among the balls is nowhere near as slow as 25 seconds a shot. Higgins finished above only Steve Davis last season, admittedly in a much stronger field but he didn't win any of his 6 matches which shows he and this format aren't best friends. On class, Higgins should make the semis at least but on past record there's decent value in the 12/1 that he finishes bottom of the pile.