October 4th 2024.
Last season, Judd Trump made history by winning the first ever Wuhan Open. As the second edition of the tournament approaches on Sunday, the world number one has his sights set on defending his title and adding another trophy to his collection. With a string of impressive wins this season, including the Shanghai Masters and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, Trump is the clear favorite to once again lift the coveted Wuhan Open trophy. Fans are eagerly anticipating his return to the tournament, where he emerged victorious with a 10-7 win over Ali Carter in last year's final.
However, the field will be missing some big names this time around. Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Allen, and Dave Gilbert have all withdrawn from the event in the week leading up to it. In addition, Mark Williams has chosen not to enter, and there have been some unexpected losses in the qualifying rounds back in July. One of the biggest upsets was Mark Selby's 5-4 defeat by Long Zehuang, preventing him from following up on his recent British Open success.
Other notable players who suffered unexpected defeats in the qualifying rounds include Stuart Bingham, Tom Ford, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Ricky Walden, Stephen Maguire, and Zhou Yuelong. Despite these absences, the Wuhan Open is still expected to be a thrilling competition with a strong lineup of players.
The draw and schedule for the event has been released, with matches kicking off on Sunday, October 6th at 3am. Trump will face off against Antoni Kowalski in his opening match, while other exciting matchups include Neil Robertson against Jackson Page and Kyren Wilson against Welsh teenager Liam Davies. The schedule also includes some intriguing matches such as Ding Junhui versus Robbie McGuigan and Marco Fu versus Louis Heathcote.
On Monday, October 7th, the action continues with Trump or Kowalski taking on He Guoqiang, and other matches featuring top players like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, and John Higgins. Fans can catch all the action on Eurosport and Discovery+ in the UK.
The Wuhan Open also offers a substantial prize pool, with the winner taking home £140,000 and the runner-up receiving £63,000. The total prize money for the event is £750,000, making it a highly coveted tournament for snooker players.
Looking at the odds, it's no surprise that Judd Trump is the clear favorite to win at 9/4. He is followed by Neil Robertson at 4/1 and Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy at 8/1. Other top contenders include John Higgins, Si Jiahui, and Ding Junhui, who are all given odds of 12/1 or lower. It will certainly be an exciting competition to watch, and fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the Wuhan Open.
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