The final countdown

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With play suspended today until 1320 due to a leak at the venue, we should eventually find out the final line for the semi-finals. Mark Selby will play Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson plays Barry Hawkins.

Wilson seems favourite in this tournament with a recent win in Berlin. The man of the moment has little competition in the remaining players with only Trump as the other potential thorn in his side. Trump however blows hot and cold and should have capitalised on his win at the Masters to take the Berlin crown but fell short with lacklustre play in the closing stages.

Similarly number one Mark Selby fails to complete the inroads into the final roun and loses his focus and form when it matters. He could beat Trump today but is very vulnerable in the final. Barry Hawkins is a much better player than his form sheet shows and doesn’t play well when it matters, squandering his “A”game in the early rounds.

With Sijuin, Saengkham and Gilbert dispatched from the competition yesterday, Gudodong and Carter are waiting in the wings but seem unlikely to reach the final with very little to show for their work in the season. Kyren Wilson is still my tip for being the final victor in Cheltenham.




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