World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has heralded the strong line-up that is headed for Barnsley to contest this week’s Dafabet English Open. World Snooker has confirmed that all of the world’s top 16 players, including world champion Mark Selby, defending champion Liang Wenbo, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson will be in attendance.
A total field of 131 players is ready to start out on the road to the £70,000 winner’s cheque and the chance to raise the Steve Davis Trophy on Sunday. There’s also a lucrative bonus of £40,000 up for grabs for anyone that can make a maximum 147 break during the week in Barnsley. Chinese star Liang beat Trump 9-6 in the final last year and Hearn has given his seal of approval to the entry list. “I’m pleased to see such a strong field heading to Barnsley, the standard is higher than ever and I’m fascinated to see how the week unfolds,” Hearn said. “I hope to see packed crowds enjoying the chance to see the world’s very best cueists showing their skills.”
Both Trump and O’Sullivan are set to arrive in good spirits having navigated their way through the Shanghai Masters qualifiers at the weekend. The Rocket required just over an hour to dispatch world number 101 Christopher Keogan 5-0, the five-time world champion making breaks of 52, 64, 77 and 50 along the way. Trump meanwhile saw off the challenge of Northern Ireland’s veteran Joe Swail with a 5-2 success, making contributions of 62, 61, 68 and 52 as he did. Both O’Sullivan and Trump are trading at 11/2 to win the Dafabet English Open, with defending champ Liang 50/1 and world number one Selby the pre-tournament favourite at 6/1.
Dafabet English Open odds available at Dafabet.