Michael Holt will look to make a strong start to his 2018 campaign when he takes on Matthew Stevens in the qualifying for the Riga Masters.

Holt ended last season in disappointing fashion as he failed to qualify for the World Championships in Sheffield. The 39-year-old beat Thor Chuan Leong at the start of April before cruising past Elliot Slessor. However, he was then dumped out by Robert Milkins and has since been working on his game as he tries to respond and climb the world rankings.

Unlike Holt, Stevens did qualify for the World Championships but lost in the first round to Kyren Wilson back in April. Both players will be determined to make a statement and Holt remains the 1.80 favourite, while Stevens is priced as the slight outsider at odds of 1.95. Harvey Chandler is also in action but he is the big outsider at odds of 2.30 as he prepares to take on Ashley Carty. Carty is 1.53 to get the win during his first match and the 22-year-old will take confidence after earning his tour card back in May.

After reaching the quarter-finals, Carty has now earned his spot on the pro tour until the end of the 2020 campaign. China’s Xiao Guodong is also in action and he is the 1.67 favourite to beat Tom Ford. Ford at 2.15 is expected to struggle and he will be hoping to pull off an upset on Wednesday.