The final seven players bidding to reach the winner’s stage of this year’s Championship League will begin their group seven campaigns today. Five of the players competing in the group are making their debuts in this year’s competition, including defending champion John Higgins and Belgium ace Luca Brecel. Robert Milkins, Jimmy Robertson and Dominic Dale are also appearing in this year’s edition for the first time, but for the other two players, Judd Trump and Ricky Walden, it represents their final chance to reach the winner’s stage, after a number of near misses earlier in the competition.
Trump, in particular, has come agonisingly close to qualifying for the winner’s stage already, losing in the play-offs on three occasions, including a 3-0 defeat to Martin Gould in the final of the group six play-offs in January. The world number three has won the Championship League on three previous occasions, most recently in 2016 and he will begin his group seven campaign with matches against Robertson, Walden and Dale on Monday. Like Trump, Walden has also come within touching distance of qualifying for the winner’s group already, losing in the group five play-off final to Mark Williams.
Indeed Trump and Walden have already met on several occasions during this year’s tournament, with both players recording two wins apiece, but with only one final place being up for grabs, both men know they are in last chance saloon territory when it comes to their chances of qualifying. Trump is priced at 7/1 to qualify from group seven and go on and win the tournament, while Walden is available at 50/1.