Day two of the World Grand Prix in Preston will see the likes of Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins and Mark Allen enter the fray. World number three Trump was the winner of the first edition of the tournament in 2015, although he has not made it beyond the second round since that triumph. First up for the 28-year-old at this year’s event is Welshman Michael White, a player he has had trouble with in the past, as he has lost two of their five previous meetings, although he did record a resounding 3-0 victory when they met in the Championship League earlier this year.
Trump, who is priced at 17/2 to win the tournament, is not the only former champion in action on Tuesday, as fellow Englishman Murphy is also a previous winner in Preston, following his triumph two years ago. Murphy will face compatriot Ricky Walden in what looks a tricky first round match, as his opponent is a three-time ranking event winner, although he has only made it to the quarter-finals of one event to date this term.
Four-time world champion Higgins has also been handed a difficult looking first round draw, as he will take on the hugely experienced Ali Carter. The two players have met on 28 previous occasions, but Higgins will take confidence from the fact that he has won 19 of those meetings, although they have not played against each other at all since 2016. Masters champion Allen is also in action on Tuesday and he will be aiming to bounce back from three consecutive first-round exits in ranking events.
The Northern Irishman, who has lost in the opening round of the Scottish Open, German Masters and Snooker Shoot-Out, will take on China’s Xiao Guodong in his first-round match.