Three former champions will be in action at the Welsh Open on Tuesday, with John Higgins, Mark Williams and Stephen Maguire all entering the fray. Scotsman Higgins is the most successful player in the history of the tournament as he has won it on four previous occasions, most recently in 2015 when he beat Ben Woollaston in the final.
The 42-year-old, a beaten finalist on two other occasions, will begin his latest attempt to win the tournament when he takes on Matthew Selt in round one. Higgins has won his last three meetings with Selt, including at this season’s English Open, and is priced at 1.29 to secure another victory while his opponent is available at 5/2.
Welshman Williams is another multiple champion in action as he goes in search of his third victory at his home event although his previous successes both came before the turn of the century. It is 19 years since Williams was last crowned Welsh Open champion but his latest attempt to regain the title will begin with a tricky-looking match against world number 20 Mark King, who was a beaten finalist at the event back in 1997. The third former champion in first round action on Tuesday is Maguire, who won the event for the first and so far only time in 2013. He also reached the final in 2011, losing to Higgins.
Maguire, who reached the semi-finals of last week’s World Grand Prix, will face Joe Perry in his opening match and if he and Higgins were to both make it through to round two then they will go head-to-head for a place in the last 32.