O’Sullivan and Selby star as Robertson defends Champion of Champions snooker crown

Australian cueist Robertson overcame Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen to clinch the Champion of Champions crown last year, and he faces a tough task of retaining the title this time around after being drawn in a testing quarter 1.

The Melbourne break-builder is 9/1 to retain his title in Coventry, though 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham stands in his way in a tasty opening encounter. Ball-Run enters at 11/10 to hand his Aussie opponent an early defeat, while Robertson is 9/4 to emerge from quarter 1 successfully.

Ding Junhui and Ali Carter make up this challenging section of proceedings and the latter Captain is the 5/1 outsider to prevail. Though Chinese cueist Ding is actually the 2/1 favourite, having won both the Six-red World Championship and Shanghai Masters this year.

Trump and Higgins in quarter 2

Bristol’s Trump will take to this relatively new tournament as the 5/1 third-favourite for overall success, after victories in the China Open, Championship League and European Masters this season. The Juddernaught faces Anthony McGill first and is 11/8 to be left standing in quarter 4.

Though he could also face a challenge from four-time Crucible king and recent 2016 China Championship victor John Higgins. The experienced Scot is a 5/2 shout to win this section and 14/1 to go all the way in Coventry.

His compatriot McGill shot to prominence in Sheffield last season and is 9/4 to topple Trump, while the Magician Shaun Murphy can be backed at 3/1 for quarter 2 success.

Quarter 3 features the Rocket

Quarter 3 sees the Rocket taking off on the baize, as O’Sullivan tackles 2016 Snooker Shoot-Out winner Robin Hull, with the Finnish potter 5/1 to cause an upset in their tournament opening match-up.

Five-time world champion O’Sullivan has questioned his own form recently but still enters as the 5/2 front runner to add what would be his third Champion of Champions honour at the Ricoh Arena.

The legendary cueist looks likely of easing through this section, with Martin Gould being his closest rival and 9/2 to win the quarter, while circuit veteran Mark Davis (8/1 for quarter win) and Hull (16/1) could provide competition.

Selby and Allen star in quarter 4

Reigning world champion Selby is the star of quarter 4 and enters this section of the draw at odds-on 10/11 to win, while the Jester from Leicester is seen as the 4/1 second-favourite for outright supremacy.

Although, he potentially won’t get it all his own way as he comes up against in-form China cueist Liang Wenbo in his opener. The latter potter won his maiden ranking event when lifting the new English Open in Manchester and is 21/10 to beat Selby, while he can be backed at a promising 11/2 for quarter success.

The Pistol Allen also features in this section and is Joe Perry, with the former Antrim break-builder entering at 11/4 for section victory. Meanwhile, the Gentleman is 5/4 to down the Northern Irishman in their opening baize battle.

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