The draw and schedule for the Players Championship has been confirmed, with Stuart Bingham handed the chance for revenge on Neil Robertson that he wanted.
In a remarkable ending to last week’s World Grand Prix, Robertson demolished Bingham 10-0 in the Hong Kong final, picking up the £180,000 top prize in some style.
It was a day to forget for Ballrun, although it had been by far the best week of his season until that match, having downed Mark Williams, Wu Yize, Mark Selby and Judd Trump to reach the showpiece.
The 2015 world champ was already thinking about revenge straight after the defeat, though, eyeing up a clash with Robertson in Telford after securing qualification for the Players Championship thanks to his Grand Prix run.
‘My goal was to get to the final. My final really was yesterday against Judd, it was a big match for me to get in the Players,’ Bingham said on Sunday.
‘I’ll take the positives and I’m in Telford in a week, I’ve got that to look forward to now. I’ll be after Neil, I want Neil in the draw, he ain’t going to beat me 10-0 then!’
Robertson was extremely ruthless in his Hong Kong whitewash, but did admit to feeling bad for his opponent after the game.
‘Really happy to win 10-0 but also I feel for Stuart,’ said the Australian. ‘He’s a great guy and we get along so well. Not like I feel sorry for him, but I feel bad for him. Obviously he could have played better because he’s beaten some great players this week.’
The Players Championship features just the top 16 on the one-year ranking list, so there was always going to be some top quality contests from the off.
World champion Kyren Wilson taking on Mark Allen catches the eye, as does Mark Williams facing Ding Junhui.
Just three tournaments remain this season, with the Tour Championship to follow in Manchester, featuring the top 12 on the one-year list. Then attention turns to Sheffield and the World Championship.
All the action in Telford will be shown on ITV4 and the second table streamed on ITVX.
Players Championship draw and schedule
Monday March 17
7pm
Mark Allen v Kyren Wilson
Mark Williams v Ding Junhui
Tuesday March 18
1pm
Neil Robertson v Stuart Bingham
Mark Selby v Si Jiahui
7pm
Judd Trump v Lei Peifan
Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins
Wednesday March 19
1pm
John Higgins v Chris Wakelin
Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize
As per WST: ‘The quarter-finals will start on Wednesday evening, with two more on Thursday and the last on Friday afternoon. Then it’s one semi-final on Friday evening and one on Saturday evening, followed by the final on Sunday. All matches are best of 11 frames, up until the final which is best of 19.’
Players Championship Prize Money
Winner: £150,000
Runner-up: £70,000
Semi-finals: £35,000
Quarter-finals: £20,000
Last 16: £15,000
High break: £10,000
Ronnie O’Sullivan is a notable name not in the Players Championship draw as the Rocket has not qualified for the 16-man event.
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The seven-time world champion has withdrawn from a string of tournaments this season, including last week at the World Grand Prix, finding himself at number 31 on the one-year ranking list.
The next tournament O’Sullivan can play in is the World Championship, but after withdrawing from the Masters in January and every event since then, it is yet to be confirmed whether the Rocket will be in Sheffield or not.
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