Snooker’s prestigious World Grand Prix ranking event begins on Monday at Preston’s Guild Hall – a special tournament reserved for the top 32 players of the season so far.
As you’d expect, we have plenty of the big names out in force for the event – including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Luca Brecel and Judd Trump who make up the top four on the list of season performers.
Shaun Murphy has been a regular at the latter stages of events without winning a ranking title yet. He’s fifth and closely followed by Mark Selby, Ding Junhui and John Higgins who make up a star-studded top eight.
But not all the big boys have made it through. Marco Fu misses through injury, Liang Wenbo hasn’t made the cut and even defending champion Barry Hawkins hasn’t done enough so far in this campaign to be among the top 32.
In fact, this is the second year in succession that the reigning champion of the Grand Prix hasn’t got back here the next year after Mark Allen fell to the same fate a year ago.
As for the surprise inclusions, Stuart Bingham will be chuffed to have wrapped up his place after serving a three-month ban this season.
Michael Georgiou was a late addition to the line-up, bursting his way into contention courtesy of his Shoot-Out win on Sunday, which rather agonisingly knocked Tom Ford down into 33rd position and out of the event.
Elsewhere, star Chines performers Yan Bingtao, Cao Yupeng, Xiao Guodong and Li Hang are all in after enjoying strong seasons. Zhou Yuelong is not despite his run to the semi-finals of the European Masters and neither is Lyu Haotian even though he made the last 16 at the UK Championship.
As for the British players, Jimmy Robertson is among the field boosted by his recent quarter-finals run at the German Masters. Ricky Walden has ghosted in after recapturing some form this season, Jack Lisowski’s impressive form earns him a place and so to is Mark Joyce who has quietly been a very consistent performer this season.
The full draw:
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Robert Milkins
Martin Gould v Yan Bingtao
Mark Allen v Xiao Guodong
John Higgins v Ali Carter
Shaun Murphy v Ricky Walden
Ryan Day v Jack Lisowski
Stephen Maguire v Li Hang
Luca Brecel v Michael Georgiou
Judd Trump v Michael White
Graeme Dott v Joe Perry
Neil Robertson v David Gilbert
Mark Selby v Jimmy Robertson
Ding Junhui v Mark King
Kyren Wilson v Mark Joyce
Anthony McGill v Cao Yupeng
Mark Williams v Stuart Bingham
A star-studded 32-man field has been confirmed.
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