Martin Gould faces Stephen Hendry in Round 1 of 2012 China Open snooker tournament
World Number 12, England’s Martin Gould has been drawn against the former seven-time World Snooker Champion, the veteran Stephen Hendry in the first round of 2012 China Open snooker tournament at the Beijing University Students Gymnasium. The Scotsman, Hendry,
set up Martin Gould Round 1 clash after he made his way into the initial round beating China’s Yu Delu 5-1 in the qualifiers at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
The Englishman has been a consistent performer in the 2011-12 Snooker Season as he reached the final stages of a couple of important events to maintain his ranking and was able to hit the top 16 of China Open. The 30-year-old is hopeful of triumphing over
the former champ and hit the advance stages of the Chinese event so that he can add one major title in his career.
So far, the Pinner Potter has not clinched any major or minor title in his career. He did surge into the finals of 2010-11 Players tour Championship (PTC) Event 6 and the Grand Finals but could not win any of them. In the recent season, he breezed into the
final encounter of the 2011-12 PTC Event 11 where he faced compatriot, Tom Ford but lost to him 3-4 and missed his chance once again.
Nevertheless, the Londoner is aiming to perform up to the mark and deposit a ranking title in his account. He has been in good shape from the start of the circuit and has grabbed an outstanding match winning ratio of 66.7 percent along with the frame winning
frequency, which is comparatively low at 55.9 percent.
Meanwhile, Hendry’s form in the current season has not been up to the mark because he did not participate in many snooker events especially the minor ranking ones. But still, his experience is undoubtedly more than that of Gould’s and he can change the face
of the game in an instant. The pair will definitely have a tussling encounter.
Both potters have played against each other four times before in which they took two matches each so the odds here are equal. However, being at the baize in almost all matches of the on-going season makes Gould a favourite in this match.
Tags: