Most of the top players will be back in action again here including world champion Mark Selby, who skipped the Scottish Open and exited early on in the UK Championship. Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the qualifiers and will therefore not be in Germany once again. Meanwhile former runner-up Marco Fu is probably one of the more notable players not to have entered from those that are heading to the Barnsley Metrodome eyeing the wins needed to book their place at the venue.
Even though there is not a full tournament being played this week, it is still a crucial few days for some players. With just the German Masters and the Shoot-Out left in the qualifying period for February's World Grand Prix it is important for those players either side of the 32 mark on the current one season money list to make it through to Berlin to keep their hopes alive.
Qualifying Section 1
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Anthony Hamilton Vs Chen Zhe
Mitchell Mann Vs Zhang Yong
The first section of four players vying for one of the 32 spots in Berlin features the defending champion Anthony Hamilton. It is such a shame after a poor start to the season, that Hamilton's first ever defence of a ranking title has to come in Barnsley with no guarantee of a return to the venue where his dreams finally came true early on this year. He faces Chen Zhe in round one who has been quite low on results this season and even despite some of his poor form caused by a back injury, I would still expect Hamilton to come through.
Mitchell Mann meanwhile has had a couple of good wins recently, thrashing Stuart Carrington in the first round of the UK Championship and then defeating Hossein Vafei in round last week in Glasgow. Zhang Yong has also had some decent wins this season, but right now I believe Mann is the best bet of the four in this section.
Predicted Qualifier: Mitchell Mann
Qualifying Section 2
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Jimmy Robertson Vs Rhys Clark
Scott Donaldson Vs Peter Lines
Jimmy Robertson has been consistent this season. The Scottish Open was the first time since the Indian Open that Robertson had failed to make the last 32 and I would expect him to be far too strong for Rhys Clark in round one here. Meanwhile, Scott Donaldson and Peter Lines is a tricky one to call. Donaldson was winless until York but then beat Mark Selby there which will be a massive confidence boost and after a good campaign last season he will be glad to be back to winning ways. Peter Lines though has made the last 32 of both the UK Championships and Scottish Open in recent weeks as well as having last 16's earlier in the season at the Paul Hunter Classic and European Masters so it has been a decent season for him.
Predicted Qualifier: Jimmy Robertson
Qualifying Section 3
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Stephen Maguire Vs Gary Wilson
David Grace Vs Xu Si
David Grace overcame Xu Si 6-2 in International Championship qualifying in September and both players come into this qualifier off the back of strong weeks in the Scottish Open. David Grace reached the last 16 before losing to eventual champion Neil Robertson, while Xu Si fell at the same stage to Stephen Maguire who is also in this section.
Maguire faces Gary Wilson in round one and is in much better form now than when he lost 4-0 to Wilson in the second round of the Northern Ireland Open. Maguire was a semi-finalist in York and fell at the quarters stage in Glasgow, so with that form in mind it would be a little surprising not to see him qualify for Berlin where he also has a good record.
Maguire faces Gary Wilson in round one and is in much better form now than when he lost 4-0 to Wilson in the second round of the Northern Ireland Open. Maguire was a semi-finalist in York and fell at the quarters stage in Glasgow, so with that form in mind it would be a little surprising not to see him qualify for Berlin where he also has a good record.
Predicted Qualifier: Stephen Maguire
Qualifying Section 4
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Martin Gould Vs Alfie Burden
Ken Doherty Vs Alexander Ursenbacher
Alfie Burden reached the last 16 of the German Masters in 2015 and won his two matches required to qualify for the 2016 edition, so does not have a bad record when it comes to this event. However, he faces someone in round one who has the best recent record in the German Masters. Martin Gould was a winner in 2016 and reached the semi-finals last season as defending champion so has a real love affair with this tournament. Gould has been in good form lately reaching the UK quarter-finals, Shanghai quarter-finals and International Championship semi-finals.
After a hot start to the season, Ken Doherty is certainly one to watch here despite a comprehensive first round exit in Glasgow. He was only taken out in the last 64 in York by a sublime performance from Neil Robertson and reached the last 32 in Belfast. Alexander Ursenbacher of course had a nice run in October to reach the English Open semi-finals, but since then he has not won a single match and only picked up five frames from his last four matches played.
After a hot start to the season, Ken Doherty is certainly one to watch here despite a comprehensive first round exit in Glasgow. He was only taken out in the last 64 in York by a sublime performance from Neil Robertson and reached the last 32 in Belfast. Alexander Ursenbacher of course had a nice run in October to reach the English Open semi-finals, but since then he has not won a single match and only picked up five frames from his last four matches played.
Predicted Qualifier: Martin Gould
Qualifying Section 5
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Michael White Vs Robin Hull
Fergal O'Brien Vs Akani Songsermsawad
Robin Hull has seen off Michael White comfortably in both of their previous meetings, the most recent coming at a similar time last year winning 4-1 in the second round of the Scottish Open. Hull has had a couple of nice victories over Zhou Yuelong this season despite a mixed time of things. He has exited at the last 128 stage in his last two tournaments, but was agonisingly close to the last 16 in Belfast before that and is more than capable of defeating White. The Welshman has been playing well before running into Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last 32 in York and the last 16 in Glasgow.
Akani Songsermsawad overcame Fergal O'Brien recently in the UK Championships, and O'Brien has lost in seven of his most recent eight last 128 matches. That is hardly the sort of form you would expect from O'Brien, while Akani Songsermsawad has been solid and will be feeling confident after making the last 16 in York.
Predicted Qualifier: Akani Songsermsawad
Qualifying Section 6
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Mark Williams Vs Oliver Lines
Matthew Stevens Vs Basem Eltahhan
Stevens has lost in the last 128 of the last two tournaments to Hammad Miah, and has only won a handful of games in recent months one of which was against Leo Fernandez and the other in a decider against Fang Xiongman, and when I saw the Welshman in the UK Championships he looked a far cry from the player he once was. Basem Eltahhan meanwhile gave the opposite impression when I saw him run Mark Selby close in York, and given that he has only played four matches it is not a surprise that he is yet to win one. From the evidence shown in York it looks very much like a question of when he wins his first match, rather than a question of if as it has been with previous African champions on tour.
Mark Williams is the stand out favourite to win this qualifying section and reach Berlin. The Northern Ireland Open champion pulled out of the Scottish Open as his wife is still unwell but hopefully he will be able to compete this week in Barnsley. The form he has showed throughout the season so far provides no reason why he should not make it into the last 32.
Mark Williams is the stand out favourite to win this qualifying section and reach Berlin. The Northern Ireland Open champion pulled out of the Scottish Open as his wife is still unwell but hopefully he will be able to compete this week in Barnsley. The form he has showed throughout the season so far provides no reason why he should not make it into the last 32.
Predicted Qualifier: Mark Williams
Qualifying Section 7
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Yan Bingtao Vs Matthew Selt
Aditya Mehta Vs Ben Jones
Yan Bingtao reached the quarter-finals of the German Masters at the first attempt last season, and given the fact it often gets less attention from top players and has produced first time ranking winners in the last two stagings, you would not be surprised if he went on to win this event in February. He faces a test against Matthew Selt, though having said that I expect Yan to come through comfortably given recent form and his immense scoring at the moment.
Aditya Mehta would expect to beat Ben Jones who is one of the amateur top-ups from the Q School list but has not been called upon much this season to say that he has a large amount of match practice on the tournament tables of late. Mehta's good enough on his day to make a challenge for qualifying here but I think Yan is far too strong right now to slip up.
Aditya Mehta would expect to beat Ben Jones who is one of the amateur top-ups from the Q School list but has not been called upon much this season to say that he has a large amount of match practice on the tournament tables of late. Mehta's good enough on his day to make a challenge for qualifying here but I think Yan is far too strong right now to slip up.
Predicted Qualifier: Yan Bingtao
Qualifying Section 8
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Mark Allen Vs Li Yuan
Ross Muir Vs Rod Lawler
Rod Lawler looks all at sea this season, winning only two matches all season long. Ross Muir has not exactly been flying, winning all of five matches this term, but he should still have enough to overcome Lawler in round one here.
Li Yuan has been a bit hit and miss, though did make the quarter-finals in Belfast recently. This however was the only time he has passed the last 64 of any tournament since he joined the tour at the start of the season. Mark Allen has been in good form this season and despite a first round exit in Glasgow and second round loss in Glasgow it would be a shock if he didn't qualify for Berlin.
Li Yuan has been a bit hit and miss, though did make the quarter-finals in Belfast recently. This however was the only time he has passed the last 64 of any tournament since he joined the tour at the start of the season. Mark Allen has been in good form this season and despite a first round exit in Glasgow and second round loss in Glasgow it would be a shock if he didn't qualify for Berlin.
Predicted Qualifier: Mark Allen
Qualifying Section 9
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Ding Junhui Vs Gerard Greene
Christopher Keogan Vs Nigel Bond
Christopher Keogan overcame Nigel Bond 4-0 just last week up in Scotland and has at least been taking more frames off of players in recent weeks, as well as getting a couple of decent wins. As for Bond, he has not won a match since reaching the last 64 of the Paul Hunter Classic and will not be feeling confident coming into this one after the result in Glasgow.
Ding Junhui has hardly been setting the world alight in recent weeks, but has been suffering with an eye problem that could explain some of his recent results. You could not rule out an early exit here to a solid player in Gerard Greene who has caused problems for top players like Kyren Wilson a couple of times this season. However, if he turns up playing well you would expect the 2014 German Masters winner to make it back to the Tempodrome for another crack at the title.
Ding Junhui has hardly been setting the world alight in recent weeks, but has been suffering with an eye problem that could explain some of his recent results. You could not rule out an early exit here to a solid player in Gerard Greene who has caused problems for top players like Kyren Wilson a couple of times this season. However, if he turns up playing well you would expect the 2014 German Masters winner to make it back to the Tempodrome for another crack at the title.
Predicted Qualifier: Ding Junhui
Qualifying Section 10
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Zhou Yuelong Vs Michael Georgiou
Elliot Slessor Vs Ian Burns
Zhou Yuelong has won both of his previous meetings against Michael Georgiou in full length matches, including a 4-0 whitewash of Georgiou in the last 32 of this season's European Masters. He came very close to beating Marco Fu in the last 32 in Glasgow and looked in better form there after early exits in Belfast and York.
Ian Burns has only won one match since making the Paul Hunter Classic quarter-finals in August, while Elliot Slessor has had a semi-final at the Northern Ireland Open and made the last 16 last week in Glasgow. For me, Slessor is one of the better English players lower down the rankings and has started to show that in recent weeks. If he can overcome Burns in round one as I expect him to, he would have a great chance of making it through to Berlin. Though, an in-form Zhou may just have a bit too much for him.
Ian Burns has only won one match since making the Paul Hunter Classic quarter-finals in August, while Elliot Slessor has had a semi-final at the Northern Ireland Open and made the last 16 last week in Glasgow. For me, Slessor is one of the better English players lower down the rankings and has started to show that in recent weeks. If he can overcome Burns in round one as I expect him to, he would have a great chance of making it through to Berlin. Though, an in-form Zhou may just have a bit too much for him.
Predicted Qualifier: Zhou Yuelong
Qualifying Section 11
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Kyren Wilson Vs Jack Lisowski
Stuart Carrington Vs Lee Walker
Lisowski has won three of his previous four meetings against Kyren Wilson and the left-hander has only lost twice in the last 128 this season, and one of those was last week in Glasgow to an in-form John Higgins. Kyren may have had a couple of finals this season but has also suffered a couple of early round exits and qualifying defeats so is certainly not a certainty to qualify for Berlin.
Lee Walker has already beaten Stuart Carrington once this season in the International Championship. Carrington also fell in round one of the UK Championships, but Lee Walker has not won a match since qualifying for Shanghai and has only gone beyond the last 64 once this season as he bids to qualify for Berlin here and double that tally.
Lee Walker has already beaten Stuart Carrington once this season in the International Championship. Carrington also fell in round one of the UK Championships, but Lee Walker has not won a match since qualifying for Shanghai and has only gone beyond the last 64 once this season as he bids to qualify for Berlin here and double that tally.
Predicted Qualifier: Jack Lisowski
Qualifying Section 12
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Ricky Walden Vs Boonyarit Kaettikun
Ashley Hugill Vs Leo Fernandez
Ricky Walden will be a big favourite to qualify here with his recent return to form. He has reached the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open, UK Championships and made the Scottish Open quarter-finals last week. His form had been hit and miss and he still has not quite found his best form in my view despite those results. Boonyarit Kaettikun has only won one match all season and not entered every event along the way, so I don't think he will give Walden much of a challenge here.
Leo Fernandez has been suffering badly with a back injury, and despite beating Ding Junhui in the UK Championships, he lost convincingly in round two and then fell in round one in Glasgow to Hamza Akbar. Ashley Hugill meanwhile had a good week in Scotland reaching the last 16 and I would expect him to beat Leo Fernandez here.
Leo Fernandez has been suffering badly with a back injury, and despite beating Ding Junhui in the UK Championships, he lost convincingly in round two and then fell in round one in Glasgow to Hamza Akbar. Ashley Hugill meanwhile had a good week in Scotland reaching the last 16 and I would expect him to beat Leo Fernandez here.
Predicted Qualifier: Ricky Walden
Qualifying Section 13
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Joe Perry Vs Joe Swail
Daniel Wells Vs Thor Chuan Leong
Joe Perry has looked in good form in recent weeks making the UK Championship quarter-finals with a nice win over Mark Allen and some impressive scoring along the way. If his form has returned as I think it has then he is a clear favourite to qualify.
Daniel Wells though cannot be ruled out after beating Shaun Murphy for the second time this season in Glasgow but his form has not been as consistent as he would like. He should overcome Thor Chuan Leong in round one and he will certainly provide Perry a good test in the last 64 if things turn out that way.
Daniel Wells though cannot be ruled out after beating Shaun Murphy for the second time this season in Glasgow but his form has not been as consistent as he would like. He should overcome Thor Chuan Leong in round one and he will certainly provide Perry a good test in the last 64 if things turn out that way.
Predicted Qualifier: Joe Perry
Qualifying Section 14
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Anthony McGill Vs Jimmy White
Yu De Lu Vs Jamie Clarke
Jimmy White overcame Perry this time last year on the way to qualifying for Berlin, and always seems to get a good result or two after being at an event with Eurosport. An example there would be his win over Ali Carter in the UK Championships which followed a couple of good wins when he was with Eurosport in Belfast. Anthony McGill had a good result in round one in Glasgow beating Ryan Day but was soon knocked out by Peter Ebdon in the last 64, after also losing in the last 64 in York so has not had the best few weeks after a strong start to the season.
Yu De Lu has been in decent form this season without doing a lot of note. He has only lost three times in the last 128 this season, but failed to get further than the last 32 in any of the other eight events where he has won his first match. Jamie Clarke has had a couple of games this season as a Q School top-up but will have to be playing well to overcome a fairly solid Yu.
Predicted Qualifier: Jimmy White
Qualifying Section 15
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Ben Woollaston Vs Alex Borg
Chris Totten Vs Matthew Bolton
Ben Woollaston has reached the last 16 in Berlin in both of the last two years and would be disappointed not to qualify again given the fact he has come through these matches in the last two years and then had a big win at the venue. Alex Borg has only won two matches all season, and I think Woollaston will be fair too strong for him if he plays anywhere near as good as he did against Mark Allen in the first round of the Scottish Open.
Chris Totten will be a heavy favourite against Matthew Bolton. Bolton is yet to win a game on tour and has not looked likely to in many of the games he has played thus far. Chris Totten meanwhile had a couple of deciding frame victories to reach the last 32 of his home event last week, and his best win of the season saw him overcome Neil Robertson in Shanghai qualifying. For me though, Woollaston will be too strong in this section.
Chris Totten will be a heavy favourite against Matthew Bolton. Bolton is yet to win a game on tour and has not looked likely to in many of the games he has played thus far. Chris Totten meanwhile had a couple of deciding frame victories to reach the last 32 of his home event last week, and his best win of the season saw him overcome Neil Robertson in Shanghai qualifying. For me though, Woollaston will be too strong in this section.
Predicted Qualifier: Ben Woollaston
Qualifying Section 16
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Judd Trump Vs Adam Duffy
Yuan Sijun Vs Fang Xiongman
Adam Duffy has failed to win a frame in his last two matches, first to Dale in York and then to Mike Dunn in Scotland and in those frames he has only scored a total of 110 points. That is not the form you are looking for coming into a match with Judd Trump who will beat him easily again if he does not improve.
Fang Xiongman has only won four last 128 matches this season, and interestingly three of those were in final frame deciders. Yuan Sijun has been hit and miss, but there have been some big hits in there such as wins over Shaun Murphy and Joe Perry. Alan McManus praised Yuan in a BBC segment when he was talking about the Chinese players, and that came the tournament after McManus was beaten by Yuan in Northern Ireland. However, someone like Yuan Sijun is a streaky player so would have to be at his best to qualify over Trump in the last 64 and the former German Masters runner-up will be a big favourite to qualify here.
Fang Xiongman has only won four last 128 matches this season, and interestingly three of those were in final frame deciders. Yuan Sijun has been hit and miss, but there have been some big hits in there such as wins over Shaun Murphy and Joe Perry. Alan McManus praised Yuan in a BBC segment when he was talking about the Chinese players, and that came the tournament after McManus was beaten by Yuan in Northern Ireland. However, someone like Yuan Sijun is a streaky player so would have to be at his best to qualify over Trump in the last 64 and the former German Masters runner-up will be a big favourite to qualify here.
Predicted Qualifier: Judd Trump
Qualifying Section 17
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Rory McLeod W/O Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ian Preece Vs Niu Zhuang
In his first nine tournaments of the season, Ian Preece only lost twice in the last 128 but since then he has lost his last three opening round games. Niu Zhuang has not necessarily had much success but he has also had some tough draws, already having to play the likes of Higgins a couple of times as well Ding Junhui, Mark Allen and Mark Williams. He has also had plenty of close games coming through a couple of deciders in Northern Ireland and Glasgow but also losing a decider to Michael Holt in the UK Championship.
Rory McLeod has a bye into the last 64 after the withdrawal of Ronnie O'Sullivan from the German Masters. I would fancy McLeod against either Preece or Niu Zhuang in round two, particularly as McLeod reached the last 16 last week in Glasgow before narrowly missing out to Ricky Walden and along the way he overcame Niu Zhuang quite comfortably.
Rory McLeod has a bye into the last 64 after the withdrawal of Ronnie O'Sullivan from the German Masters. I would fancy McLeod against either Preece or Niu Zhuang in round two, particularly as McLeod reached the last 16 last week in Glasgow before narrowly missing out to Ricky Walden and along the way he overcame Niu Zhuang quite comfortably.
Predicted Qualifier: Rory McLeod
Qualifying Section 18
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Robert Milkins Vs Mark Davis
Kurt Maflin Vs Josh Boileau
Mark Davis has had a very mixed season, reaching three last 16's early on in the season, but has since suffered three first round exits on the bounce to lower ranked players and only won two matches since beating John Higgins in the last 32 of the European Masters in early October. Robert Milkins has played well and it has been taking good performances to get past him in recent weeks, particularly in Belfast where he reached the quarter-finals.
Kurt Maflin has also been in decent form, reaching the last 32 of the UK Championships after a quarter-final in Shanghai a month ago. His scoring power has been a superb and we would have a repeat of the Welsh Open quarter-final from February if he and Milkins make it through to the last 64. Josh Boileau meanwhile is seeking only his second win of the season and is almost certain to fall off of the tour at the end of the season.
Kurt Maflin has also been in decent form, reaching the last 32 of the UK Championships after a quarter-final in Shanghai a month ago. His scoring power has been a superb and we would have a repeat of the Welsh Open quarter-final from February if he and Milkins make it through to the last 64. Josh Boileau meanwhile is seeking only his second win of the season and is almost certain to fall off of the tour at the end of the season.
Predicted Qualifier: Robert Milkins
Qualifying Section 19
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Ryan Day Vs Kurt Dunham
John Astley Vs Craig Steadman
John Astley has only gotten past the last 64 twice earlier in the season, and has lost in the last 128 of his last three events so has had a mixed season this time around. Craig Steadman had a couple of nice wins himself in Glasgow to reach the last 32 but he has lost in eight out of 12 last 128 games this season so his match against Astley is a tough one to call.
Ryan Day should be too strong for Kurt Dunham who has had struggled on the tour but did collect a nice win in Glasgow against Tian Pengfei. Day was a semi-finalist in York as he booked his spot in the Masters. A first round exit in Scotland will not worry him and I think he will make it through to Berlin, a tournament where he is a former semi-finalist.
Ryan Day should be too strong for Kurt Dunham who has had struggled on the tour but did collect a nice win in Glasgow against Tian Pengfei. Day was a semi-finalist in York as he booked his spot in the Masters. A first round exit in Scotland will not worry him and I think he will make it through to Berlin, a tournament where he is a former semi-finalist.
Predicted Qualifier: Ryan Day
Qualifying Section 20
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Mark King Vs Noppon Saengkham
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh Vs Martin O'Donnell
Noppon Saengkham has reached the last 32 of each of the UK Championships, Scottish Open and Northern Irish Open, before being beaten in two of those by Xiao Guodong. He scored well in particular to win 4-3 against Martin Gould in Glasgow last week and after a slow start to the season he looks to be in good form now. Mark King looked good in York but lost in round one in Glasgow to a heavy scoring Zhang Anda, and if Noppon produces his heavy scoring here I think he could well overcome King.
Fellow Thai Thepchaiya Un-Nooh is incredibly hit and miss. Just this season he has lost to a number of players that he could play off the table and beat inside an hour. With such inconsistency it is impossible to see how he can actually fulfil the huge potential that he has. Martin O'Donnell has had some good performances this season with a last 16 in the International Championship a clear highlight.
Fellow Thai Thepchaiya Un-Nooh is incredibly hit and miss. Just this season he has lost to a number of players that he could play off the table and beat inside an hour. With such inconsistency it is impossible to see how he can actually fulfil the huge potential that he has. Martin O'Donnell has had some good performances this season with a last 16 in the International Championship a clear highlight.
Predicted Qualifier: Noppon Saengkham
Qualifying Section 21
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
David Gilbert Vs Tian Pengfei
Mike Dunn Vs Eden Sharav
Eden Sharav will have to make sure that he has not been distracted in the lead up to this game by events last week and a complaint he has made against Michael Holt. Mike Dunn has been looking good recently, making the quarter-finals a few weeks ago in Belfast and he may well be too solid for Sharav here.
David Gilbert has not been in the best of form recently, losing in the last 64 of the UK Championships after struggling through in round one, before losing in round one in Glasgow to Fang Xiongman. Tian Pengfei lost in round one in Glasgow as well to Kurt Dunham and in the last 128 at the UK Championships to high flying Cao Yupeng. Before that though, Tian had been looking in strong form as he narrowly missed out on making the semi-finals in Belfast and he has a good chance here if Gilbert is not at his best.
David Gilbert has not been in the best of form recently, losing in the last 64 of the UK Championships after struggling through in round one, before losing in round one in Glasgow to Fang Xiongman. Tian Pengfei lost in round one in Glasgow as well to Kurt Dunham and in the last 128 at the UK Championships to high flying Cao Yupeng. Before that though, Tian had been looking in strong form as he narrowly missed out on making the semi-finals in Belfast and he has a good chance here if Gilbert is not at his best.
Predicted Qualifier: Mike Dunn
Qualifying Section 22
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Ali Carter Vs Wang Yuchen
Mark Joyce Vs Lu Haotian
Mark Joyce has been in good form of late, and saw off Lu Haotian well in the last 16 of the UK Championships. He was not far from reaching the semi-finals there in York and he had another nice win against Liang Wenbo in the last 64 in Glasgow in what has probably been one of the best seasons of his career so far. Lu Haotian has been in top form also, making the semi-finals in Belfast before that last 16 in the UK.
Ali Carter has had a very poor few weeks and has let his frustrations boil over on the table far too often in some of his matches. He lost in round one of the UK Championship to Jimmy White and lost his cool a bit there as he did in a last 64 exit in Glasgow. With the form Joyce and Lu Haotian have been in, it would not be a surprise to see either beat him in the last 64 here if Carter overcomes Wang Yuchen as you would expect him to.
Ali Carter has had a very poor few weeks and has let his frustrations boil over on the table far too often in some of his matches. He lost in round one of the UK Championship to Jimmy White and lost his cool a bit there as he did in a last 64 exit in Glasgow. With the form Joyce and Lu Haotian have been in, it would not be a surprise to see either beat him in the last 64 here if Carter overcomes Wang Yuchen as you would expect him to.
Predicted Qualifier: Mark Joyce
Qualifying Section 23
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Alan McManus Vs Dominic Dale
Sean O'Sullivan Vs Jackson Page
While Dominic Dale beat Alan McManus at this stage of last season's German Masters, this is one of only three wins Dale has had in 13 matches against the Scotsman, and McManus was a 5-4 winner a few weeks ago against Dale in Shanghai and looked pretty solid when I watched him beat Robin Hull in York. This has been an improved season for McManus after a poorer campaign in 2016/2017 and I like his chances of qualifying for Berlin this week.
Jackson Page has had some good experience this season as the number one Q School top-up player, taking three frames off of Ronnie O'Sullivan in round one of the UK Championships. He also featured in the Northern Ireland and Scottish Open's and I think he has a win or two up his sleeve if he keeps getting these opportunities. Sean O'Sullivan meanwhile has only won a couple of matches this season both of which came in the Indian Open, so he may be vulnerable if Jackson plays well here.
Jackson Page has had some good experience this season as the number one Q School top-up player, taking three frames off of Ronnie O'Sullivan in round one of the UK Championships. He also featured in the Northern Ireland and Scottish Open's and I think he has a win or two up his sleeve if he keeps getting these opportunities. Sean O'Sullivan meanwhile has only won a couple of matches this season both of which came in the Indian Open, so he may be vulnerable if Jackson plays well here.
Predicted Qualifier: Alan McManus
Qualifying Section 24
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Shaun Murphy Vs Paul Davison
Cao Yupeng Vs Chen Zifan
As good a season Shaun Murphy has had in reaching four finals, he has not been invincible in these early round qualifiers. He lost in qualifying for each of the Riga, European and Shanghai Masters events as well as being sent home in the last 128 at the venue in Belfast and Glasgow. However, he will be looking for a return to Berlin after reaching the final in 2015.
Cao Yupeng will be looking to respond quickly after his gutting defeat in the Scottish Open final from 8-4 ahead. He has had a great first half to the season that also featured a maximum 147 break in Scotland, a semi-final in Belgium in October and a last 16 at the World Open just before that. Chen Zifan has had some decent wins, one of which was against Belfast against Murphy where he played very nicely and another came in Barnsley against Barry Hawkins. He did not live up to my expectations in York where he lost heavily to Xiao Guodong, and not without chances and if Cao recovers from his Glasgow disappointment I think he will come through that one.
Cao Yupeng will be looking to respond quickly after his gutting defeat in the Scottish Open final from 8-4 ahead. He has had a great first half to the season that also featured a maximum 147 break in Scotland, a semi-final in Belgium in October and a last 16 at the World Open just before that. Chen Zifan has had some decent wins, one of which was against Belfast against Murphy where he played very nicely and another came in Barnsley against Barry Hawkins. He did not live up to my expectations in York where he lost heavily to Xiao Guodong, and not without chances and if Cao recovers from his Glasgow disappointment I think he will come through that one.
Predicted Qualifier: Shaun Murphy
Qualifying Section 25
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Barry Hawkins Vs Jamie Barrett
Hossein Vafei Vs Liam Highfield
Barry Hawkins will be glad to see the back of 2017 and the first half of this season in particular. In ten ranking events so far this season, he has only reached the last 32 once with a best finish of the last 16 in Shanghai. He fell 6-0 in the last 32 of the UK Championships to Akani and then fell at the first hurdle last week in Glasgow. It may be too stern a test for Jamie Barrett to challenge Hawkins, but he will receive a test whoever he faces in the last 64.
Liam Highfield has looked good recently, making the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open with a win against Liang Wenbo along the way, and that followed September's career best finish of a quarter-final at the Indian Open. In the last two tournaments he has lost in the second round to top players that would go on to make the final in Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson and he pushed them very close and seems to raise his game for the top players and always give them a challenge. Hossein Vafei has had a decent campaign and reached the last 32 in York with a win over Anthony McGill and I expect his match with Highfield here to go close, but I have been impressed recently with Highfield.
Liam Highfield has looked good recently, making the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open with a win against Liang Wenbo along the way, and that followed September's career best finish of a quarter-final at the Indian Open. In the last two tournaments he has lost in the second round to top players that would go on to make the final in Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson and he pushed them very close and seems to raise his game for the top players and always give them a challenge. Hossein Vafei has had a decent campaign and reached the last 32 in York with a win over Anthony McGill and I expect his match with Highfield here to go close, but I have been impressed recently with Highfield.
Predicted Qualifier: Liam Highfield
Qualifying Section 26
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Graeme Dott Vs Soheil Vahedi
Peter Ebdon Vs Jak Jones
Graeme Dott will have been disappointed to lose in the first round of his home tournament last week, and was quite frustrated not to play on the TV table there. After a run to the last 16 of the UK Championships he will be determined to play like that again this week and get back to a tournament he has played well in previously, as a former semi-finalist. Soheil Vahedi has been a bit hit and miss with his results, and that is to be expected from someone who is quite an aggressive and streaky player. He is more than capable of beating Dott and going on to qualify for Berlin, but it would be difficult to make that prediction given his recent results.
Peter Ebdon saw off Anthony McGill in Glasgow, but that was the first time he had reached the last 32 since the European Masters with five early exits in between times and a couple of disappointing results in there for differing reasons. Jak Jones may not provide his greatest challenge though, given that the Welshman he has only won four matches all season and failed to get beyond the last 64 as yet in 2017/2018.
Peter Ebdon saw off Anthony McGill in Glasgow, but that was the first time he had reached the last 32 since the European Masters with five early exits in between times and a couple of disappointing results in there for differing reasons. Jak Jones may not provide his greatest challenge though, given that the Welshman he has only won four matches all season and failed to get beyond the last 64 as yet in 2017/2018.
Predicted Qualifier: Graeme Dott
Qualifying Section 27
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Luca Brecel Vs Hammad Miah
Zhao Xintong Vs Sam Craigie
Luca Brecel will be looking to get through to another mainland European event here and back to a venue where he reached the final two years ago. He will certainly get good support out in Germany, especially given his success so far this season. The Belgian will be hoping to have recovered somewhat from a shoulder injury that he put his last 32 exit in the UK Championships and his Scottish Open withdrawal down to. Hammad Miah meanwhile has had a couple of nice victories recently against Matthew Stevens. However, he has only won another three matches besides which is slightly surprising.
Zhao Xintong and Sam Craigie is a good looking match and a tough one to call. Both are very heavy scorers and will certainly get opportunities to score in what I expect to be quite an open game. Craigie reached the last 16 in Northern Ireland and looked good there in his first event with new glasses. Both need victories this week to give themselves a chance to stay on tour, so do not be surprised either if there is a bit of nerves.
Zhao Xintong and Sam Craigie is a good looking match and a tough one to call. Both are very heavy scorers and will certainly get opportunities to score in what I expect to be quite an open game. Craigie reached the last 16 in Northern Ireland and looked good there in his first event with new glasses. Both need victories this week to give themselves a chance to stay on tour, so do not be surprised either if there is a bit of nerves.
Predicted Qualifier: Zhao Xintong
Qualifying Section 28
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Michael Holt Vs Mei Xiwen
Robbie Williams Vs Billy Castle
Michael Holt has qualified for the German Masters on five occasions and in those appearances he has reached the quarter-finals twice and made the last 16 twice on top of that so it is a venue he clearly enjoys and will be desperate to get back to again. Mei Xiwen will offer a good challenge for Holt if his scoring is as good as it can be, and the Chinese player had a good recently to reach the last 16 in Shanghai.
Robbie Williams performed well at the International Championships making the quarter-finals there rather impressively. However, he was beaten easily last week in Glasgow in round one by Michael Holt and that may give Holt an edge if the two meet again in the last 64 here.
Robbie Williams performed well at the International Championships making the quarter-finals there rather impressively. However, he was beaten easily last week in Glasgow in round one by Michael Holt and that may give Holt an edge if the two meet again in the last 64 here.
Predicted Qualifier: Michael Holt
Qualifying Section 29
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Neil Robertson Vs Chris Wakelin
Tom Ford Vs Lukas Kleckers
This weeks Scottish Open winner will be a tough man to beat in this section given the scoring he displayed as he looked back to his old self in Glasgow. Chris Wakelin may give him a good challenge as he did to Ding in Glasgow and Mark Selby in Shanghai but with nothing to show for it.
Lukas Kleckers is the man that catches the eye here as the tours lone German player looks to qualify for his home event. As draws go, a match up with a solid player in Tom Ford will be a tough one in round one and the possible last 64 match with the most recent winner on tour could not be much more difficult. If Ford can score like we know he can, he will most likely overcome Kleckers who has not had too much success in his first half year on tour, and he could well provide Robertson a challenge in round two to back up another last 16 appearance in the Scottish Open.
Lukas Kleckers is the man that catches the eye here as the tours lone German player looks to qualify for his home event. As draws go, a match up with a solid player in Tom Ford will be a tough one in round one and the possible last 64 match with the most recent winner on tour could not be much more difficult. If Ford can score like we know he can, he will most likely overcome Kleckers who has not had too much success in his first half year on tour, and he could well provide Robertson a challenge in round two to back up another last 16 appearance in the Scottish Open.
Predicted Qualifier: Neil Robertson
Qualifying Section 30
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Liang Wenbo Vs Duane Jones
Li Hang Vs Andrew Higginson
Liang Wenbo has not had the best of seasons today and has been very quiet with a number of early exits. He has only had a couple of last 16's this season, and lost in the last 64 again last week in Scotland. Duane Jones meanwhile has only three wins to his name so far this season and Liang would be disappointed not to come through this one.
While he may have a tough task against Andrew Higginson, I fancy Li Hang to have a good week in Barnsley. He has impressed me a lot this season, giving Ronnie O'Sullivan an incredibly close run in the last 32 of the Scottish Open as well as reaching the last 16 of the UK Championships before again losing a decider to Ryan Day. He has also had a semi-final and quarter-final out in China this season and risen rapidly up the rankings. If he gets past Higginson and faces Liang it would be their third meeting of the season with the scores level at one win apiece so far.
While he may have a tough task against Andrew Higginson, I fancy Li Hang to have a good week in Barnsley. He has impressed me a lot this season, giving Ronnie O'Sullivan an incredibly close run in the last 32 of the Scottish Open as well as reaching the last 16 of the UK Championships before again losing a decider to Ryan Day. He has also had a semi-final and quarter-final out in China this season and risen rapidly up the rankings. If he gets past Higginson and faces Liang it would be their third meeting of the season with the scores level at one win apiece so far.
Predicted Qualifier: Li Hang
Qualifying Section 31
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Xiao Guodong Vs Sanderson Lam
Allan Taylor Vs Hamza Akbar
For me, Xiao Guodong looks by far the strongest player in this mini section. The Chinese player has had a very solid season so far, and impressed in recent weeks making the last 16 of the UK Championships before only losing narrowly to Neil Robertson in the Scottish Open in the last eight. I would be surprised if he lost out to Sanderson Lam in round one given that Lam has only won one match so far this season.
Allan Taylor and Hamza Akbar is a tough match to call. Hamza had a nice win against Leo Fernandez to get his first one on the board this season, but he had suffered in a few close calls before that and again had not been able to play in every event. Taylor meanwhile has reached the last 32 in a couple of events this season, but has also suffered nine first round exits so there is a feeling that this one could go either way.
Allan Taylor and Hamza Akbar is a tough match to call. Hamza had a nice win against Leo Fernandez to get his first one on the board this season, but he had suffered in a few close calls before that and again had not been able to play in every event. Taylor meanwhile has reached the last 32 in a couple of events this season, but has also suffered nine first round exits so there is a feeling that this one could go either way.
Predicted Qualifier: Xiao Guodong
Qualifying Section 32
Last 128 draw: (Picks in bold)
Mark Selby Vs Sam Baird
Jamie Jones Vs Zhang Anda
Finally, Mark Selby is back in action after a last 64 exit in the UK Championships having chosen not to enter the Northern Ireland and Scottish Open's either side of events in York. So, he should be fresh coming into these qualifiers and as a former winner of this title in 2015 he will very much be looking to return to the Tempodrome. I would fancy him to qualify here without even playing at his best as he so often has done in the past. Given his number of heldover matches this season, it is actually a rarity to see Selby in a qualifier and it will be interesting to see if that has any effect but I do not expect it to. Sam Baird is in desperate need of wins as he has been dragged into a tour survival battle and is well behind the 64 mark at this stage. In all, Baird has lost his last seven last 128 matches in a row and is seriously struggling at the moment.
Given that he was a semi-finalist last time out in Germany at the Paul Hunter Classic, it is a massive surprise to see that Jamie Jones has only gotten beyond the last 64 stage in one tournament since then and that does not exactly bode well for his chances of qualifying for the last 32 with two wins this week. Zhang Anda has had an odd season in all. In 11 ranking events played this season, Zhang has lost in the last 128 of seven of those, but also reached the last 16 in the Riga Masters and the quarter-finals in India. A couple of good wins and some impressive scoring in Scotland will give him a boost coming into this and I expect a close game between him and Jones.
Given that he was a semi-finalist last time out in Germany at the Paul Hunter Classic, it is a massive surprise to see that Jamie Jones has only gotten beyond the last 64 stage in one tournament since then and that does not exactly bode well for his chances of qualifying for the last 32 with two wins this week. Zhang Anda has had an odd season in all. In 11 ranking events played this season, Zhang has lost in the last 128 of seven of those, but also reached the last 16 in the Riga Masters and the quarter-finals in India. A couple of good wins and some impressive scoring in Scotland will give him a boost coming into this and I expect a close game between him and Jones.
Predicted Qualifier: Mark Selby
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