The World Mixed Doubles concludes on Sunday with Mark Selby and Rebecca Kenna looking strong at the Marshall Arena.
The English duo represented the clear outsiders at the start of the weekend’s play in Milton Keynes but won their opening two fixtures on Saturday.
Selby and Kenna first overcame Neil Robertson and Mink Nutcharut with a 3-1 scoreline before repeating the trick against Judd Trump and Ng On Yee later in the day.
Indeed, all four matches ended with the same outcome, with Trump and Ng beating tournament favourites Ronnie O’Sullivan and Reanne Evans 3-1 in the competition’s opening bout.
The latter pairing later responded in champion’s fashion with a 3-1 defeat of Robertson and Nutcharut – the reigning women’s world champion.
With a point awarded for each frame won during the league phase, Selby and Kenna are in a very strong position to reach the final.
The top two teams after the remaining brace of round-robin fixtures will advance to the title-deciding encounter on Sunday evening.
Should two or more partnerships end on the same number of points, the order will be determined first by the scorelines in the matches between the respective teams, and then by the highest break compiled if necessary.
Here’s how things stand after the opening day…
🟢Mark Selby & Rebecca Kenna: 6
🔵Judd Trump & Ng On Yee: 4
🔴Ronnie O’Sullivan & Reanne Evans 4
🟡Neil Robertson & Mink Nutcharut: 2#BVMIXEDDOUBLES | @BetVictor— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) September 24, 2022
With only two points on the scoreboard, Robertson and Nutcharut are the ones in the most perilous place.
They will definitely need to win their final clash against Trump and Ng – most likely 4-0 – to have any chance of reaching the final, and even then it might not be enough.
Selby and Kenna will safeguard their final berths by winning two frames against O’Sullivan and Evans.
However, such is their commanding position at present that they could potentially finish in the top two even with a 4-0 defeat.
It promises to be a fascinating day as the players battle it out for glory in the World Mixed Doubles, with £60,000 up for grabs for the tournament winners.
Sunday’s order of play
1pm
Trump/Ng vs Robertson/Mink
Est. 3pm
O’Sullivan/Evans vs Selby/Kenna
7pm
The Final (Bo7)
Live coverage in the UK and Ireland is on ITV Sport with more options available around the world.
Featured photo credit: WST
I quite enjoyed the day’s action but was surprised by how many empty seats there were for an event much hyped, taking place on a weekend and with huge names taking part.
World Snooker, however, will be more concerned with the viewing figures.
The standard was a mixed bag but given how rare doubles play is that needs to be factored into any criticism.