Tonight (3rd September) see’s the very much anticipated new season of Premier League snooker. This week’s matches include the defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who will be playing another former champion in Hong Kong’s Marco Fu, and a Premier League debutant Judd Trump who plays another debutant in Australian Neil Robertson.

With a potential £352,000* of prize money on offer this competition serves as both excellent match practice and a great way for the seven players involved to top up their bank balances.

So what of the players involved?

Judd Trump

Other than the obvious Ronnie O’Sullivan a lot of eyes will be on Judd Trump who continues his career progression at a very decent rate. The 20-year-old Bristolian has been tipped for stardom from about the age of 11 and he became the second player to qualify into the Premier League through the long and arduous Championship League structure.

Trump plays some very exciting snooker and plays a very attacking game, he is yet to win a major tournament but everyone is aware of his potential class.

Sporting Bet have Trump at 14/1

Cuesport News Prediction: If he can get a few early wins under his belt then we could see him reaching at least the semi finals.

Neil Robertson

Robertson has enjoyed some good form over the last couple of season with 3 World Ranking titles including the Bahrain Championships last season. This is his first dip into the world of the Premier League and many pundits, unfairly, believe that Robertson has only managed to win titles when the top players have been having off days, or in the case of Bahrain have not turned up. He is a player of considerable class though and I think the more he prgresses the more these opinions will be falling on deaf ears.

Sporting Bet have him at 10/1

Cuesport News Prediction: This year may see him struggle, a finish outside of the playoffs is our prediction.

Ronnie O’Sullivan

Not a lot has to be said about this 3 times World Champion. When the real Ronnie turns up he is pure class, but we know all to well that this can also go wrong! He is gunning for his 5th Premier League title this time out in a format that seems to suit him. Over the last three years he has earned £237,000 from the Premier League alone. Expect fireworks and expect the real O’Sullivan to show up.

Sporting Bet Make him favourite at Evs

Cuesport News Prediction: Can’t look beyond Ronnie for the title, he has too much firepower and understands how this tournament ticks – Winner!

Shaun Murphy

Murphy had a very slow start to the 2008/09 season and failed to win a match in his first three outings. He made amends though by winning the UK Championships and followed this up with a runner-up spot in the World Championships, losing to John Higgins in the final. Taking that momentum into the new season will be of utmost importance for Shaun who suffered from swine flu in August which will have dampened his preparations.

Sporting Bet make him 6/1

Cuesport News Prediction: With some good results and his undoubted match play abilities he has a chance of reaching the final.

Stephen Hendry

The 40-year-old Scot seems to have enjoyed his best years but is still able to be dangerous on his day. Not regarded as a favourite for this tournament and there is a chance he will struggle. He does however, have a rich history in the Premier League with no less than 6 victories, the last of these came in 2004, last year he also reached the semi final stages.

Sporting Bet odds 14/1

Cuesport News Prediction: Hendry to be eliminated in the league stage.

Marco Fu

Fu is a very likeable character and seems very down to earth. Due to the emergence of snooker in China it is without doubt that we will continue to see a Chinese player featured in the Premier League. Fu himself has won this tournament back in 2003 so he knows what it is all about. He is renowned more as a match player and it may be that the standard is to high for him this season.

Sporting Bet Odds 10/1

Cuesport News Prediction: May have an outside chance of the semi finals but expect him to fall in the league stages.

John Higgins

The reigning World Snooker Champion comes into this tournament as second favourite and will be very close to Ronnie O’Sullivan come the end of the event in November. He has the ability to both score heavily when required and also be able to grind out results to get victories. For such a formidable player it is a surprise that he has only won this event once back in 1999.

Sporting Bet 2nd Favourite 9/2

Cuesport News Prediction: Will come through the league phase unscathed but will be beaten in the semi finals.

Throughout the course of the Premier League season Cuesport News will be offering results, tables as well as comment and opinion.

*Total potential prize money is calculated assuming every frame is won with a century break.