Nigel Bond goes into the newly revamped World Seniors Championship on Saturday as the pre-tournament favourite.
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The former World Championship finalist is in good form on the circuit and could prove to be the man to beat at this year's event.
Bond came through a field of world class players to win the Snooker Shootout in January and is the highest ranked player in the 2011 Seniors.
He is firm favourite to see off 1985 world champion Dennis Taylor in round one and is best priced at 7/2 with Ladbrokes to take the title on Sunday evening.
Defending champion Jimmy White has also shown signs of fine form on the PTC tour this season. He has competed against the game's top players in the 2011 Premier League and is sure to have the backing of the crowd.
Sky Bet are offering 9/2 for the Whirlwind to retain the lucrative title.
Multiple world champion Steve Davis has also proved he can still cut it on the main tour and is likely to put up a strong challenge for the title.
His 5/1 outright price with Sportingbet reflects the tough opener he faces against fellow professional Tony Drago in the first round, however should he defeat Drago, his price will no doubt dip.
Two former big guns collide in round one, as Canadian former world number one Cliff Thorburn takes on Welshman Doug Mountjoy, who is making his long awaited return to the baize.
Mountjoy is priced 6/5 to make a winning return with Bet365, with Thorburn the 8/13 favourite.
Neal Foulds will be swapping commentary for cueing when he takes to the baize in front of the television cameras on Saturday. He plays Dene O'Kane in the last 16 and is a 50/1 outsider with Sportingbet to win the title.
Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor were involved in arguably the greatest world final of all time in 1985, with Taylor taking the title on the deciding black.
Sportingbet are also offering a 33/1 special for Davis and Taylor to meet in the final of this event, in what would be a superb story.
A £10 match coupon tip for Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Nigel Bond, John Parrott and Cliff Thorburn all to win their opening matches pays £61 with Bet365.
The tournament gets underway from 7pm on Saturday November 5 from the East of England Showground, Peterborough.
2011 World Seniors Championship
First round fixtures
Tony Drago v Steve Davis
Dene O'Kane v Neal Foulds
Karl Townsend v Steve Ventham
John Parrott v Joe Johnson
Jimmy White v Tony Knowles
Nigel Bond v Dennis Taylor
Gary Wilkinson v Darren Morgan
Cliff Thorburn v Doug Mountjoy
