Davis takes on big guns

Mark Davis is set to compete in the Championship League snooker tournament at Crondon Park, Essex

The St Leonards potter is set to line-up in Championship League group one at Crondon Park Golf Club, Essex, alongside some of the sport’s biggest names as top flight snooker makes its 2014 bow.

Davis, the world number 14, will begin his campaign at 1.30pm today (Monday) against Robert Milkins. He will then face 2013 World Championship semi-finalist Ricky Walden at 3pm and 2012 World Championship runner-up Ali Carter at 7pm.

Reigning six-reds world champion Davis will lock horns with Shaun Murphy at 11am tomorrow before meeting Judd Trump at 2pm and Stuart Bingham at 3.30pm in his final round-robin match.

The leading four players in the standings will go on to contest the semi-finals and final. The eventual winner will go through to the winners’ group in early March, while those finishing second to fifth will join group two on Wednesday and Thursday. The bottom two players will be eliminated.

Action from the seventh staging of a rather quirky annual invitation event, with its lack of spectators and renowned breakfasts, can be watched on selected betting sites.