Masters Snooker Betting Preview
The Saga Insurance Masters event at Wembley is the first of 4 events over the next 11 weeks in the build-up to April's World Championship jamboree. With the field always restricted to the top-16 and four wildcards, the number of pitfalls for the stars are considerably fewer than ranking events. Consequently, this event has rarely produced shock winners with only four winners since the 1980s starting at double-figure odds.
As always, the market is headed by Ronnie O'Sullivan. Yet again the Rocket starts a ridiculously short price for a player who has probably cost favourite backers more money than anyone else in the history of sport. Many of his loyal backers may have had enough after his walkout in the middle of his quarter-final in York, but I still expect any brilliant early performances will spark the usual over-reaction. Lets not forget he was also scintillating in the Premier League, and in his last-16 match at York, just as he was up until the semi-finals at Sheffield last year. Yet on the two latter occasions, he blew out miserably in the latter stages. It seems hard for Ronnie to remain focussed for the full length of any event, though if he's going to do it anywhere, one might think it would be here, on home turf in London. O'Sullivan has, after all, reached six of the last 11 Masters finals. It also cannot be ruled out that, for once, he is genuinely up for it having blotted his copybook so badly at York.
O'Sullivan has been handed a decent draw, with Ken Doherty the only top-class threat in his quarter. A much bigger danger lies in his potential semi-final opponent, last year's conquerer JOHN HIGGINS. Though winless so far this season, Higgins played well enough in the last two ranking events to suggest he's got as strong a chance as anyone as he bids for a third Masters title. I make Higgins a very warm favourite to emerge from the top quarter ahead of dangerous Neil Robertson and the struggling Mark Williams and Stephen Maguire.
But the best value lies in the other half of the draw. Presuming DING JUNHUI can safely negotiate his opener against Antony Hamilton, then the key game in this half of the draw could be his next match against UK Championship winner Peter Ebdon. Ebdon was superb in York, not least when beating Ding quite comprehensively. If he can reproduce those efforts, then 14/1 would be a crazy price here, but I can't ever recall Ebdon winning two events in a row and marginally prefer Ding to gain revenge. For me, Ding is increasingly the man to beat. His best, as seen in the Northern Ireland Classic final and his opening session in York against MATTHEW STEVENS, is almost unbeatable.
The third quarter looks by far the weakest with one quarter-finalist certain to be either the increasingly disappointing Shaun Murphy or Steve Davis. Stevens must be expected to knock out Jimmy White to set up a second-round match against Stephen Hendry. Despite making the final at York, Hendry did little to convince me that he is not a player in decline. Stevens has a decent record in recent big matches between the pair, and looks a reasonable each-way investment at 20/1.
Good Luck!
ADVISED BETS
SAGA INSURANCE MASTERS SNOOKER
10pts win DING JUNHUI @ 6/1 (LADBROKES, CORALS)
5pts win JOHN HIGGINS @ 7/1 (PREMIERBET, VCBET)
3pts ew MATTHEW STEVENS @ 20/1 (GENERALLY AVAILABLE)
ANTE-POST ALREADY ADVISED
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
10pts ew NEIL ROBERTSON @ 40/1
As always, the market is headed by Ronnie O'Sullivan. Yet again the Rocket starts a ridiculously short price for a player who has probably cost favourite backers more money than anyone else in the history of sport. Many of his loyal backers may have had enough after his walkout in the middle of his quarter-final in York, but I still expect any brilliant early performances will spark the usual over-reaction. Lets not forget he was also scintillating in the Premier League, and in his last-16 match at York, just as he was up until the semi-finals at Sheffield last year. Yet on the two latter occasions, he blew out miserably in the latter stages. It seems hard for Ronnie to remain focussed for the full length of any event, though if he's going to do it anywhere, one might think it would be here, on home turf in London. O'Sullivan has, after all, reached six of the last 11 Masters finals. It also cannot be ruled out that, for once, he is genuinely up for it having blotted his copybook so badly at York.
O'Sullivan has been handed a decent draw, with Ken Doherty the only top-class threat in his quarter. A much bigger danger lies in his potential semi-final opponent, last year's conquerer JOHN HIGGINS. Though winless so far this season, Higgins played well enough in the last two ranking events to suggest he's got as strong a chance as anyone as he bids for a third Masters title. I make Higgins a very warm favourite to emerge from the top quarter ahead of dangerous Neil Robertson and the struggling Mark Williams and Stephen Maguire.
But the best value lies in the other half of the draw. Presuming DING JUNHUI can safely negotiate his opener against Antony Hamilton, then the key game in this half of the draw could be his next match against UK Championship winner Peter Ebdon. Ebdon was superb in York, not least when beating Ding quite comprehensively. If he can reproduce those efforts, then 14/1 would be a crazy price here, but I can't ever recall Ebdon winning two events in a row and marginally prefer Ding to gain revenge. For me, Ding is increasingly the man to beat. His best, as seen in the Northern Ireland Classic final and his opening session in York against MATTHEW STEVENS, is almost unbeatable.
The third quarter looks by far the weakest with one quarter-finalist certain to be either the increasingly disappointing Shaun Murphy or Steve Davis. Stevens must be expected to knock out Jimmy White to set up a second-round match against Stephen Hendry. Despite making the final at York, Hendry did little to convince me that he is not a player in decline. Stevens has a decent record in recent big matches between the pair, and looks a reasonable each-way investment at 20/1.
Good Luck!
ADVISED BETS
SAGA INSURANCE MASTERS SNOOKER
10pts win DING JUNHUI @ 6/1 (LADBROKES, CORALS)
5pts win JOHN HIGGINS @ 7/1 (PREMIERBET, VCBET)
3pts ew MATTHEW STEVENS @ 20/1 (GENERALLY AVAILABLE)
ANTE-POST ALREADY ADVISED
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
10pts ew NEIL ROBERTSON @ 40/1
posted by Paul Krishnamurty at 2:41 PM
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