TODAY sees the start of the Welsh Open in Cardiff and a massive line-up of 128 players will be whittled down to just one over the next week.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is defending champion of the ranking event and title favourite at 7-2 with Skybet. However, the Rocket hasn't had it all his own way in recent events, suffering a 6-1 thrashing against Neil Robertson in the Masters semis last month then losing to Shaun Murphy in the German Masters quarter-finals.
Robertson is second favourite for glory at 7-1 with Coral and world No.1 Mark Selby – who won the German Masters a fortnight ago – is 8-1 at BetVictor. They are followed by Murphy at 9-1 with Betfair, Judd Trump 10-1 at SportingBet and Ding Junhui at 18s with SportingBet.
There's a glut of first-round matches taking place today with the likes of O'Sullivan, Murphy, Robertson, Mark Allen and golden oldie Jimmy White all at the table.
There's top women's tennis action from the WTA Dubai Championships and plenty of men's ATP matches from Delray Beach, Marseille and Rio.
At the Cricket World Cup Scotland are expected to be cannon fodder for New Zealand with the Saltires a whopping 14-1 at Paddy Power for victory.
Good luck with your bets and post your sporting tips and chat here.
In December 2020 we sadly 
MVG (Darts)
Anderson (IDarts)
Lewis (Darts)
1.1/1 Skybet
*WON* 31.5 Profit 16.50 (4 out of 5)
————————————————————-
Shocker that Roma couldnt sore, 19 attempts on goal Parma had zero.
Darts break even for the Roma result.
————————————————————–
Double Stakes Evening Round Of Darts
Anderson (Darts)
Lewis (Darts)
MVG (Darts)
0.70/1 Skybet
*WON* 51.00 Profit 21.00 (5 out of 6)
————————————————————-
16/02/15
Level Stakes
Robertson (Snooker)
Venus Williams (Tennis)
Man Utd (FA Cup)
1.03/1 Skybet
Can I be the first to say, well done again Brian very impressive mate, impressive success rate …
Russian Hockey & Korean Volleyball 5 FOLD (1st leg starts soon):
– Barsys Astana +1.5 1.11
– Vladivostok +2.5 1.14
– Omskye Yastreby & Draw 1.09
– Belye Medvedi & Draw 1.31
– Samsung WIN 1.16 (Korean volleyball)
Pays odds of $2.10
*pays $1.89 as a 4 Fold without 1st leg which has already started
**POSTED EARLIER**
Russian Hockey & Korean Volleyball 5 FOLD:
– Barsys Astana +1.5 1.11
– Vladivostok +2.5 1.14
– Omskye Yastreby & Draw 1.09
– Belye Medvedi & Draw 1.31
– Samsung WIN 1.16 (Korean volleyball)
Pays odds of $2.10
**WON*
Re-post. Glad I got my thinking right with this one! Ireland are now 6/4 to reach the quarters and 1/2 not to.
Cricket World Cup
Ireland to reach quarter finals
9/2 Ladbrokes
Four teams from pool A and four teams from pool B will qualify for the quarter finals. Pool A looks pretty straightforward but pool B might see an upset; South Africa, India, and Pakistan should all qualify comfortably as the top 3 seeds.
West indies are the favourites at 2/9 to qualify for the 4th spot and Ireland are next at 9/2. West indies cricket however is in an absolute mess at the moment. They’ve got a young (23YO), inexperienced (26 caps), nobody in Jason Holder as captain and the selectors have dropped two of their best, most feared, players in Bravo and Pollard. They’re hugely relying on the explosive ‘gun for hire’ Chris gayle, and if he misfires, they’re hopeless. Combine this with the fact that Ireland often cause an upset and beat teams they aren’t meant to (Pakistan 2007 world cup, England 2011 world cup), there is a genuine chance of another upset here. Ireland, packed with experienced players from previous tournaments, pulled off their latest shock win, against Bangladesh, in their warm up game to this world cup just yesterday with a 4 wicket win. With west indies winning just 1 of their last 7 ODI’s, I see a nice bit of value in them failing miserably to one of the ‘minnows’ advantage.
Ad,
What do you think of this trebble (took your double from yesterday and added Safarova)?
Stakhovsky (WIN)
Venus Williams (WIN)
Safarova (WIN)
@27/20 (2.35)
Safarova should be fine mate, as long as she doesn’t have a real shocker.
Cricket World Cup
NZ v Scotland
Team to score most 6’s – NZ 1/5
NZ Win v England 4/7
Double 22/25 betfred
6 points
Cricket World Cup
NZ v Scotland total 6’s – 10 & over
5/6 bet365
5 points
Ad
I like your double of Venus & Stakhovsky.
Do you have a write up for it.
Stakhovsky lower in rankings than Rosol but Stakhovsky playing well?
Venus opponent Benic is 17 year old and rising to the top very quickly..surely Venus has to much power and experience tho?
Cheers.
Sorry fellas, didn’t have time for a write up last night.
Stakhovsky- in good form, really impressing as be dismantled Thiem last week and outplayed Raonic for a set and a bit. Rosol on the other hand has no form, having lost 3 of his 4 matches this year, and 12 of his last 14 going back to the end of last year. The indoor conditions here should give Stakhovsky a further edge, and unless he has a significant dip and Rosol a significant improvement, Stakhovsky should make it through without too many problems.
Venus- Bencic is one of the bright young things on the WTA tour, but Venus should have too much quality, experience and variety for her. Bencic hasn’t been in great form so far this year, and I expect her error count to be relatively high. Add to that the fact that Venus has won both their meetings 2-0, and her last 15 matches here, and hasn’t dropped a set in her last 10 (3 titles in ’09, ’10 and ’14) and things don’t look good for young Bencic.
One bet for me today. Torro-flor to beat larsson 6/5. Looks like a very good double ad, best of luck with it.
Cheers Ad..I am with you..GL
Had a crazy 10 fold..1st leg lost as Heather Watson got beat.lol
Pavlyuchenkova is making Pliskova’s performance against Suarez Navarro look good! Finally gets the break back in the second set, goes 40-0 up on serve and then hits a flurry of double faults and woeful errors and gets broken. Useless.
American ice hockey
Jets 5/11
Canucks 10/13
Double 2.57/1 @ coral
-WON-
Embarrassing Watson either period cold or foot, piss easy money backing her to lose, had to endure another waste of space pavlechenkova overweight Russian embarrassing, easy money pliskova.
At least she backed up the awful serving with equally poor returning. Dear oh dear. Will be watching BZS’s match with interest to see whether she has the beating of Pliskova in the next round.
I’ll tell Heather that gents hahaha
Your right Steve i should of known better the Mourinhio of Tennis lol
Dubai WTA 16-30
Bencic 2-0 v V Williams 15/2 Boylesports
Delray Beach ATP 19-30
Gabashvili 2-0 v Dolgopolov 4/1 Ladbrokes
De Niro-
Venus is in sizzling form and hasn’t dropped a set here in 10 matches. Think you’re being a little overly ambitious there! I’d wish you luck, but as I’ve got Venus in my double I can’t do that!
Gabashvilli 2-0 @ 4/1 does seem worth a gamble.
Another embarrassment flor 5/2 up now 6/5 down great going
Let’s hope she can win the tie breaker
WTA Rio18:45
Gabriela Ce to beat Pauline Parmentier @ 13/8
A bit of a shot in the dark here so I’m not staking much. But Parmentiers form Is sufficiently poor (1 win in 12) to suggest she might struggle against a Brazilian clay courter on clay in Brazil. I know absolutely zip about Ce, but her nationality, favoured surface and decent form are enough to entice me in at small stakes.
Itl be humble pie all round of Bencic does upset Venus. And if Seppi can beat Federer im taking nothing for granted, especially on the Womens side!
Just to let people know 2/1 cover available now on my single. I haven’t been following too closely but it looks to be lots of ups and downs. Might be worth covering to get your stake back and let the rest run on
Well pointed out Brian, and definitely worth a cover for anyone on. In my opinion Torro Flor is a horrible player. If I hit the loopy, moon ball, nothing shots she hits in a club match I would be embarrassed for myself and my team!
Do you play tennis for a club ad? I always have a punt at the opens during the summer. It’s always a great buzz
Well a retirement in the end. She called a few medical time outs in the third, and had fallen behind. Hopefully anyone on got a void.
Not sure yet Brian, Just checked on Skybet saying bet still open.
I thought if first set was completed result stands.
Hopefully not, id be happy with a void
There are different rules for different bookmakers regarding tennis retirements, some are ‘once a ball is served’ others are ‘one set must be completed’ and others are ‘the match must be completed’ – personally i prefer the last option as it saves you from kicking yourself if your player loses due to injury, obviously it can go both ways but i prefer to take that out of the equation when placing a wager.
Brian I had a look at the tennis retirement rules for sky bet and it looks like it operates on if 1 set is completed the bet stands. Unfortunately it looks like this bet will lose
Yep
Just checked it up,they take it as a loss. So bet beat.
I had her along with Ad’s double.
Hardly made much difference she was going to get beat anyway.
Just out of interest Juan, what bookies does the game have to be completed with ?
Thanks in advance
Cricket guys,
I was thinking of putting this bet in a trebble: “Highest Score After Over – Which team will be leading after the first over?” New Zealand @ 1.66
But I don’t know shit about Cricket and was wondering if this had any chance of landing …
How did Bouchard actually lose to Barthel? Her movement and defensive shots are poor, and her gameplan against a knackered Hantuchova is pretty amateurish. Put a little bit of money on her just because of how tired Hantuchova looked at the end of that second set, whether its a winner or not I regret the decision. Never again.
Ad how did she get beat last tourney as well after going a set up she fell apart after it.
Is she really as good as folk were saying when she 1st came on the scene ? You follow tennis more than me and are better qualified to answer this what do you think ?
Also Ad I remember you telling me that rankings are not that important in certain surfaces etc etc etc Is there any site that reflects this ie a site that has a ranking based on the surfaces they play on.
I reckon if there was a site that has rankings based on each surface the players are playing would be a great thing.
I’m not sure Punting, I didn’t see much of her when she first arrived on tour. Hard to imagine he was better than she is now thoigh, and she’s hardly that good now! Generally when someone comes onto the womens scene who has a good serve and power and plays aggressive tennis people get excited, because that’s the Williams sisters model for success. Sloane Stephens, Muguruza, Keys (and Laura Robson if you’re English!) are those most tipped for greatness in recent times, and all fit that Bill. No one was tipping Halep to storm to the top of the rankings. When they flakes about her it was generally about her enormous chest and her breast reduction surgery!
I remember some in the know,well so called ex tennis stars were saying she was the future but lately she has been less than average.
After watching this final set of hers against Hantuchova im pretty confident she’ll never break the top 20! It would require some serious improvement to her movement and approach.
Also said b4 that tennis is for me going to be a non starter but I still look at the games and I do get something in me saying this looks a good thing.
But tbh I really need to look outside the box on tennis as I am more often than not a stat bettor and always look at the stats and rankings for all sports I bet on and use them as the mainstay of my bets
I’m not aware of anything like that Punting. But if you look up a player on Tennis Live or a similar site it will tell you their win/loss record and an overall percentage on every surface. You also need to be aware of what level these matches have taken place at, i.e. ATP/WTA tour level or lower down, Challenger/Futures etc. But as a general guideline its useful. For example, Raonic has a 68.7% win record on indoor hard courts but just a 54.7% win record on clay.
As useful as stats are, Very recent form is incredibly important in tennis betting. Some of the best picks I’ve ever made have flown in the face of rankings and expectations and been based on nothing more than having watched a players last match and been really impressed with their performance. If they have the type of game that can cause their next opponents problems when it’s really on song then I’ll give them a go. Equally, if I’ve seen someone play an absolute stinker I might go against them in their next match even if the rankings and stats suggest they will win. This does rely on being able to watch a lot of tennis, which clearly isn’t possible for most people most of the time.
Thx for the heads up m8 always good to hear or see different aspects that people use for betting.
35 mins played and Stakhovskys a set and a break up. Should’ve smashed the 2-0. Oh well, a good start to the double.
Venus absolutely smashing it. 15/1 now available on Bencic to win if anyone on the double wants to cover. Can’t imagine it’s necessary, but at that price it’s cheap.
Talking of that price, the 15/1 to win the tournament looking like a bargain!
Trebble Win!
Stakhovsky
Venus Williams
Safarova
@27/20
Thanks Ad!
Nice one Oriaz. good stuff!
ATP Marseille 9am Tues
J Janowicz 2-0 v Goffin at 19/5 Boylesports NAP
WTA Dubai 6am Tues
C Giorgi 2-0 v S Navarro at 19/10 Boylesprts NB
Will CSN play? Pulled out with a neck injury before her first ever shot at a title on Saturday. Either way, agree Giorgi can win 2-0 if she’s on her game. Janowicz also a decent shout, but he’s just as likely to lose 2-0 really!
BRIAN I know that with Bet365 & Paddypower the match must be completed whereas with Ladbrokes & Coral it doesn’t, a full list can be found online, I tried to post the link but it wasn’t published.
Great tipping today again lads! Much appreciated as always
Juan, you can put up the info but not the link – the t’s and c’s are printed in the Racing Post everyday they have tennis prices. But each bookie clearly have in the rules how they play it.
Ce takes first set 6-2. Tipped @ 13/8. Now 5/2 available on her opponent. Personally riding it out
when is the nba back?
G Simon to win Marseille ATP NB
9/1 ladbrokes/bet victor
C Wozniacki to win Dubai WTA NAP
10/1 bet victor
Scotland under 172 in play 10/11
1/2 currently
Decent tips there De Niro. I played out how I thought the draw would go in Dubai and I ended up with a Wozniaki v Venus Williams final. I’ve got Venus winning it though! Simon has a decent draw and a good chance. Especially if Stan’s a little hungover from Rotterdam.
Cricket is a game for girls ;-) at least Scotland are proving this lol
Harry might not be enough overs for 10 6s
scotland might get 61! VP
Plenty of Women tennis games tomorrow, was thinking of a little 5-fold:
– Petkovic (WIN)
– Radwanska (WIN)
– Wozniacki (WIN)
– Giorgi (WIN)
– Cornet (WIN)
@ 49/10 (or 5.88)
What do you think Ad?
Oriaz- here are my thoughts:
– Petkovic: all depends on how well she can recover from a long week in Antwerp where she won the title and played her way back into the top 10 for the fist time in 3 years. One thing going for her is that she didn’t have to play a long, gruelling final as CSN pulled out injured. Still, it’s a long flight from Antwerp to Dubai, and I would be hesitant to back someone who is very likely to be pretty tired.
– Radwanska: Garcia is undoubtedly a potentially dangerous opponent for Radwanska as she hits big and plays a super aggressive game. But Radwanska has won the title here before and will be very keen to get her season up and running in a serious way, so I do fancy her to get the job done. Garcia struggles for consistency, and Radwanska is the master of extracting errors. On a fast court though the upset is possible, and this could be a close match, so 2/7 is a little bit short for me to want to take Radwanska.
– Wozniacki: Yep. I am never picking Stosur in this one! It could be tight if Stosur plays well, but Stosur will probably blow it even if she is on top!
– Giorgi: Yep. Suarez Navarro had to pull out injured at the weekend, and even if she is fully fit, she has had to travel a long way to Dubai and recover from her injury in a very short time, and even if fully fit would still get blown off court by Giorgi if Giogri is having a good day. If Giorgi has a nightmare then it could be a different story of course!
– Cornet: I don’t really want to back Cornet because she might be a bit knackered. Her match with Flipkens was seriously long, and her opponent is well rested and in pretty good form, having just beaten Svitolina amongst others in Fed cup action.
Personally, I would go for Giorgi and Wozniaki but leave the others alone, as I think there’s less risk in taking someone like Muguruza @ 4/11. I don’t want to talk you out of anyone you’re confident in though in favour of someone i’m confident in, because if my pick loses and yours wins i’m going to look like a right d*ck!
Might get 61 what Paul?
NHL & College Basketball bets for today:
NHL TREBLE:
– Carolina +1.5
– Winnipeg ML
– Boston & Draw
Pays odds of $2.66 (2 pts on)
College Basketball 4-FOLD:
– Pittsburgh At Virginia Over (109.5)
– Butler (+6.5)
– Villanova (-7.5)
– Kansas (+7.5)
Pays odds of $2.50 (2 pts on)
GL if you follow.
Great stuff Ad with your double.
Well done Attila good to see you back bashing the bookie.
Tuesday Tennis:
I’ve already said I fancy Mathieu over Paire tomorrow and that’s available at evens. I’m doubtful Paire can follow up what was by all accounts an impressive run to the challenger title in Bergamo last week. Given Mathieu’s recent performances indoors this is a a definite step up in quality of opposition for Paire, and it would be fairly uncharacteristic if he actually turned up to this one really switched on and produced tennis of the quality and consistency needed to win.
I also suggested there might be some value in backing Dustin Brown to beat Ivo Karlovic @ 2/1. Ivo’s form has dipped somewhat after a really impressive start to the year, and Brown was good enough in Memphis, and is generally good enough behind serve, to at least take this to tiebreaks and turn this one into a 50/50.
I’m going to add another outsider to the list, and risk Sabine Lisicki to beat Ana Ivanovic @ 9/4. I really do mean RISK, as Liscki just isn’t a reliable performer, but these Dubai courts are fast and in the heat of the day the extra pace should help her out. She successfully negotiated her way past a potential banana skin of a first round match against a steady and crafty Niculescu, and if she serves well and keeps her errors down she has a chance of catching Ivanovic a little cold. Ana hasn’t played since she crashed out in the first round of the Australian open to world number hundred and something Lucie Hradecka, and in a match where I wouldn’t be surprised by any scoreline, I’m gunning for the underdog. Not one for the faint hearted – this is unlikely to be an easy and painless ride!
Talking of Lucie Hradecka, she plays Roberta Vinci in the first round in Rio De Janeiro tomorrow, and is tempting me with odds of 9/5. Her form this year has been excellent, with 9 wins to 2 defeats, including upsetting Kuznetsova as well as Ivanovic down under, and has done it all on what must be considered her least favoured surface. She’s generally a little more comfortable on clay, and while Vinci is obviously a veteran who’s enjoyed great success on the dirt over her career, she’s not quite at her very best these days, and has had a very mixed start to the year, with three okay wins cancelled out by three indifferent losses. Worth a go for small stakes.
Going a little safer, and I’m on Garbine Muguruza, who has been really good this year, most recently in her 2-0 fed cup win over Halep, to beat a Jelena Janokovic who hasn’t been close to her best for a long time. The fast surface will make life even harder for Jankovic, and it will take a really serious improvement for her to beat the young Spaniard here. I’m doubling Muguruza up with Pospisil to beat Haase. Haase played pretty well in his defeat to Seppi in Roterdam, but the fact is that was his 5th defeat in 5 matches this year. Pospisil was himself impressive in his defeat to Andy Murray, and it was only an excellent Murray performance (and a few errant backhands) that stopped him from scoring the upset. Indoor hard court gives a clear edge to Pospisil, and if he can replicate the sort of performance he put in against Murray he should be too strong for Haase.
Good luck everyone, whatever you go for.
Ad, I really approciate your input, so thank you for the time.
I’ll just change my 5-fold and mix it with your picks ;-)
– Wozniaki
– Giorgi
– Muguruza
– Pospsil
– Mathieu
Also on your doubles ofc!
You’re welcome Oriaz. Hopefully I haven’t lead you astray!
I’m confident in Mathieu but at 1/1 Id probably recommend him more as a single than as a multiple pick. It’s not impossible Paire carries his good form forward. Isner to beat Matosevic is a possible safer multiple pick @ 3/10. He is 3-0 against Matosevic and Matosevic was pretty poor last week in defeat to Brown. Isner om home soil should be too much for him. But by all means do put Mathieu in if you fancy it, tastier odds!
VP i was jesting i meant scotland might get 61 runs therefore if new zealand got 10 sixes theyd only need one
as a matter of fact my u 172 scotland won at 10/11
Ah nice very subtle. Scotland managed 2 6s of their own and Machan looks a decent player. Well played with that under 172 Scotland were shocking at the start and looked like they might have been completely embarrassed but that partnership saved them from that and they looked like they could have got a decent total until they both fell quickly.
An early post for Thursdays darts MVG to beat Anderson @ Evs, MVG won German Masters at the weekend beating Anderson in final with a 117 average, it was 1st to 6 legs so similar format as Premier League. He is playing like a man possessed right now and can only see one result here. I would advise to get your bets on early as his price has started to drop with some bookies