AS another pair of Betfair World Championship contenders begin their campaigns, expect Mark Allen to progress with much less trouble than Stephen Maguire.
Mark Allen v Mark King
Back Mark Allen to win 10-3 1u @ 12.0
Back Mark Allen to win 10-4 1.5u @ 9.0
Back Mark Allen to win 10-5 1.5u @ 8.0
It will come as no surprise to readers of my tournament previews to learn I expect Mark Allen to win his first-round match with the minimum of fuss. No disrespect to his opponent Mark King but he's only won six matches in 13 Crucible appearances and never looked like a contender. Allen most certainly does.
Almost all the recent evidence points towards an easy Allen victory. In the six top-grade events since the turn of the year he's won the World Open and lost twice to both Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui – arguably the most in-form players.
The other defeat to Barry Hawkins also came against an opponent at the peak of his powers. In the 13 matches he won at those events nobody took Allen to a final frame and only three managed to stay within two. His form in smaller events is equally impressive, reaching the Betfair Snooker Shootout final and winning 11 out of 14 Championship League matches.
That is of course demonstrated by match odds of just 1.22 so a better value plan is to try a correct-score combo. By backing 10-3, 10-4, 10-5, we're taking odds just above 3.0.
Stephen Maguire v Dechawat Poomjaeng
Back Dechawat Poomjaeng to win the +4.5 frame handicap 5u @ 2.0
Speaking of short-priced first round favourites, Maguire may not be quite the certainty odds of just 1.16 suggest. One must expect him to prevail over a little-known Crucible debutant but Maguire has a long history of losing matches he shouldn't or at least making life hard for himself.
I won't pretend to know much about Poomjaeng, except to say his recent qualifying results are highly promising, not least winning four matches against higher-ranked opposition to get here. Previously he won five matches to reach the last 32 of the China Open, including a second straight win against highly-rated fellow Crucible qualifier Ben Woollaston. If Poomjaeng copes with the occasion there is plenty of evidence he's capable of winning the six frames to land a bet on the handicap.
Milesey (Betfair)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
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SNOOKER
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I’ve lost Martin Gould, that was purely a £10 punt anyway at big value odds.
Gone and had a nibble at Peter Ebdon @ 10/1 to beat Dott, Dott 6-2 up from today, match resums at 10am, just another value punt.
My staking plan is :
£100 on Ronnie @ 7.2
£100 on Robertson @ 7.6
£40 on Allen @ 16.0
£10 on Gould @ 130.0 * OUT *
Back Peter Ebdon to beat Graeme Dott @ 2.7
Back Over 16.5 Total Frames @ 1.9
Back John Higgins to beat Mark Davis 10-9 @ 11.0
Back John Higgins to beat Mark Davis 10-8 @ 9.0
Back John Higgins to beat Mark Davis 10-7 @ 9.0
Milesey
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I was goin 2 go big on macguire on the -3.5 til I found out poomjaeng beat Antony Hamilton 10-4 & Jamie Cope 10-3 2 get 2 Sheffield, impressive results 4 sum1 ranked on 70
and today you get to lose your punt on dott ;) ;)
I had alittle Punt on Ebdon last night on bet365 @ 10/1, got to work this morning, had alook on the exchange and backed Ebdon to win @ 15.0 , now it’s 6-6, so have just LAYED Ebdon @ 2.8 ;) ;) nice bit of profit there to start to day ;) ;)
Milesey
Oh wait !! He’s still going to lose ;) ;) unlucky lad
anybody think poomjaeng is worth a risk 7/2 winning 2-1 against McGuire ?
anybody think poomjaeng is worth a risk 7/2 winning 2-1 against McGuire ?
Get on mark king in play at 2/1
And yes Stephen that would have been a good bet sorry only just seen the post. Maguire is playing appalling. Have a small bet on Woolaston in play at 3/1
No more bets on snooker 4 me!!!