Neil Robertson v Robert Milkins
Back Neil Robertson on the -4.5 frame handicap 4u @ 2.06
After a run of poor results for seeded players, I expect the form book to stand up in these final two first-round matches. Neil Robertson is considered by many to be this year's rightful favourite and it would be a huge surprise to see him slip up against a relatively exposed qualifier.
The Melbourne Machine is particularly good at asserting his dominance over lesser players and has only been taken to a deciding frame by players outside the top-eight on three occasions this year.
This will be Robert Milkins' first Crucible appearance since 2005, well deserved after a solid year. He hasn't notably improved over the past eight years, however, and is therefore unlikely to improve on a poor record at this level.
Robert's only victory in five matches here came against one of the weakest seeds (Fergal O'Brien), whereas he suffered humiliating 10-1 and 13-2 thrashings at the hands of Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan. In expectation of something similar I'm backing Robertson at 2.06 to cover the 4.5 frame handicap.
Stuart Bingham v Sam Baird
Back Stuart Bingham to win 10-5 1u @ 8.0
Back Stuart Bingham to win 10-6 1u @ 8.0
Back Stuart Bingham to win 10-7 1u @ 8.0
Again, it's hard to see an upset here because the favourite is pretty reliable against inferior opposition. With John Higgins out, the draw is opening up for Stuart Bingham and this admirable pro will be determined to take advantage.
I expect Stuart will find eventually one too good, as has always previously been the case in snooker majors, but the most improved player around is strongly fancied to reach at least the quarter-finals.
Baird has done really well to get here, winning four matches, and also reached the last 16 of the Welsh Open. That matchplay experience should stand hold the 24 year-old in good stead for his Crucible debut and I doubt he'll be thrashed.
However, there is little in Baird's results timeline to suggest he'll seriously threaten Bingham. This trio of correct scores pays around 2.7 combined.
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.
Weirdly I agree with you for once. Will not be backing the Stuart Bingham score though. Don’t like betting on the scores. Always seems unreliable. I’ll hit the Bingham win handicap instead
just seen a picture in the Daily Record of a guy falling asleep whilst competing. this alledged ” sport” is an absolute joke. imagine sitting throo 7 mins of this let alone 7hrs 30 mins!!!!!!!!!!
Robert, the guy of course is Graeme Dott who claims Peter Ebdon’s slow play is killing the game.
Is that who it was mr f I didn’t think he was that bad. Did U watch it
Ellis, haven’t seen much of the snooker but Dott says all the slow play came from Ebdon and suggest having a max shot time at The Crucible as they do in some other tournaments.
I think the shot clock would ruin it though. Seems a bit gimicky at times. I think it would need to be a longer shot clock
The premier league snooker is great compared to tournament play, it is boring, who wants to watch a final over 133 frames ;) ;) , i can’t watch 5 day cricket, 5 days and it can be a draw, can’t stand all that blocking shots, 20/20 is the best thing they ever done :)
Milesey
Yay the McManus bet came in haha. Surely you can’t determine a world champion from rushed shots?
hahaha, you mean like ROCKET RONNIE ;) ;) even he gets bored with the game.
Milesey
Robert you’ve probably never watched it
Need one more from McManus milest haha. U watching trump?
the big campaigns about to get underway so far had £1,000 outright on robertson
can you think of a bet for selby’s match or binghams match tonight where the bet will be settled tonight milesy, im struggling?
SELBY -4.5 @ 4/7
Milesey
I did look at that haha took Selby 10-5 instead
Or one on the Bingham match tonight will be settled tobight
What abt Bingham, race 2 5 frames, odds arnt great 3/10 on bet365, I was gonna do it wi Robbo bt I chickened out
good bet Stephen seen it too late haha
robbo was a bit up and down in that session to be honest not too sure what to make of his performance
Baird will he lucky to win 1 haha!
I neva did it Ellis, there’s 3 bets I was gonna do, didnt do any & they all came in, it’s always the same
SELBY -4.5 @ 4/7
RESULT
SELBY 10 – 4 SELT
Milesey
Milesey what do u think abt Murphy v Dott?
Murphy -1.5 is short but safe, depends how confident you feel, Murphy win, and Murphy -1.5 are 2 nice singles, short priced as i say but the safe option.
Milesey
unlucky Stephen haha had £5 inplay on baird to win frame 6 has to win one haha
Murphy will win comfortably I think
and well done milesy haha!!! good tip
10 – 0 BINGHAM the way this is going, that BAIRD couldn’t pot a plant, he is shocking ! can’t believe that one he just missed with the rest, looked like he had his eyes shut :)
Milesey
Ya play snooker at all Milesey?
Used to play alot, have a highest break of 78….. not as much now though as i used to, at school we even had PE lessons at the local snooker hall :)
Milesey
Jeez..PE lessons in the local snooker hall?…what kinda school ya go to..a reform school?? ;-)
Cheers Milesey, il chew it over, no doubt I won’t do it & it will come in, honestly Ellis everytime I think of a bet & dnt do it, it comes in. Maybe u shld stick ur £5 on bingo 10-0
78 that’s really good I got a 30 the other nite & it felt like a century
Many years ago that was when our local club was actually looked after, it went to 24 hours a few years ago and it went right downhill, they don’t bother to re cloth the tables till they are ripped, and most nights into the early hours of the morning, you get the chinese, bangladeshi’s, and the turks from the local restaurants all in their playing poker, and playing snooker for a thousand pound a frame. They pay the 2 managers in their a cut, then the managers move the cameras round, or once i went in there and they had black bags over the cameras and there was wods of money on the table the chinese were playing at in the corner.
Everyone loves the corner tables for they are out of the way, but they are the worst tables, for everyone plays on them, most of the corner tables are bald and the balls just shoot off all over the place when the hit them.
Milesey
that baird is terrible what an absolute tit, waste of time watching it,, anyway saving my money for a few days going to the Leicester game Friday night, get in!!! second thoughts might hit murphy -1.5 and poomjaeng
I think White will beat Pingpong, only 8/15 tho
I fancy pingpong while hes on a high haha crowd love him aswell, I think im going with my heart here ;)
I think he’s a comedian lol bt he did well in beatin Maguire, he’s cert got a unique style.