THE pick of today's quarter-finals involves the 2005 champion and the 2011 runner-up. The ever-popular Judd Trump starts as hot favourite but has the market got this badly wrong?
In what has been a far from vintage renewal of the Betfair World Championship, Shaun Murphy has played as well as anyone and “The Magician” rates outstanding value to upset the odds against Judd Trump in their quarter-final match.
Opposing Trump on the handicap has gone wrong in the last two matches, albeit narrowly, but the strategy has worked wonders all year and demands perseverance.
Judd hasn't yet reached a final in 2013 nor beaten a player of Murphy's calibre. In fact the only top-16 player he's beaten this year in a main event is Barry Hawkins and that needed a thrilling comeback and deciding frame.
An army of odds-on backers will doubtless point towards his typically flamboyant snooker against Dominic Dale and Marco Fu but the truth is both spurned plenty of chances. Equally, give a heavy scorer like Trump more than one chance per frame and he'll punish you.
Murphy is vastly superior to either Dale or Fu and if given regular chances will likely take them. He's been cueing well all season and been an almost permanent feature in the latter stages of big events, reaching the semis at the China Open and Betfair Masters plus the UK Championship final.
On each occasion he lost to one of the world's top-two players, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson, so he may be breathing a sigh of relief they're both out already.
The draw could easily open right up for Murphy who would be a heavy odds-on favourite against anyone else left in the tournament besides Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui.
Neither of the latter are playing flawless snooker so it's not unimaginable Shaun could even be favourite by the semi-final stage. For now of course we'll just be happy to get through and if he does the market will afford greater respect after beating a big name like Trump.
Recommended Bet
Back Shaun Murphy to beat Judd Trump @ 2.9
Milesey (Betfair)
In December 2020 we sadly 
Tell ya another thing about golf Paul, all these Tom Dick n Harry’s who have all the gear and 2/3 wedges in their bag…52, 56, 58 etc. When I wiz a lad we learnt golf playing in fields beside hooses with a couple of old clubs. Id reckon we are more comfortable playing shots punching them in/judging distance/not firing everything into orbit cos its 87 yards it must be a 52 wedge etc…more imagination it taught us I think. Not sure if thats the case nowadays
Guido, I used to hit balls from my front garden, over my dad’s motor, across the road and on to the green. Never once shanked or duffed it or hit the car. But I can’t imagine the reaction if my boy tried to do it. For me it’s all about feel and I’ve got one wedge that I can hit all the short distances.
Good job u didnt shank it Paul or u widda felt yer old fellas belt!! haha. Yes thats my thoughts…a pitching wedge n sand wedge do for me/bitta feel n touch more important. I even play with some boys and i shake my head cos you know the Americanisation of firing balls into the stratosphere with one of their array of oil can wedges and the like will be their shot when a simple flip wid do a much better job and has hardly any degree of difficulty in comparison. Not saying Im an expert but kinda know the percentage/sensible play
The 4 outsiders Murphy, Hawkins, White & Bingham 2 win is 72/1 & the way the tournament has gone it’s got 2 b worth £5, tho my money is on Murphy, Hawkins, Walden & Ronnie on the handicap
It’s the O’Sullivan show so far. Bingham getting a right doing over.