Great tournament in prospect, after the brilliant Britsh Open last week. With a longer frame format, the seeds will be looking to catch up on some valuable table time, as many would have played little competitive snooker this season.
Wont make outright posts in this thread, but I have backed Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty each way at 6/1 and 16/1 respectively.
Tuesday 18th November
Will begin the tournament by backing a seasoned veteran, who is a former winner of this event. Nigel Bond is battling back to some sort of decent form, after a good number of years in the doldrums. His tournament winning days are probably well past him, but he is able to compete with the lower ranked players, and can pick up a few wins here and there. He has won just two of his five matches this season, but I feel this longer format will suit him more, then the five frame shoot outs.
Robert Milkins is not normally a player I would oppose against a veteran, but he has started the season badly, and is low on confidence. He has picked up just six frames in three matches against Stuart Pettman, Barry Pinches and Mark Davis this season. He will at least be given the opportunity to rediscover some from over seventeen frames, but the value lies in backing Bond.......James Bond.
1 Point Nigel Bond to beat Robert Milkins at 6/5 with BlueSquare
Moving on to one of my favourite players, a great break builder and a huge under acheiver. It is a mystery as to why Anthony Hamilton has failed to live up to his potential. He has compiled more century breaks in snooker than most players, but yet struggles with consistency. He has practiced hard all summer, and has reportedly been in top form on the practice table. He has had a tough start this term, facing a very much in form Michael Holt twice, beating him before losing to Holt in last weeks British Open.
Hamilton faces Stuart Bingham, who has had plenty of action this season already. However, he has come short when playing against quality opposition, and all his five wins this season, have come against less talented players than Hamilton. With Hamilton desperate for win, he wont be given too many better opportunities and should be backed with confidence against Bingham.
2 Points Anthony Hamilton to beat Stuart Bingham at 8/11 Generally
You wont get many heavier snooker bets from me than this one. Not only is Fergal O'Brien a confident selection, but he is huge value at 5/6 to beat Mark Selby. Quite where compliers get that quote from is beyond me.
I already stated in the British Open thread that I am impressed with O'Brien, and he is starting to show the signs of the form that made him a top sixteen player for a number of seasons. He has won six of his last seven matches, his only defeat against world number one Mark Williams. In that streak, he has beaten players of higher quality than his opponent tomorrow, and has the general posture of a confident player when at the table.
In contrast, Mark Selby has lost his three matches this term, mustering a paltry six frames against the likes of Stuart Bingham, Brian Morgan and Stephen Macguire. Over seventeen frames, quality will tell, and unless O'Brien has left his form and confidence in Brighton, there is only one winner in this matchup.
Quite simply, one of the best snooker bets you will get.
6 Points Fergal O'Brien to beat Mark Selby at 5/6 Generally
I will oppose a player who has impressed me this season, and will surely make the top sixteen at the end of the season. Gerrard Greene was on the verge of a semi final last week, before losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan in a decider, and it remains to be seen how he will take the defeat.
Very much a value bet on Swail more than anything else, as I feel a 17/10 quote is a little too generous. He is a top class player on his day, and thanks to wins over Steve Davis, Stuart Bingham, and Barry Hawkins this season, has regained some confidence after his nightmare season last term.
1 Point Joe Swail to beat Gerrard Greene at 17/10 with SuperOdds
I will take a gamble on Stuart Pettman to beat Ian McCulloch.
McCulloch is very low on confidence, and has yet to win a match this season. He has not played any world beaters, apart from Shaun Murphy, but has not come close to winning, and struggled again last week in the British Open, a event he came close to winning last year.
It is hard to see where his first win of the season will come, and he wont find Stuart Pettman in sympathetic mood. Pettman has been a little patchy this season, but has at least got some wins and table time under his belt. He was impressive in qualifying for this match, in beating Nick Dyson, with some good breaks along the way.
Not siding with the most consistent player in the world, but at odds against, represents a bit of value in what is very much a 50-50 matchup.
1 Point Stuart Pettman to beat Ian McCulloch at 5/4 Generally
I will finish with a treble on three players who have very strong claims to win their matches. Mark King, Stephen Macguire and Ali Carter all have distinct advantages over their opponents, and are confidently taken to beat their opposition.
1 Point Treble Mark King, Stephen Macguire, and Ali Carter at 2/5, 1/2 and 2/7 respectively at William Hill
Wont make outright posts in this thread, but I have backed Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty each way at 6/1 and 16/1 respectively.
Tuesday 18th November
Will begin the tournament by backing a seasoned veteran, who is a former winner of this event. Nigel Bond is battling back to some sort of decent form, after a good number of years in the doldrums. His tournament winning days are probably well past him, but he is able to compete with the lower ranked players, and can pick up a few wins here and there. He has won just two of his five matches this season, but I feel this longer format will suit him more, then the five frame shoot outs.
Robert Milkins is not normally a player I would oppose against a veteran, but he has started the season badly, and is low on confidence. He has picked up just six frames in three matches against Stuart Pettman, Barry Pinches and Mark Davis this season. He will at least be given the opportunity to rediscover some from over seventeen frames, but the value lies in backing Bond.......James Bond.
1 Point Nigel Bond to beat Robert Milkins at 6/5 with BlueSquare
Moving on to one of my favourite players, a great break builder and a huge under acheiver. It is a mystery as to why Anthony Hamilton has failed to live up to his potential. He has compiled more century breaks in snooker than most players, but yet struggles with consistency. He has practiced hard all summer, and has reportedly been in top form on the practice table. He has had a tough start this term, facing a very much in form Michael Holt twice, beating him before losing to Holt in last weeks British Open.
Hamilton faces Stuart Bingham, who has had plenty of action this season already. However, he has come short when playing against quality opposition, and all his five wins this season, have come against less talented players than Hamilton. With Hamilton desperate for win, he wont be given too many better opportunities and should be backed with confidence against Bingham.
2 Points Anthony Hamilton to beat Stuart Bingham at 8/11 Generally
You wont get many heavier snooker bets from me than this one. Not only is Fergal O'Brien a confident selection, but he is huge value at 5/6 to beat Mark Selby. Quite where compliers get that quote from is beyond me.
I already stated in the British Open thread that I am impressed with O'Brien, and he is starting to show the signs of the form that made him a top sixteen player for a number of seasons. He has won six of his last seven matches, his only defeat against world number one Mark Williams. In that streak, he has beaten players of higher quality than his opponent tomorrow, and has the general posture of a confident player when at the table.
In contrast, Mark Selby has lost his three matches this term, mustering a paltry six frames against the likes of Stuart Bingham, Brian Morgan and Stephen Macguire. Over seventeen frames, quality will tell, and unless O'Brien has left his form and confidence in Brighton, there is only one winner in this matchup.
Quite simply, one of the best snooker bets you will get.
6 Points Fergal O'Brien to beat Mark Selby at 5/6 Generally
I will oppose a player who has impressed me this season, and will surely make the top sixteen at the end of the season. Gerrard Greene was on the verge of a semi final last week, before losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan in a decider, and it remains to be seen how he will take the defeat.
Very much a value bet on Swail more than anything else, as I feel a 17/10 quote is a little too generous. He is a top class player on his day, and thanks to wins over Steve Davis, Stuart Bingham, and Barry Hawkins this season, has regained some confidence after his nightmare season last term.
1 Point Joe Swail to beat Gerrard Greene at 17/10 with SuperOdds
I will take a gamble on Stuart Pettman to beat Ian McCulloch.
McCulloch is very low on confidence, and has yet to win a match this season. He has not played any world beaters, apart from Shaun Murphy, but has not come close to winning, and struggled again last week in the British Open, a event he came close to winning last year.
It is hard to see where his first win of the season will come, and he wont find Stuart Pettman in sympathetic mood. Pettman has been a little patchy this season, but has at least got some wins and table time under his belt. He was impressive in qualifying for this match, in beating Nick Dyson, with some good breaks along the way.
Not siding with the most consistent player in the world, but at odds against, represents a bit of value in what is very much a 50-50 matchup.
1 Point Stuart Pettman to beat Ian McCulloch at 5/4 Generally
I will finish with a treble on three players who have very strong claims to win their matches. Mark King, Stephen Macguire and Ali Carter all have distinct advantages over their opponents, and are confidently taken to beat their opposition.
1 Point Treble Mark King, Stephen Macguire, and Ali Carter at 2/5, 1/2 and 2/7 respectively at William Hill
