We are heading towards the end of the China Open out in Beijing but before a champion is decided there is still plenty of snooker to be played in the tournament. Friday is quarter final day and the last day of best of nine frame matches.
Not only are the eight remaining players playing for big money and the chance to win a title but two of them are playing for an automatic spot into the World Championship which adds extra intrigue to Friday’s two sessions.
Judd Trump vs Hossein Vafaei
The tournament favourite Judd Trump, fresh from a wonderful 147 on Thursday, takes on the surprise package and lowest ranked player left in the tournament in the form of Hossein Vafaei for a place in the semi-final.
This will be their third meeting of the season with Trump having won the first two very comfortably. The odds suggest he will win this easily and the way he is scoring I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that is the case but Vafaei is getting more accustomed to these surroundings so he could be worth a few frames. Nothing stands out enough to lure me in here.
Shaun Murphy vs Mark Williams
Probably the pick of the quarter finals is the one between the former world champions Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams and while any last eight clash is huge for both players this one is particularly big for the Welshman as he is three wins from an automatic spot at Sheffield.
Generally when these two meet they play out tight matches. They met in the quarter final in Gibraltar recently and that went the distance and both look to be playing well enough for this one to have plenty of meat in it too. Williams has it all to play for while Murphy is playing very well so over 7.5 frames looks appealing in this one.
Kyren Wilson vs Ding Junhui
Moving into the second session and the home hero Ding Junhui will be looking for another China Open semi-final appearance when he takes on a former winner in the other Chinese event Kyren Wilson. He won the Shanghai Masters last year so enjoys it in China.
I wouldn’t put anyone off backing Kyren Wilson but Ding has looked good in the balls this week and with that in mind I’m extremely tempted by the even money that the Chinese superstar makes a century. He made a ton in each of his first three matches this week and made 50 or more in every frame he won on Thursday. The even money is good value on one of the best scorers in the game.
Stephen Maguire vs Mark Selby
The other man in with a chance of qualifying for the World Championship automatically is Stephen Maguire but that task faces a tough test in the form of a clash with the man who will be defending the title in Sheffield in Mark Selby.
The situation of the rankings dictates that Maguire will be up for this one and he could be value to edge out Selby but Selby has played well this week even though he had to come through a decider in the previous round. I’m on Maguire outright so I can afford to sit this out and hope the Scot wins.
Tips
Back S.Murphy vs M.Williams – Over 7.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with William Hill
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Back D.Junhui Over 0.5 centuries for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Bet365
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