The International Championship has reached the quarter final stage with all four matches being played out across the two sessions in Daqing on Thursday. The entire tournament will be played out on the TV tables from here on in so we can expect the intensity and the quality to go up a notch now.
Not all of the big names have made it through to the quarter finals but we have a number who have done so and a very interesting line up which is headlined by one in particular.
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Morning Session
Mark Selby vs Robbie Williams
The morning session quarter finals include the world number one and the defending champion Mark Selby as he faces an unfamiliar name at this stage of a tournament in Robbie Williams. This is just the second time Williams has made it this far in his career.
Selby is full of experience at this stage of a tournament and generally when he makes it this far in an event he invariably goes on to win it, or take a lot of beating at the very least. I think Williams will have his work cut out to win this match but you have to respect his wins over Joe Perry and Neil Robertson enough to not get involved in Selby covering a big handicap against him.
Ali Carter vs Martin Gould
The other quarter final in the morning looks a very good affair as the classy Ali Carter takes on the heavy scoring Martin Gould for a place in the semi-final. Both men have shown good form in making it to this stage.
Gould might think he is freerolling in this tournament after he was 4-0 down to Kyren Wilson in the second round but having escaped that he will be looking to go as deep as possible in order to push for a place in The Masters.
While Gould has played well this week, Carter has been phenomenal. He has smashed in five centuries in his three matches and has eased past the likes of Shaun Murphy and Stephen Maguire. I respect what Gould offers but the way Carter is scoring I think he’ll get enough chances to win this with a bit in hand.
Afternoon Session
Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
There is no doubt about which is the pick of the quarter finals and it is this one in the afternoon session between Judd Trump and Mark Allen. In many ways this is a match which could be well suited to later in the tournament but such is the standard in the game these days it is only a quarter final.
Both these men look to be playing well. You may not think that when you look purely at the scores and see that Allen has been pushed to a deciding frame in his last two matches but he has knocked in two centuries and eight more breaks over 50 so his form looks to be very good.
The same must be said of Judd Trump too. He has eased through the draw so far dropping just six frames to this date. He has knocked in seven centuries and 10 50+ breaks on top of that in the tournament so this looks like being a cracking quarter final with plenty of high scores.
Given all of that the 10/11 on over 1.5 centuries in this match looks too big. Both men can cover that total on their own but one apiece also covers it.
Yan Bingtao vs John Higgins
The other quarter final in the tournament sees the one remaining Chinese player Yan Bingtao taking on the former champion and genuine class act in John Higgins for a spot in the semi-finals.
Bingtao has been brilliant this week in seeing off Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ricky Walden and Jack Lisowski but this could be his toughest test so far against a John Higgins who has only dropped four frames en route to this quarter final and who notoriously gets better the closer to the business end of the tournament he gets.
I think Higgins will win this but I have enough respect for the Chinese youngster not to take the Scot to cover a handicap at a relatively skinny price.
Tips
Back A.Carter (-1.25 frames) to beat M.Gould for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
WON – Back J.Trump vs M.Allen – Over 1.5 centuries for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
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