We have a quarter final line up that absolutely nobody could have predicted in the Northern Ireland Open. There is no player in the top 12 of the world rankings left in the tournament so for the second successive year we are going to see an unlikely winner crowned.
The tournament has left the best of sevens behind now and we are up to the best of nine in Friday’s last eight clashes. They are played across two sessions with three of the matches on the main table and one on the streaming table.
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Afternoon Session
Li Yuan vs Elliot Slessor
The first two men who are surprise packages at this stage of the tournament meet in the opening match of the day when the Chinese youngster Li Yuan meets the conqueror of Ronnie O’Sullivan in Elliot Slessor for a place in the semi-final.
Yuan is in the quarter finals of a major tournament for the first time and while we know the Chinese temperament is as sound as it comes it will be interesting to see how he copes because prior to this week he had barely won a match all season.
Slessor impressed me on Thursday. Not only did he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan but he backed that up to beat Sam Craigie later in the day and backing up an emotional result is often tough to do so he deserves credit for that. He is the more experienced player of the two and has had experience of the match table this week. That all makes me think the Englishman will come through here.
Mike Dunn vs Mark Williams
The second quarter final sees the new tournament favourite Mark Williams taking on a man who has surprisingly been his nemesis in Mike Dunn. These two have met four times in ranking events in the past and Dunn has won all four which is crazy when you think of the differing successes of their careers.
Dunn might lead the head to head between the two but Williams more than trumps him on experience at this stage of a tournament. I think that experience will prove crucial too and I expect Williams to win but at 1/4 and skinnier odds I’ve no interest in backing him to do so.
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Evening Session
Yan Bingtao vs Robert Milkins
The quarter final on the TV table on Friday evening is the one featuring the talented young Chinese player Yan Bingtao who will be looking for a second semi-final in as many months when he takes on a Robert Milkins who might hold claims to being the best player never to have won a major title.
I think this could turn into the closest of the four matches. Bingtao is the real deal but Milkins is playing some nice snooker this week and I fancy he will produce some good stuff here too. There isn’t really anything that takes my fancy in this one although I think this will be a good watch.
Tian Pengfei vs Lu Haotian
Over on the streamed table in the evening session two Chinese players will meet when the more experienced Tian Pengfei goes up against the future star Lu Haotian for a place in the semi-final on Saturday.
I’ve been really impressed with Pengfei this week while Haotian has been on my radar as one to watch for a while so this will also be an interesting quarter final. I just think the better tactical brain of Pengfei and his experience of this stage in a tournament will give him the edge so I’m with the older Chinese player in this one.
Tips
Back E.Slessor to beat L.Yuan for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Betfred
Back him here:
Back T.Pengfei to beat L.Haotian for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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