We have reached the semi-final stages of the Northern Ireland Trophy and we are guaranteed a new ranking event finalist heading into the last four. After what has been a week of shocks and surprises we have been left with a last four line up that nobody could have predicted.
We are now up to the best of 11 frames for these semi-finals which should benefit the better players in them but after the week it has been that would only be a token consolation for the pair.
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Elliot Slessor vs Mark Williams
One household name who has made it through the draw has been Mark Williams. He takes on the man who has done his fair share of giant killing in the form of Elliot Slessor who is in his first major semi-final.
Williams has the experience on his side and he is playing the better snooker of the two as well. Slessor deserves huge credit for taking care of Ronnie O’Sullivan earlier in the week and for winning two matches since but nobody has played all that well against him. Williams is likely to and that is why I expect the Welshman to win.
The handicap line is fluttering between the 2.5 and 3.5 mark. If I could get a decent price on the 2.5 then I would probably take it but it is far too skinny for my liking and in a semi-final 3.5 is a shade big so I’ll leave this opening match alone.
Yan Bingtao vs Lu Haotian
The second semi-final is a battle of the Chinese youngsters, one of whom will make their first major final by coming through here and winning. These two have been spoken about for a while so it is good to see them begin to fulfil their potential.
You can never really argue with someone who has come through five matches like Lu Haotian has but you would expect him to score and he hasn’t really done that. Nobody can argue with his fighting spirit though as he has come through a couple of deciders already.
Yan Bingtao has looked the real deal here though. His safety has been as sharp as his waistcoat and when his chances have come along he has scored strongly and I expect him to have too much for Haotian. If Bingtao is going to deliver the promise he provides he needs to come through here. I think he will and if he gets ahead I think he’ll pull away.
Tips
WON – Back Y.Bingtao (-2.5 frames) to beat L.Haotian for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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