The end of a hectic week for the players in the Scottish Open is in sight now with the quarter finals of the tournament taking place inside the Emirates Arena on Friday. After four rounds of best of sevens we move up to the best of nine with an interval for this round so the tournament has more of a proper feel to it.
Often we are used to seeing shocks in these type of events but we have five players who you would expect to see at this stage of this particular tournament with much to enjoy on Friday including that age old battle once again.
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Afternoon Session
Xiao Guodong vs Neil Robertson
The first quarter final of the afternoon sees Xiao Guodong taking on a Neil Robertson who is probably wishing this tournament was last week as his Masters hopes would still be intact if it was.
That said after the well documented struggles of recent times I’m sure he will just be delighted to be at this stage of an event again. More importantly he is playing well and must fancy his chances of going all the way here which will tremendously boost his chances of a Crucible seeding. Xiao Guodong has played some nice stuff too so this should be a good start to the day.
I was hoping to get a centuries line for this one but at the time of writing there isn’t one. I’m already on Robertson outright so I’m happy to have that as my interest here.
Stephen Maguire vs Judd Trump
After those two have done battle two experienced men at this stage of a tournament will fight it out when Stephen Maguire takes on Judd Trump in what looks like a really juicy battle for a place in the semi-final.
Both men have complained about their form at times this week but to the untrained eye they have both come through nicely and I’m expecting a really high quality quarter final from the pair of them here. These two will know each other well having met on 23 occasions.
Trump has won the last two 5-0 and 6-0 but he was on fire then and Maguire not playing as well as he is now so I expect this to be a lot closer than that. I would be surprised if this is not a close match given how both are scoring so the even money on over 7.5 frames looks solid to me.
Evening Session
John Higgins vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
The pick of the quarter finals is the one between John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan in another battle for the ages. This will be their fifth meeting of the season with O’Sullivan having won the previous four.
He has won the last two matches 6-2 and 6-0 but the two before then went to a deciding frame. This is also the second time they have met at this stage of this tournament having faced each other in the quarter final last year when Higgins won 5-2.
Higgins was visibly jaded for their two previous meetings but I don’t see that being the case here. He looks bang up for this as you would expect given that this is his home tournament. If anything it is O’Sullivan who looks slightly jaded but he continues to fight his way through.
I really think we will get a cracking contest here between two of the all-time greats and once again I think the even money on over 7.5 frames looks like a good bet to me.
Cao Yupeng vs Ricky Walden
The only match that isn’t on the main TV table on Friday is the quarter final between Cao Yupeng and Ricky Walden who do battle for a place in the semi-final on Saturday.
This week has been a revival in form for Walden which will please him after a really poor struggle throughout the majority of 2017 while Yupeng is continuing what has been a good season and is looking for a place in his second semi-final of the campaign.
Yupeng has been playing well not just this season but this week in particular. He has made a 147 and a further 10 breaks over 50 and that scoring power could be the difference in this quarter final which might turn into a bit of a battle.
Tips
Back S.Maguire vs J.Trump – Over 7.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
Back J.Higgins vs R.O’Sullivan – Over 7.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with William Hill
Back them here:
WON – Back C.Yupeng to beat R.Walden for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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