The very strangely scheduled World Grand Prix continues on Friday as the quarter finals finish and the first semi-final is played at the Guild Hall in Preston. There are two more sessions of play on Friday as the tournament races towards a finish.
Afternoon Session
The final two quarter finals take the centre stage to kick off another busy day. Shaun Murphy continues his title defence when he takes on the one remaining Welshman in Ryan Day in the opening match before two Home Nations event winners meet in the second match as Marco Fu faces Mark King.
Evening Session
The first semi-final takes place in this session. The best of sevens have been left behind and we’re up to the best of 11 here. Liang Wenbo takes on Barry Hawkins for a place in the final with Liang looking to build on the win over Hawkins in the Scottish Open in December.
Betting
There isn’t anything I fancy in the afternoon session. I’m already on Marco Fu outright but I understand he is having tip problems. Hopefully he can come past Mark King and get a load more practice in before a semi-final on Saturday while I expect Murphy to beat Day but I’m in no rush to back him.
I will bet on the semi-final though where I can’t help but feel Liang Wenbo is a little overpriced to beat Barry Hawkins at 7/4. He won their last meeting in Scotland in December and looked really good in beating Joe Perry in the quarter final.
You have to give it to Barry Hawkins. Anytime you come past Judd Trump and Neil Robertson in the same day you are doing something right but he got away with a few misses against Robertson which he might not get away with here. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a close semi-final but I wouldn’t mind it either as Liang is very good under pressure as we saw on Thursday. I think he has Hawkins’ number here.
Tips
Back L.Wenbo to beat B.Hawkins for a 4/10 stake at 2.75 with Coral
Back him here:
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