The quarter finals of the World Open take place across two more sessions of action on Friday and by the end of the day we will know the four men who will do battle for the title over the weekend.
We have reached the stage of the tournament whereby from here on in every match is played on a TV table so the event ramps up a notch or two from here on in both in profile and prize money.
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Morning Session
Mark Allen vs David Gilbert
The first quarter final in the morning session sees the conquerors of Neil Robertson and John Higgins doing battle when Mark Allen takes on David Gilbert. These two won’t need introducing to each other having met in India last week, a match that Gilbert won 4-1.
Both men go in here off the back of excellent performances and results in the previous round and I wouldn’t like to call a winner in truth. Both are capable of top levels on their day and if they are both at their best we should get a decent match. There is one bet on the match I like though.
Dave Gilbert is a very heavy scorer, incredibly underrated in that regard as it goes. He has made a century in each of his last two matches and closed out his win against Allen last week with a ton so he’s hitting the ball nicely at the minute. I don’t know whether he’ll win the match but Allen likes to play an open game so if Gilbert can get in early he could well nail a ton at a big price.
Mark Williams vs Kyren Wilson
The pick of the quarter finals may well be the one between Mark Williams, winner in Thailand recently, and Kyren Wilson who is capable of winning any tournament he enters.
Williams has been in excellent form this week and has dropped just one frame on his way to this quarter final but this represents his toughest test thus far. Wilson too has gone well this week and he’ll fancy his chances. This is a banana skin for Williams without a doubt but as I’m on him outright I will sit back and hope he comes through rather than bet on the match.
Afternoon Session
Ding Junhui vs Li Hang
One of the afternoon quarter finals will have all the home attention as Ding Junhui takes on Li Hang in an all-Chinese battle. The home crowds are guaranteed a semi-finalist from China and the odds suggest that it will be Ding but if we’ve learned anything over the last few weeks it is that we can’t write off Li Hang.
In fairness I fancy Ding will win this. For me he is now the man to beat in the tournament but he can slip up in these sorts of matches where he’s expected to win so I think this is very much a match to sit out from a betting point of view.
Anthony McGill vs Luca Brecel
The last of the quarter finals sees the Indian Open runner-up taking on the China Championship winner when Anthony McGill meets Luca Brecel. Brecel has a very good record in their previous meetings which will give him a confidence.
I watched Brecel’s match against Cao Yupeng on Thursday and while he won and while his opponent had his fair share of fortune I was not impressed with the Belgian. His safety was loose and he made some elementary mistakes which he just won’t get away with here.
McGill is playing some lovely snooker at the minute. It took John Higgins at his best to deny him in India and the likes of Stephen Maguire has been seen off by him this week. I like Brecel and I rate him but unless he tightens up his safety, and I don’t see that happening in 24hrs, I fancy McGill to come through here.
Tips
Back D.Gilbert – Over 0.5 centuries for a 2/10 stake at 3.50 with Bet365
Back him here:
Back A.McGill to beat L.Brecel for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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