The opening semi-final of the International Championship takes place on Friday with Mark Allen facing Matthew Stevens over two sessions of play for a place in the final of the lucrative competition on Friday.
Both men have been regulars in major finals in their careers and I think it is fair to say that both tend to bring out their best form when the format is longer than usual so we should be in for something of an interesting first semi.
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Matthew Stevens
It is good to see Matthew Stevens back in the big time again. He has already done his ranking the world of good this week but one more win would really ease any competitive pressures for the remainder of the season although in fairness the £32,000 he is guaranteed should do that as it is. If he does go all the way he suddenly elevates himself to the top tournaments again so it is a big weekend for him.
I wonder what Stevens will have left for this semi-final. He has played just one short of the maximum number of frames that was possible this week which will have taken a lot of mental energy up and inevitably the tank will run out of that sort of thing eventually. If he has got enough left though he is clearly playing well and at his best he is still dangerous.
Mark Allen
It has been a while since we have seen Mark Allen at his very best. You probably have to go back to The Masters for the last time but we are seeing it again this week. He has only shelled five frames in his four matches to date in the tournament and while his draw was kind for the first three rounds it certainly wasn’t in the quarter final and he took Ali Carter to the cleaners in that.
Allen has been scoring fantastically well in this tournament and you would think if he continues that in this semi-final he is going to be incredibly tough to see off. Allen generally doesn’t bottle the occasion and if anything when he has his teeth stuck into a tournament this deep he tends to go all the way so he is a major threat in this match.
Head to Head
These two men have met on 13 occasions in the past with Allen holding a narrow 7-6 lead in that time. This will be the first semi-final the two have competed in against each other but they have played one final and Allen won 10-4 on that occasion when he landed the 2013 World Open title. Stevens won their last meeting last year 5-4.
There isn’t much more between them in the total frames won. Allen has won 54 of their 102 frames with Stevens on 48 so history between the two suggests that there is every chance this might be a close semi-final.
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Betting
I’m already on Mark Allen at 11/1 for this match having backed him outright before the tournament began and I find it hard to believe that he won’t come through this contest. I say that because he has been scoring so well and there can only be so much left in the Stevens tank after three marathon battles in the last three rounds.
I don’t actually foresee a tight semi-final. I fancy Allen could get in front early and run away with it. It is going to be very tough for Stevens to pull back an early deficit especially if he doesn’t have much left to give. The Welshman has battled hard this week but this could be a step too far.
Tips
Back Under 14.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
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