The second match of the opening day of The Masters sees two more of the best players in the game battling it out on the green baize for a place in the quarter final when Mark Allen takes on Luca Brecel over the best of 11 frames.
The winner of this one could end up facing Ronnie O’Sullivan in that quarter final on what would be a brilliant occasion so there is plenty to play for as far as these two are concerned.
Mark Allen
The Northern Irishman is in the middle of a fantastic season and as such he is the higher ranked player in this match. That will not have happened to him too often in the first round of this tournament so that will be a different dynamic for him. That said he is now a contender for every tournament he plays so he should be used to that.
Allen has done everything but win a tournament this season. He lost to Mark Selby in the International Championship final and was denied further progress in the semi-final of the World Open and the quarter final of the European Masters both in deciding frames. He would love his first title of the campaign to come here.
Luca Brecel
The Belgian potter has done what Allen hasn’t done this season. He has won a title and he won it in very impressive style when landing the title at the China Championship. For much of the Champion of Champions he looked the winner in waiting too and he was a semi-finalist in the World Open as well so this has been a good campaign so far for Brecel.
He makes his debut in the tournament this week but that is unlikely to faze him any. His run to the final of the German Masters previously and his record in the Shootout suggests he rises to the occasion in front of packed houses and that is likely to serve him well. If his long game is on it he could be a tough nut to crack.
Head to Head
These two have met on three previous occasions and it is Mark Allen who has won each time. This is the biggest match they have played with the other three games all coming in earlier stages of other competitions in terms of players remaining in them. They haven’t met since 2015 though and Brecel and his followers will argue he’s a much better player now.
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Betting
I think this could be the match of the first round that flies under the radar in that it is not the one everyone is talking about but it could easily be of fantastic quality and that is what I expect it to contain. I’m on Brecel outright so I will hope he can win but I’m heading to the side markets for a bet.
That comes in the 50 breaks where I think a 6.5 line will be covered. I’m not expecting much safety to be played in this match. Both players like to get the balls open and stick them in the holes and I see no reason why they would change their style here. The table always plays lovely at Alexandra Palace so I expect the big breaks to flow with at least seven being over 50.
Tips
Back Over 6.5 50+ breaks for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Paddy Power
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