It is the final day of the Riga Masters on Sunday but there are still three rounds of matches to play before we find out who will win the first ranking event of the new season. Although we have had shocks and surprises we still have eight good players ready to battle it out.
The order of the day sees the four quarter finals taking place in the morning over the best of seven frames before the semi-finals go on in the afternoon over the best of nine. The final is also a nine frame affair which takes place in the evening. Time restrictions will deny us the chance to preview the semi-final and final but we’ll have a good look at the quarter finals here.
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Chris Wakelin vs Stuart Carrington
The first of the quarter finals is the only one between two men who might not be expected to make it to this stage of a tournament when Chris Wakelin takes on Stuart Carrington for a place in the semi-finals.
I had a feeling we would see Wakelin make a break through this season but I didn’t expect to come so soon. He has come through the draw nicely thus far and is scoring well. Carrington has also made it through to this stage on merit and we should see a competitive game here with both players seeing a huge opportunity ahead of them.
I believe Wakelin is the better of the two players here and as a result I expect him to win. Carrington might not go without a fight but Wakelin has the better scoring power here and even over this short distance I think that can make a difference so I’m with him here.
Neil Robertson vs Ricky Walden
Two men who have scored well and come through the draw well meet in the other quarter final in the top half of the draw when Neil Robertson takes on Ricky Walden to face either Wakelin or Carrington in the semi-final.
You get the feeling this is a big day for both these men after disappointing campaigns last term. Robertson won the Scottish Open but in the major events he barely won a match while injuries denied Walden of his game for much of last season and he looks eager to make up for that here. This should be a good match and there might be the tiniest bit of value on Walden but the prices aren’t too far off so I’ll sit this one out.
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Stephen Maguire vs Kyren Wilson
The World Championship semi-finalist Kyren Wilson has made it to the quarter final of the first event of the new season. He will take on a resurgent Stephen Maguire for a spot in the semi-final in the lower half of the draw.
Maguire is generally pretty good in these formats and it is no surprise he has come through safely here. Wilson himself has come through the draw with a great deal of comfort and we know he isn’t going to back down from a battle. This is one of those matches that if it was the best of nine we could take over 7.5 frames but as it is it is too tight to call for a bet.
Graeme Dott vs Jack Lisowski
Graeme Dott is off in search of a third ranking event final of 2018 when he takes on Jack Lisowski in the last of the quarter finals. Both these men will fancy their chances of going the distance from here on in which should make for a decent match.
Dott has come through the draw well but I just wonder if the extra match he had to play initially will catch up with him at some point. To play four matches in two days is not easy and now he goes up against an opponent who is flowing and who has hardly been in action for long at all given that he is one of the quickest players on the circuit.
I think Lisowski will come through this match but he’s a little short to back as a single so it might be worth taking him on the Bet365 Asian Handicap market where he has to cover a frame. That way if he wins 4-3 we get our money back but 4-0, 4-1 or 4-2 gives us a full pay out.
Tips
Back C.Wakelin to beat S.Carrington for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with William Hill
Back him here:
WON – Back J.Lisowski (-1AH) to beat G.Dott for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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