We have reached the quarter final stage of the Welsh Open at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff which means that we have finished with the best of sevens and move up to the best of nine frame matches. Three of the quarter finals will be played on the main table over the two sessions with one on the streamed table.
There is no doubt which is the headline match of the four. Despite all the shocks this week we have Ronnie O’Sullivan against John Higgins in a juicy match but the other three quarter finals are much more of a surprise. That should make it an intriguing day on the green baize.
Ian Burns vs Noppon Saengkham
The opening quarter final takes place on the main table when the two giant killers meet as Ian Burns goes up against Noppon Saengkham. With an extra £10,000 for the winner of this match there is the chance for both to do wonders to their ranking in this match which will intensify the pressure.
Burns has taken care of Neil Robertson this week in that amazing match earlier in the tournament while Saengkham has accounted for Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson. I get the impression Saengkham will be more settled in this match but Burns is playing some good stuff. The occasion could lead to a tight match so I wouldn’t put anyone off over 7.5 frames but I will sit this one out.
Yan Bingtao vs Barry Hawkins
The Northern Ireland Open finalist Yan Bingtao will look to move to within one win of another final when he goes up against the man who lost in the final in Belfast last season in Barry Hawkins. This match will be second on the main table in the afternoon.
Bingtao might feel he has nothing to lose in this match because at 3-1 down to Jimmy White in the first round he was staring the exit door squarely in the face. He recovered though and hasn’t really looked back since but Hawkins has shown some good stuff himself and his win over Martin Gould in the last round was a standout victory.
I don’t expect much to be between these two when all is said and done but experience at this stage of tournaments could be key, as could the potential for Bingtao to leave himself wide open to attacks with his aggressive nature. Hawkins is experienced enough to keep him at long range and pick the Chinese youngster off should the chances come along. I’m with Hawkins here.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins
We have to wait until the evening for the eagerly anticipated clash between the two legends of the game when Ronnie O’Sullivan meets John Higgins on the main table in a quarter final in which most will expect the winner of it to go on and win the title for a fifth time.
O’Sullivan is yet to lose a frame in the tournament yet which highlights how well he is playing after last week while Higgins has come past the likes of Stephen Maguire to make it to this stage and banged in a couple of tons against Nigel Bond in the last round so both these men are cueing very nicely which should see us in for a cracker.
I don’t need to bet on this one although I’ve a suspicion Higgins might be value but there is no way I’m taking on O’Sullivan in his present form. If a centuries line goes up that I like I might back it but if not I’ll just watch what should be a great match.
Gary Wilson vs Yu Delu
There is only one match on the streamed table over the course of Friday and it is the evening session match involving Gary Wilson and Yu Delu for the inauspicious task of facing O’Sullivan or Higgins in the semi-final on Saturday.
Both men have come through their draws quite nicely with each taking a big scalp along the way. Wilson took care of Mark Allen on Thursday while Yu beat Liang Wenbo in the previous round so both have earned their spot in this quarter final it must be said.
I always like a scorer when we get to this stage of a tournament and by virtue of the fact that this is Wilson’s second quarter final this season whereas it is the first time Yu has been past the second round of an event, and with Wilson having previously made a major final, his experience and scoring power make me side with him here.
Tips
WON – Back B.Hawkins to beat Y.Bingtao for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfair
WON – Back G.Wilson to beat Y.Delu for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfair
Back them here:
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