We are down to the final of the World Grand Prix and we are in for an absolute classic inside the Guild Hall in Preston when Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on Ding Junhui over the best of 19 frames across two sessions of play on Sunday.
Both these men have looked really good in this tournament to date and generally when they collide we get some amazing snooker. Everything is in place for them to deliver another top class match to end a decent week on the green baize.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
It has been a bit of an up and down week for Ronnie O’Sullivan. He was ordinary by his standards in the opening two matches against Robert Milkins and Yan Bingtao but then the afterburners were launched against Xiao Guodong in the quarter final where he smashed in four centuries in a 5-0 win. He then reeled off the last four frames to see off Stephen Maguire in the semi-final.
I dare say that the day off he had on Saturday will have done O’Sullivan good and I expect him to come out firing on all cylinders in this final as he goes in search of a fourth ranking title of the season having already landed the English Open, Shanghai Masters and the UK Championship. He would be perfectly placed for the Crucible then.
Ding Junhui
Although he should always be considered a danger for any tournament that he enters Ding Junhui arrived in Preston under the radar a little. That is because one event aside he has had a poor season and you have to say there have been times within the campaign where he has looked completely disinterested which was not good.
I’m pleased to say that has not been the case though week though and the tournament has been much better for it. He has remained focused and interested during the tactical parts of the tournament and he has had plenty of those in the last two matches but when he has been in the balls he has looked as good as ever.
Head to Head
These two men have clashed on 17 occasions and as you would expect Ronnie O’Sullivan has had the better of those battles. He has 10 wins to the four from Ding and they have drawn three times. Ding won their last meeting though in the World Championship last year but when it comes to finals it is O’Sullivan who has the advantage. He has won three of their four previous finals.
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Betting
I’m looking forward to what should be a cracking semi-final. Hopefully the exertions of the semi-final on Saturday night haven’t taken too much out of Ding Junhui but we have to acknowledge the fact that it might have done.
In many ways this is a tough match to call although I would probably slightly favour Ronnie O’Sullivan but that is only on the doubt of what Ding has left. I think the better bet is to focus on the breaks where the 4/5 on O’Sullivan banging in a couple of centuries looks worth taking. O’Sullivan has landed a brace of centuries in each of their last two meetings with a 90 in each on top. I don’t expect this final to be a tactical one so the high scoring should continue. We know the Rocket is desperate to get to 1000 tons and he can go at least two closer to that number in this final.
Tips
WON – Back R.O’Sullivan – Over 1.5 centuries for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
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