The second semi-final of the World Grand Prix takes place on Saturday evening inside the Guild Hall in Preston and we will find out who will take on Ronnie O’Sullivan in Sunday’s final when Mark Selby goes up against Ding Junhui in a repeat of the 2016 World Championship final.
The two men will meet over the best of 11 frames for a place in the final on Sunday and the many financial benefits that come with it. These two are class acts so we should be in for quite some semi-final.
Mark Selby
There has been a Jekyll and Hyde element to the form of the world champion this week. He was next to useless against Jimmy Robertson in the first round only to be inspired against Neil Robertson in the second round and then he went back to very ordinary against Michael White in the quarter final so which Selby will turn up is open to debate.
To be fair to the man from Leicester it is a sign of his battling qualities and will to win that he has made it through this far but if he is to win this semi-final and then go on to win the title he is going to have to up his game remarkably. We saw shots of him pounding the practice table on Friday evening which suggests he isn’t happy with his game.
Ding Junhui
You would have to say that arriving here this had been a very poor season for Ding Junhui but to be fair the work he has done over the previous two campaigns he has allowed himself enough room in the rankings to breathe and have an easy period of time. It is clear he has worked hard recently and his play this week has been very good indeed.
He has scored very well in comfortable wins over Mark King, Mark Joyce and Anthony McGill and when he has needed to he has played some good safety. You get the feeling that the confidence is returning to the Chinese number one and that is incredibly good to see with the big events that are on the horizon.
Head to Head
These two have met on 26 occasions including five major finals. Selby holds a 14-11 lead and there has been one draw. Selby has won six of their last seven including that world final two years ago. He also registered a 10-1 thumping of Ding in the 2016 International Championship final so the man from China will be eager to get his own back in this semi-final.
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Betting
I like two bets here and they both centre around Ding Junhui. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Ding is playing the better snooker of these two at the minute. Selby looks really ordinary at the minute and while a good showing from Ding could bring the world champion up a notch I just think the longer the match goes on the better Ding will score and I think this is his time to pick up a win over his rival and make the final.
I think the odds against on Ding to make the highest break is all wrong too. Selby made a brilliant century in the first frame of his win over Neil Robertson but he only has one 70 break in the entire event apart from that. Ding has made a ton and a 70 or more in every match he has played this week and looks more fluent in the balls and more likely to get in from distance. I certainly can’t ignore the price on Ding to make the highest break here.
Tips
WON – Back D.Junhui to beat M.Selby for a 4/10 stake at 2.38 with Boylesports
Back him here:
WON – Back D.Junhui Highest Break for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Bet365
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