The World Open has reached the quarter final stage with the four matches taking place across two sessions out in China on Friday. Each match in the tournament from here on in is on a TV table which will add to the profile of the event and should make for some exciting action.
Slowly but surely the big names are departing in this tournament but we still have the world champion Mark Williams left in and he is the new favourite to win the competition from here on in.
18+ UK+IRE players signing up via promo page. Min deposit £5. Paypal & some deposit methods excl. Paid in cash at normal price. Enhanced odds paid in £5 free bets within 24 hrs, valid for 4 days, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply
Morning Session
Marco Fu vs Dave Gilbert
The main match in the morning session sees the former Masters finalist Marco Fu taking on David Gilbert for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday. Both men will be looking to take advantage of their draw opening up from here on in.
Fu gave one of the best performances we’ve seen on the TV table in ages in the last 16 when he destroyed Robert Milkins with a barrage of big breaks and as I’ve always said when he played like that he is so tough to beat. Gilbert came past Ricky Walden in the last round but he was nothing like as convincing as Fu and I wonder if he has the tools to cope with Fu here. SightRight is clearly working for Fu already and I think he’ll have too much for Gilbert.
Barry Hawkins vs Gary Wilson
Former World Championship finalist Barry Hawkins is the favourite to come through the quarter final on the other table when he takes on a Gary Wilson who has made a major final and who will be eyeing up the last four here.
Hawkins has generally come through the draw nicely although he was given a scare in the previous round by Matt Selt. Wilson competent opposition in Tom Ford, Judd Trump and Fergal O’Brien so h will be confident of doing the business. I think the odds are probably about right in this one so I’m not going to get involved in this game.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Afternoon Session
Xiao Guodong vs Noppon Saengkham
The only all-Asian quarter final is the first one in the afternoon as the sole remaining Chinese player left in the tournament in Xiao Guodong takes on a Noppon Saengkham who should be full of confidence after wins over Ryan Day and Mark Selby thus far.
Guodong has only dropped four frames on his way to this quarter final while Saengkham had to come through an epic with Mark Selby on Thursday and it remains to be seen what he has left after that. Guodong has won all of the previous meetings between these two and as I’m on him outright I’m hoping he can continue that run here. I won’t be betting on the match though.
Jack Lisowski vs Mark Williams
The pick of the quarter finals is saved until last as the Riga Masters runner up Jack Lisowski takes on the world champion Mark Williams in a real big game battle for a place in the semi-final on Saturday.
This is going to be a real tussle but I have thought all week that Williams’ lack of practice in the build up to the tournament might count against him when the going gets tough against an opponent who is in form and that is what I expect to happen here. Lisowski is playing some real stuff this season. He is scoring very well but he showed he can mix it in the safety department when dispatching Kyren Wilson on Thursday. At the odds against prices I’m happy to be on Lisowski in this one.
Tips
Back M.Fu (-1.5 frames) to beat D.Gilbert for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Unibet
Back him here:
Back J.Lisowski to beat M.Williams for a 4/10 stake at 2.30 with Boylesports
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
