It is semi-final Saturday at the World Open with both matches taking place across the two sessions of action out in China as we speed towards the end of the biggest tournament of the season so far.
We’ve had a week of shocks and surprises and as a result we are left with a couple of semi-finals that nobody could have predicted but there are still two top class players on show in the pair of clashes. We are now up to the best of 11 frames.
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Morning Session
David Gilbert vs Barry Hawkins
The opening semi-final of the tournament sees the grossly underrated David Gilbert taking on a Barry Hawkins who isn’t usually seen at this end of a tournament this early in the season for a place in the final on Sunday.
These two haven’t met too many times in their careers but of the meetings they have had this is without a doubt the biggest of their clashes. Gilbert has played very well this week. He has scored strongly and come through nicely. Hawkins has also scored well. He hasn’t had the difficult draw that Gilbert has had but the opponents he has had in front of him he has dealt with very well.
I can’t really find a way into this match. I wouldn’t be completely surprised if Gilbert wins it but generally when Hawkins reaches this stage of the tournament he goes up a level so I do expect him to win. The prices reflect that though so this is a no bet one for me.
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Afternoon Session
Noppon Saengkham vs Mark Williams
The second semi-final sees the world champion looking to make it through to another ranking event final when Mark Williams takes on Noppon Saengkham who will be looking for a place in his first final at this level.
Saengkham came through a real slog of a match against Xiao Guodong in the quarter final after a marathon the day before against Mark Selby so how much mental reserve he will have left. Williams really stood out in his quarter final win over Jack Lisowski. He ran into an absolute storm for the first three frames but he didn’t panic and when he got the chance to respond he did so clinically and classily.
It is hard to see Saengkham proving a real tough test for Williams here. The Thai has only made one break over 70 since the first round and he isn’t going to win too many tactical or scrappy frames against the Welshman. He is unlikely to outscore him either so while he’s done well to get this far I’m expect Saengkham’s tournament end with a fairly comfortable defeat.
Tips
Back M.Williams (-2.5 frames) to beat N.Saengkham for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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