The second semi-final of the Champion of Champions takes place inside the Ricoh Arena on Saturday evening as Mark Allen faces the world champion Judd Trump for the right to meet Neil Robertson in the final on Sunday.
Friday’s first semi-final was an absolute cracker and we should get another barnstormer of a match here between two of the best scorers in the game, and as a result two of the better players to watch doing the rounds today.
Mark Allen
I was really impressed with Mark Allen on Tuesday. I expected him to come past Matt Selt in the first game, which he duly did despite losing his focus at one point. I think the match was just too easy for him in truth. His match against Mark Selby was a different story heading into it, but Allen blew him away as well. He actually outplayed Selby in the tactical department which takes some doing so that was a real feather in his cap.
To have that in his locker should be a good thing here because I don’t see this one being as cagey or as tense as that. I’m expecting a much more open match here and that should suit Allen a lot more. Allen mentioned after winning Group 3 that he is playing a lot better than his results have suggested this season, and I’ve no reason to suggest that is not the case. We might well see the best of the Pistol in this match.
Judd Trump
The world champion Judd Trump has largely been on easy street this week so far. Stephen Maguire was in no state to compete physically in the opening match for Trump on Wednesday and although it looked close at 6-3, Trump did the damage against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the first four frames when he led 4-0. He’ll be looking for a similar start here but he might just need to tighten up a little if he is going to get that.
Although Maguire was hampered by injury, he had a lot of chances come his way while Un-Nooh butchered four or five good opportunities before the interval against Trump and his confidence waned from there. I don’t see Allen coughing up such gifts in this match so Trump will need to be at his best here. What I like about Trump is he isn’t afraid to state that he is here to win and things. That would be a pressure and a burden to some but not him.
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Head-to-Head
These two men have met frequently in their careers to the extent that this will be meeting number 25. Allen actually has the upper hand in matches that have gone before. He leads 13-10 and there has been one draw so he clearly likes facing Trump. That is highlighted in the fact he leads 86-74 in frames won which is quite a gap when there is only three wins between the two. Perhaps more significantly here is the fact Allen has won their last two meetings and their last three best of 11 frame matches. Quite remarkably this is the first time they will have met in a semi-final but Allen has a 2-1 edge on Trump in the final. History is with the man from Northern Ireland.
Betting
That is where my money is going as well I have to say. There is something about facing Judd Trump that clearly brings out the best in Mark Allen and I’m thinking the same might happen here. Interestingly Allen suggested that the table is perfect for his game after winning the group and I would imagine he will take a lot of confidence from that heading into this blockbuster encounter.
It isn’t even like Trump fans can suggest he is a different beast since winning the world title. That is true that he is but their last meeting was this season and Allen won 6-1 in the Shanghai Masters. Trump made a century in the only frame he won in that match so it wasn’t like he was cueing round corners. I would expect this match to be fairly close as they are both playing well but the deeper it goes the better the chance Allen might have. I think he’s overpriced anyway and am happy to be on him here.
Tips
Back M.Allen to beat J.Trump for a 4/10 stake at 2.63 with Betway
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