It is semi-final Saturday at the English Open as the first Home Nations event is down to the one table stage for the first time this week inside the K2 at Crawley, with spots in the final of the competition the prize at stake.
We have one heavyweight semi-final as well as a match between two men who have a huge opportunity in front of them so we should be in for a couple of cracking best of 11 frame contests you would think.
Afternoon Session
Mark Selby vs Mark Allen
The big clash of the day takes place in the first semi-final where Mark Selby goes up against Mark Allen with the winner being the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament on Sunday and take the opportunities that come from it.
Bookmakers can’t split the two and depending on where you bet you can get even money on both men to come through here but my money is firmly on Mark Allen here. There is every chance this could turn into a tight match. Prior to Selby winning their last meeting 10-7 in the International Championship a couple of years ago, their previous four meetings had gone to a deciding frame, three of which over this format.
That said though, Selby looked shocking against Mei Xiwen in the quarter final and he would have been on his way home if the Chinese player didn’t freeze with the finish line in sight. Selby was cueing so badly he was literally missing balls by feet rather than inches and even hitting the wrong side of balls. He’ll dig in and fight but that is a quality that Allen possesses too. Allen looks in much better nick. He’s my pick.
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Evening Session
Tom Ford vs Dave Gilbert
The second semi-final could be a nervy affair as Tom Ford and Dave Gilbert meet for a place in a major final, an opportunity which doesn’t always come around for both of them, although it is more regular for the latter these days.
It has been quite some week for Ford. He has nailed a maximum, seen off Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy and won his quarter final without dropping a frame and with a flurry of big breaks. To be fair to Gilbert, although he has gone to a decider in his last two matches he has oozed class in the balls as he so often does and this match could be about who believes in themselves more and who wants it more.
I’m expecting the balls to be quite open in this match and so I’m going to ride the scoring power of Tom Ford and taking him to notch a century in the semi-final. He has made a ton in four of his five matches this week and is looking fantastic in the balls. 13/8 is a slightly big price on him to ton up again when you consider how open the balls are likely to be.
Tips
Back M.Allen to beat M.Selby for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betway
Back him here:
WON – Back T.Ford – Over 0.5 centuries for a 3/10 stake at 2.63 with Bet365
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