There may only be two matches in the Players Championship inside the Guild Hall on Friday but those in attendance and the many watching on TV should be treated to an epic day of snooker with four of the very best in the game on show.
We have the last of the quarter finals in the afternoon session which is a real heavyweight battle while the second match of the day sees the opening semi-final taking place in the evening session. A mouth-watering day of snooker awaits us.
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Afternoon Session
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins
The last of the quarter finals in the tournament promises to be the pick of them as two true greats of the game meet in a one-table format in front of a decent crowd at one of the game’s more iconic venues when Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins battle it out for the right to take on Mark Allen on Saturday evening.
Both these players came through tough encounters in the opening round. O’Sullivan had to see off a Barry Hawkins who actually didn’t deliver what he could have done on the night while Higgins beat an out of sorts Mark Selby but they both played well and look to be in good enough form to do the billing for this encounter justice.
I really think we are going to get a good match between these two. O’Sullivan won their meeting in the Champion of Champions earlier in the season but Higgins was in a right slump then. He was speaking more positively about his game after his win over Selby and the two meetings with O’Sullivan last season he won 5-0 and 5-1. He’s too big at 9/4 to win this one.
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Evening Session
Neil Robertson vs Judd Trump
The first semi-final takes up the evening session as stablemates Neil Robertson and Judd Trump do battle for a place in the final on Sunday. Both men are safe for the Tour Championship now so they can concentrate on winning the tournament.
Robertson has battled hard to come through his first two matches. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt against Joe Perry as playing a mate is never easy but he didn’t look fantastic against Mark Williams until a fluked snooker got him on his way. Trump overpowered Jimmy Robertson in the first round and then had to come from the clouds to see off Jack Lisowski in the quarter final. He wasn’t at his best in that match but again it is tough playing a good friend.
These two met in The Masters and Trump won 6-4 and I can foresee something similar here. After escaping from the clutches of Lisowski, I actually expect Trump to win the tournament from here on in and I think he has got the beating of a Robertson who looks a shade below his very best, which is what he needs to see off Trump in this form.
Tips
Back J.Higgins to beat R.O’Sullivan for a 3/10 stake at 3.25 with Betfair
Back him here:
Back J.Trump (-1.5 frames) to beat N.Robertson for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Coral
Back him here:
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