We have reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open with both matches taking place over the best of 11 frames inside the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday, as the Home Nations series heads towards its final day of the campaign.
A couple of big names have made it through the carnage to take their place in the semi-finals with a couple of possible fairy tale stories also in the line up on Saturday, so we are set for the usual drama and excitement that semi-final day brings.
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Afternoon Session
Joe O’Connor vs Stuart Bingham
The opening semi-final sees the complete underdog Joe O’Connor looking for a fourth top 16 scalp this week when he goes up against Stuart Bingham for a place in Sunday’s final. This is the first time the pair will have met in competition.
I have to apologise to O’Connor. I gave him absolutely no chance against John Higgins in the quarter final but he proved me wrong although I’m giving him even less of a chance in this match. I’m not going to take anything away from O’Connor. Any win over Higgins is a good win but he won’t have believed his luck at some of the balls the Scot missed and some of the safety shots he messed up.
O’Connor gave Higgins plenty of chances to dump him out and if Bingham is afforded the same opportunities I don’t think he will pass them over. It could be that O’Connor comes out potting them from the lampshades but in his first major semi-final I think that’s unlikely. Bingham is playing too well and I expect him to cruise through.
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Evening Session
Hossein Vafaei vs Neil Robertson
The second semi-final on Saturday is an overseas clash as the Iranian star Hossein Vafaei takes on the Australian great Neil Robertson for the other spot in Sunday’s final. Robertson won their only previous meeting in China Open qualifying three years ago.
Vafaei is a better player since then and I’m full of admiration of the way he got over his win against Selby in the last 16 to thrash Scott Donaldson in the quarter final. To be fair, Donaldson played right into his hands but there is nothing to suggest that Robertson won’t give up a few chances along the way here.
Robertson has battled well this week. Two of his last three matches have gone to deciding frames so he has held his nerve when he has needed to but he hasn’t been at his brilliant best throughout many games despite his maximum earlier in the week. Vafaei isn’t scared of anyone and he’ll take the game to Robertson here. This has all the hallmarks of a long and tense evening to me. I’ll take over 9.5 frames.
Tips
WON – Back S.Bingham (2.75 frames – AH) to beat J.O’Connor for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
Back H.Vafaei vs N.Robertson – Over 9.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.63 with William Hill
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