The first of two days of quarter final action at the World Championship inside the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield comes along on Tuesday as all four matches get underway on what should be another great day of action.
We’ve had some surprises to get to this point but in front of us are four very competitive quarter finals with spots on the one-table set up the reward for the four men who are victorious over the two days.
Monday Recap
It was all laid out for a thrilling day on Monday and that was exactly what we got as two of the four matches that finished ended 13-11. John Higgins overcame Stuart Bingham by that score and Kyren Wilson came from 9-7 behind to outlast Barry Hawkins by the same scoreline. The other two matches had very one-sided sessions as Ali Carter and Judd Trump both won six frames on the spin to come from 9-7 down to beat Zhou Yuelong and Ding Junhui respectively by 13-9 margins.
We had a couple of winning bets in the form of the over in frames in the Wilson and Hawkins match and Higgins overcoming Bingham but sadly we were one century short in that match with Higgins having a 97 break to annoy us while Ding just couldn’t get enough of a look in to bring in the over there sadly.
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Dave Gilbert vs Kyren Wilson (Tuesday 10am, Tuesday 7pm & Wednesday 2.30pm)
The first quarter final in the tournament this year sees Kyren Wilson looking for a place in a second successive semi-final when he goes up against Dave Gilbert, who is after his first spell in the one-table set up. This is a repeat of this season’s German Masters final where Wilson won 9-7.
Gilbert should be flying at the minute. He beat Mark Williams fair and square in the second round slamming in a couple of tons and nine 50 breaks along the way but as good as that scoring was, Wilson had him covered in his win over Hawkins on Monday. The Kettering ace lashed in five tons and five more 50s in the best performance of the tournament to date, especially when you think he didn’t see a ball for the first seven frames.
I’m looking forward to this quarter final immensely. Will this be Gilbert’s big breakthrough or will Wilson take a step closer to what is the inevitability of him being world champion one day? I’m not sure who I think will win this but much like their German Masters final I expect it to be tight. Both men are cueing fantastically so this isn’t going to be one-sided. I like over 21.5 frames here.
Gary Wilson vs Ali Carter (Tuesday 10am, Tuesday 7pm & Wednesday 10am)
The second of the quarter finals on Tuesday and Wednesday sees two qualifiers doing battle when Gary Wilson takes on Ali Carter for a place in the semi-final on Thursday. Carter has been there before while Wilson is looking to get there for the first time.
Wilson has seen off two stern challenges in Luca Brecel and Mark Selby, while Carter has overcome Jack Lisowski and Zhou Yuelong to make it to this stage. I guess with what is up for grabs this one should be tight too but I actually like Wilson at the prices and am happy to get stuck in to him accordingly.
Wilson banged in a couple of tons and nine 50s in his win over Selby and that is good playing by any language. Carter has a game plan here but I don’t like that. I like players who can adapt to the situation. Carter didn’t score powerfully against Zhou and had the Chinese star not wilted in the final session the Englishman would be going home. Wilson can send him packing.
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John Higgins vs Neil Robertson (Tuesday 2.30pm, Wednesday 10am & Wednesday 7pm)
We have to wait until Tuesday afternoon for the pick of the quarter finals as the two remaining men left in the tournament with the title to their name meet as John Higgins takes on Neil Robertson in what could be an absolute barnstormer.
Higgins came through something of a cliffhanger against Stuart Bingham in the second round while Robertson is yet to be tested with neither Michael Georgiou or Shaun Murphy making the grade against him. Admittedly Robertson played immaculate snooker in both matches but Higgins won’t be gifting him the chances those two did and he’ll be a lot more clinical with his own chances too I expect.
This has got genuine Wednesday night excitement written all over it if you ask me and at no point in the contest do I expect any quarter to be given. These two men aren’t here for a good run. They are here for the title and I don’t see either giving in without the crown. I think over 22.5 frames will land in this quarter final.
Judd Trump vs Stephen Maguire (Tuesday 2.30pm, Wednesday 2.30pm & Wednesday 7pm)
The last of the quarter finals looks like being another belter of a contest as the favourite to win the tournament from here, Judd Trump, takes on a Stephen Maguire who is determined to make it back to the single table set up.
Both these men had real battles in the first two rounds. In fact between them they have played all but one of the allotted frames available to them. Maguire has come through deciding frames against Tian Pengfei and James Cahill while Trump needed a last frame against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh before having one to spare against Ding Junhui.
I’m already on Trump to win this match from backing him for the quarter before the tournament began so I’m not going to get involved in this game from the outset. I might dip in for a bet after the first session but the cash I’ve got on Trump will do for me for now.
Tips
Back D.Gilbert vs K.Wilson – Over 21.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 1.75 with Boylesports
WON – Back J.Higgins vs N.Robertson – Over 22.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.15 with Boylesports
Back them here:
WON – Back G.Wilson to beat A.Carter for a 4/10 stake at 2.63 with Betway
Back him here:
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