It is semi-final day at the English Open on Saturday as the final four men standing play out for a place in the final of the first Home Nations event of the season and the chance to lift the Steve Davis Trophy inside the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
The tournament has been light on shocks all week which means that we have a high quality semi-final line up as four regular tournament winners play it out for a shot at another ranking event win on Sunday.
Mark Selby vs Neil Robertson
The opening semi-final sees Mark Selby looking to take his title defence all the way to the final when he goes up against a man looking for his first English Open crown in Neil Robertson in what should be a cracking start to a tasty day.
Selby looked absolutely horrendous in the early stages of his quarter final win over Zhou Yuelong. He claimed it is because it was freezing inside the arena and we have to take him on his word but he’ll need to improve dramatically to see off a Robertson who smashed in three centuries including the highest break of the tournament so far in overcoming Robbie Williams in his quarter final. This is the toughest challenge for both men in the tournament to date and it will be interesting to see who has their best work with them.
Selby won the last meeting between these two at the World Championship but there is something about that event which isn’t sitting right with Robertson at the minute. That win ended a run of dominance from Robertson in this fixture and I expect that to return here. He is playing some lovely snooker this week, getting in from distance and scoring heavily – the two traits that tell you when the Australian is playing well. Taking Mark Selby on in big matches isn’t often a profitable strategy but I think it is the way forward in this match against Robbo.
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Judd Trump vs John Higgins
The second semi-final is a repeat of World Championship finals in the past as the world number one Judd Trump takes on the legendary figure of John Higgins who will be eager to make the most of another big semi-final having spoken about not knowing when the next one will come along during the week.
When these two began what is becoming something of a rivalry it was Higgins who had the upper hand but in more recent times Trump has been dominant and that is a trend I expect to continue in this contest. I get the feeling that Trump feels he is bullet proof in this tournament now. Three men had the chance to take him out in the early stages of the event but couldn’t manage the job and since then he has found top gear and looks to be playing something like his best again. Higgins has done well to come through, with his win over Ding Junhui being a standout one but his game doesn’t match up well to Trump anymore and unless the Trump that started the week turns up here I expect the world number one to show his class and make it through to the final with a bit in hand.
Tips
WON – Back N.Robertson to beat M.Selby for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with William Hill
Back him here:
WON – Back J.Trump (-1.5 frames) to beat J.Higgins for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back him here:
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