We are down to the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open with both matches taking place on what is usually a big day of snooker on Saturday with places in the final on Sunday up for grabs inside the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
We move up in format again now so both the semi-finals will take place over the best of 11 frames. Each one has a very warm favourite so it will be interesting to see if they both make it through or whether the shocks continue.
Afternoon Session
Ali Carter vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
The opening semi-final of the day is a repeat of a couple of world finals in years gone by as Ali Carter takes on Ronnie O’Sullivan for a place in the final on Sunday. O’Sullivan won both their world finals but Carter did beat the Rocket at the Crucible in the match made famous for the shoulder barge.
You get the feeling that these two don’t like each other so both men will be eager to beat the other. Carter has largely cruised through to this stage of the tournament but he wasn’t brilliant against Maflin on Friday and he’ll need to be a lot better than that here. Ding had plenty of chances to beat Ronnie in the quarter final but to be fair whenever he left O’Sullivan a chance he snapped it up. I expect to see O’Sullivan win this fairly comfortably but Carter is sure to raise his game against a player he doesn’t like which might make it more competitive than the handicaps suggest. That line is about right to be honest so this is a no bet for me.
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Evening Session
Judd Trump vs David Grace
The second semi-final of the tournament takes place in the evening session as Judd Trump will look to continue his title defence when he goes up against the real surprise package of the event in David Grace who will be competing in a ranking semi-final for the second time in his career.
Trump has looked a lot better getting to this stage than he did in the English Open and he’ll be expected to win this match well. Grace merits a bit of respect though because he has dumped two top 16 players out on his way to this last four clash in Dave Gilbert and Yan Bingtao and although he rode his luck on Thursday with a couple of insane comebacks he fully deserved his win over Bingtao in the quarter final.
He goes up a serious notch here though it has to be said and while has nothing to lose I’m expecting him to do exactly that and with a fair bit in hand. At some point there is going to be a run in this match where Trump goes on a surge and that can see him pull away. If it is early he could have this won by the interval but even if it is later in the match I just don’t see Grace getting to three frames with the pressure that is going to be on every visit he has to the table.
Tips
WON – Back J.Trump (-3.5 frames) to beat D.Grace for a 3/10 stake at 1.75 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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