There is one day of three sessions left in the semi-finals of the World Championship and by the end of play on Friday we will know the identity of the two men who will compete in front of a crowd for the title inside the Crucible Theatre over the weekend.
We have had five of the eight sessions of the two semi-finals combined and heading into Friday both are brilliantly poised to provide us with an outstanding day of snooker. Drama and tension look set to be delivered by the bucket load!
The Format
I’m sure everyone knows the format by now but for those who are unsure of it, it is long course snooker all the way over this 17 day marathon. The first round is the best-of-19 frames which goes up to the best-of-25 for the second round and the quarter finals. The semi-finals at the best-of-33 frames and then the four session final will see a champion crowned on the third Saturday and Sunday over the best-of-35 frames.
Thursday Recap
Anthony McGill took a 6-2 lead into the second day of action in the first of the semi-finals but his opponent Kyren Wilson wiped away that advantage in the first of their two sessions on Thursday, levelling at 8-8. He then took the third session to ensure that it is he who will go into the final session on Friday afternoon 13-11 ahead. In the other semi-final it was Ronnie O’Sullivan who had the early edge. He went into Thursday with a 5-3 lead but he came out of the day trailing Mark Selby 9-7 after the ‘Jester from Leicester’ ground him down in a very weird session of snooker. They play two sessions to settle their semi on Friday and it looks tantalisingly poised!
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In Play Betting
I’ve already got a bet running in the second semi-final and there is probably a little bit too far to go in that one to bet on it again with absolute assurance so I’ll let the Selby to win bet ride and see how we go with it. I’ve had one winner in the first semi-final already with Kyren Wilson and Anthony McGill both making centuries on Thursday and it is the final session of this match which is where my Friday bet is going to come from.
If you have watched McGill in this tournament it is abundantly clear that he struggles as a front-runner. That is no surprise and certainly isn’t a slight on him but it is the way he is. If you thought Kyren Wilson was going to have an easy run to the finish line on Friday afternoon, the Scot ensured you think again with that sublime century in the final frame on Thursday evening. I’ve a feeling both men will be happy with the score. McGill isn’t having to defend a lead and Wilson has the lead he wants. I think there is a lot of legs left in this one before it is over though so I like over 30.5 frames here. For this not to land Wilson will have to win the first six frames 4-2, which is possible but I don’t see McGill going down without a fight from here. McGill would have to win 6-0 and that isn’t happening. I still hope McGill comes through for the outright bet but however this ends, from this position I expect it to be 17-14 or closer.
Tips
WON – Back K.Wilson vs A.McGill – Over 30.5 frames for a 3/10 stake at 1.86 with 888sport
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