We already know that Graeme Dott will be in the final of the World Grand Prix, and on Saturday evening we will find out who he will play when Kyren Wilson takes on Neil Robertson in the second semi-final at the Cheltenham Racecourse.
The first semi-final was a surprisingly great watch but there is no doubt this second one threatens to be of a better quality and standard which bodes well for a good match between two of the classier acts on the snooker circuit.
Kyren Wilson
They call Kyren Wilson the ‘Warrior’ and he has shown all of those instincts this week in seeing off three seasoned and top quality challengers, needing a deciding frame each time. He has beaten Jack Lisowski, Judd Trump and John Higgins and he has overcome all three of them from behind so there is absolutely nothing wrong with his temperament, not that we ever thought there would be anyway given the nature of this class act.
This is a big couple of days for Wilson. He arrived here as the bubble man for the Players Championship later in the month and another win here would all but secure his place in the Southport showpiece. Were he to add a Sunday win on top of that he can book the hotel for the Tour Championship in Llandudno next month as well. It would also see him go into the remainder of the season and one of the men to beat.
Neil Robertson
Talking of men to beat, Neil Robertson is currently that having won a tournament and reached the final of another in the last couple of weeks. There is absolutely no questioning the form of the Australian, but if you wanted to be picky you could question what he has beaten in that run overall. A win over a Shaun Murphy who never turned up in the German Masters semi and a one-legged Mark Williams earlier in the week here is the best his form guide has to offer.
Maybe then it is worth looking at how Robertson has been winning those matches and he has been doing it with a series of big breaks and looking like he isn’t going to miss when he is in the balls. In saying that though, there were one or two signs that the amount of snooker he has played recently was catching up with him against Joe Perry in the quarter final and days off are few and far between for the ‘Thunder from down under’ now.
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Head to head
Amazingly, given that these two are currently in the upper echelons of the game, this will be just their second meeting away from the Championship League and other minor tournaments, and their first for more than five years. Their only previous meeting came in the 2014 UK Championship when Kyren Wilson wasn’t even established in the game, with Robertson winning that match in a decider. It is hard to know what to take from that other than the fact that this one might be closer than the odds would suggest.
Betting
I see it as closer than the bookmakers too. There has been a steely determination about Kyren Wilson this week and I don’t see that slipping now. I wouldn’t say he has got better as it has gone along but he has battled strongly, and there were actually signs against John Higgins that he is finding his scoring game. That should only improve here against a player who likes to get the balls open so Wilson has every chance.
Robertson is a worthy favourite despite that, but I wouldn’t say he is a certainty to win this match, and if he does come through he is likely to have to work hard to do so. In fact, whoever wins this one is likely to need to do that not just because it is a big match in its own right, but also the winner knows they will be favourite to win on Sunday. This has the feel of a right good tussle about it to me so over 9.5 frames will do for me.
Tips
WON – Back Over 9.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.38 with BetVictor
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