As ever the snooker world stops for nobody and on Wednesday the next tournament begins as many of the best players in the game head to Berlin for the German Masters. This is one of the most popular events on tour because it is played at the Tempodrom which is one of the best venues snooker is played in.
Recent Winners
2016 – Martin Gould
2015 – Mark Selby
2014 – Ding Junhui
2013 – Ali Carter
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2011 – Mark Williams
The Format
We’ve already had two rounds of this tournament. They were played out in the qualifying event in Barnsley earlier in the season and have taken care of some of the big names. 32 men head out to Germany to compete in the tournament which begins with best of nine matches until the semi-finals. They are the best of 11 frames and the title will be decided over the best of 17 frames on Sunday.
Top Quarter
Eight players are left in this quarter and they include the defending champion Martin Gould. Mark Allen is probably the biggest name left in it although I’m sure Ricky Walden would have something to say about that.
The Welsh duo Ryan Day and Jamie Jones will be looking to take advantage of this quarter while Jimmy White heads into the tournament in decent form too. The other two men in the section are Robin Hull and John Astley.
Second Quarter
This is a pretty good quarter you have to say. Ronnie O’Sullivan is the headline act but Stephen Maguire and the former champion Ali Carter will have something to say in this section too.
Northern Ireland champion Mark King, former world champion Peter Ebdon and Tom Ford are all still in or around the top 32 in the rankings and a good week here will boost that further. Akani Songsermsawad and Zhao Xintong make up the eight in this quarter.
Third Quarter
This should be a competitive little section as well. The Scottish Open champion Marco Fu is in here as is the former world champion Stuart Bingham and there aren’t many genuine big names to get in their way.
There are some dangerous floaters though. Michael Holt has shown good form for much of the season while Dave Gilbert is a former ranking event finalist. Dominic Dale is a tournament winner while Yan Bingtao, Stuart Carrington and Zhang Yong will be looking to make big impressions.
Bottom Quarter
This is another really tough looking quarter. The world champion and former winner of this tournament Mark Selby headlines it while Neil Robertson is ready to break out from a slump so far on the season. Barry Hawkins will be out to get over his Masters semi-final heartbreak while Mark Williams has won here in the past and will want to do so again.
The only player outside the top 32 in this quarter is Anthony Hamilton. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Ben Woollaston and Michael White were all seeded to get this far and that is exactly what they have done.
Betting
I’m going to take a couple of value punts in this tournament with one from each half. Mark Williams, Ali Carter and Martin Gould would have been good priced winners of this in the past while Marco Fu and Luca Brecel would have been decent priced finalists so you can land a punt in this event especially with the quick fire nature of it.
In the top half I want to stay away from Ronnie O’Sullivan’s quarter but that is fine because I think Ryan Day could be overpriced in the top section. Day likes it here. He lost in the deciding frame in the quarter final last year as he did in the same round the year before and in 2014 he was a semi-finalist before yep you guessed it he lost in a deciding frame in that too! He has a tough first round draw in Mark Allen but if he can see him off it opens right up and at 50/1 I can’t resist a punt.
I’m staying Welsh for my other bet too. I mentioned the form of Mark Williams and how it was improving going into The Masters and but for that horrendous kick in the final frame against Selby I’m certain he would have beaten him which bodes well for him this week. This is exactly the sort of tournament Williams thrives in. He’s excellent overseas and while his draw is tough he’s playing well enough to come through it.
Tips
Back R.Day to win German Masters (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with NetBet (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
Back M.Williams to win German Masters (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Boylesports (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
