The quarter finals of the China Open take place on Friday when the remaining eight players look to make it through to the two-session semi-finals and maintain the chance to win a significant first prize in Beijing over the weekend.
A lot of the big names navigated their way through Thursday’s action and with the business part of the tournament on the horizon you get the feeling that status quo will be maintained over the two sessions of play on Friday.
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Morning Session
Sam Craigie vs Neil Robertson
One of the two tables in operation in the morning session will see the man who has made the final of the last three tournaments he has entered in Neil Robertson, taking on a player in the last eight of a ranking event for the first time in Sam Craigie.
Craigie could be forgiven for thinking he is playing with the house money from here on in. I say that because he has doubled his earnings for the season in one hit and has done his world ranking no harm whatsoever. He knows he is good enough to win this but at the same time Robertson is looking very good at the minute and it is hard to see him being stopped here. One thing which might keep Craigie encouraged is that these two have gone the distance in their last two matches over this length of match but Robertson looks on a different level here. I can’t oppose him but there’s no value in him either.
Alan McManus vs Luca Brecel
Not for the first time in the last few years, when Alan McManus has needed a big week to keep his tour card he has found it and he takes on Luca Brecel on Friday for a place in another major semi-final and another huge boost to his ranking.
Brecel is established at the top level now but he still isn’t the most experienced at this stage of a tournament so I will be interested to see how he performs here. He isn’t a regular in the last eight of huge events and he certainly won’t have been a massive favourite for one before. McManus has nothing to lose here. He has got what he needed from the week and that freedom could see him overcome the Belgian in this one. That said though, the odds look about right to me.
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Afternoon Session
Jack Lisowski vs Stuart Bingham
The pick of the quarter finals in the China Open comes in the second session of them when two men heading automatically to the Crucible Theatre in a couple of weeks meet as Jack Lisowski takes on Stuart Bingham for a place in the last four.
Lisowski needed to win a few rounds to book his spot in Sheffield and he has done that and is now playing for a nice seeding and plenty of dosh. Bingham looks in good touch this week too having rattled in six centuries, one of which was that maximum against Peter Ebdon. There is plenty of evidence to suggest we’ll get a good game here.
I see no reason why there won’t be more centuries in this match. Both these men like to get the balls open and get on the offensive and that should make for an exciting, entertaining contest. Bingham is scoring like a dream this week while Lisowski knows how to dish a table. You can get even money on two or more tons in this one and that feels right to me.
Ben Woollaston vs Scott Donaldson
The last of the quarter finals is pretty big for the two men involved as not only can Ben Woollaston and Scott Donaldson earn another £18,000 for their pocket and their ranking, but if either win the tournament they will make it into the World Championship without having to qualify.
I think it is fair to say that both these men have surprised on this run to date but that won’t worry either of them. This is the first time Woollaston has made it to the quarter finals of a ranking event since the Paul Hunter Classic in August 2017 so he’s entitled to feel a few nerves. Donaldson is in his fourth quarter final of the season and should be acclimatised to what this stage of a tournament brings.
The Scot is clearly playing well too. He might have needed a deciding frame to see off Ricky Walden on Thursday but he smashed in three centuries along the way and if he can maintain that standard here then I expect him to have the better of the Leicester potter in this quarter final.
Tips
WON – Back J.Lisowski vs S.Bingham – Over 1.5 centuries for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betfair
Back it here:
WON – Back S.Donaldson to beat B.Woollaston for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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