We are down to the semi-finals of The Masters with both of the matches taking place inside the Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday. The afternoon match pits Jack Lisowski up against the former champion Mark Williams.
These two have already seen off a member of the Class of 92 each this week and now they’ll look to beat each other and book their place in one of the landmark occasions for the sport in the final on Sunday.
Jack Lisowski
We have seem all season that Jack Lisowski is improving before our very eyes pretty much in every tournament he plays in. What I like about ‘Jackpot’ is he is now doing it at the very biggest events. He was involved in an epic quarter final at the World Championship last season, reached the last four of the UK Championship earlier in this campaign and he has already made the semi-final here. Lisowski is very much coming of age right now.
His play this week has been very good too. He balanced scoring power with excellent safety play to beat John Higgins and then he did the same to see off Hossein Vafaei in the quarter final. What was particularly appealing about that match was the fact he fell behind shortly after the interval but rediscovered his best snooker under pressure and came through with a bit in hand. Those are experiences which will serve him well here.
Mark Williams
We could be forgiven for getting a bit of déjà vu here. Mark Williams ended 2021 in good touch and subsequently started 2022 by reaching the last four at The Masters and having finished 2022 with a 147 break in defeat in an epic quarter final at the English Open, the Welshman has started 2023 by making the semi-finals of The Masters. He probably has unfinished business with those tournament too having had Neil Robertson beat at this stage last year only to let his man wriggle off the hook.
There is no doubt that Williams is playing some wonderful snooker right now. He opened his emphatic win over Dave Gilbert in the first round with two centuries and then had two more in a brilliant quarter final win over Ronnie O’Sullivan including one in the deciding frame which will have boosted his confidence a huge amount. We know the occasion won’t be too big for Williams and we know he is good enough to win this so all eyes will be on him to see if he can deliver the goods this time.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account and bet £10 to get up to £20 in free bets! Perfect offer for this tournament! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Head-to-head
These two have met on six previous occasions and they are locked at 3-3 after those matches. It is Williams who has a slight edge on the frame count, leading 20-19 in that department. Given that Lisowski had never won a match at The Masters before this week this is the first time they will have met at this tournament. This will also be the first time they have battled it out over the best of 11 frames. It is the second semi-final they have played against each other but the first was a PTC one 11 years ago. Lisowski did win that match.
Betting
I’m effectively on Mark Williams at 10/1 for this match having backed him outright before a ball was struck this week. I’m acutely aware I was in this situation last year when he had Neil Robertson beat only to let him off the hook but I am happy to let that outright bet ride because Williams has been in insanely good touch this week. Lisowski has as well but we are getting to the stage where the younger man just finds the going a little tough.
In terms of a bet for this match I think the 5/6 on Williams making a break of more than 106.5 looks good to me. He ended 2022 with a couple of centuries including a 147 and then he has made two in each of his matches in this tournament and covered the line on both occasions. We saw while Stuart Bingham was being interviewed on Friday evening that the table fitters were putting a new cloth on the table so the pockets are going to play on the easier side in this match. Williams is hitting the ball beautifully and I would be surprised if he doesn’t have a decent ton in him.
Tips
Back M.Williams’ Highest Break – Over 106.5 for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Betway
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2023
