The British Open has made its way to the quarter finals where the format increases as the eight remaining players all begin to have an eye on the big prize over the weekend. The four quarter finals take place over two session on Friday.
The shocks have been coming throughout the week at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes to the extent that we only have two members of the top 16 left in the random draw and they meet in an epic looking last eight clash.
Afternoon Session
Mark Selby vs Mark Allen
The match on the main table in the afternoon session is the tie of the round as Mark Selby takes on Mark Allen with both men going into this one off the back of fine performances in the last 16 on Thursday evening.
Selby disposed of Jack Lisowski with a maximum break among the highlights of a very good performance for him while Allen took care of Judd Trump in an equally impressive performance. If these two play up to their potential we should be in for a cracking quarter final because neither gives an inch to their opponent. I have to say I’ve been really impressed by Selby this week. We know his tactical game is always going to be top notch but he has scored wonderfully well in this tournament too. That makes him the likely winner to me but this is one I’d rather watch and savour than have a bet on either way.
Robbie Williams vs Lyu Haotian
The match on table two will present a great chance for an unlikely semi-finalist when the lowly ranked Robbie Williams goes up against the talented Chinese player Lyu Haotian for a place in the last four.
Haotian has played very well so far this week and has scored impeccably and you suspect if the occasion doesn’t get to him then he is going to be a tough nut to crack but Williams has also played well in this tournament and the break he made to win the deciding frame of his match against Steven Hallworth on Thursday evening is the sort of break which fills a player with confidence. If I had to pick a winner of this one I would side with Haotian but he’s short enough to pass over and leave this match alone as well.
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Evening Session
Noppon Saengkham vs Jamie Jones
The match on the main table in the evening session is the one between the Thai star Noppon Saengkham and one or two remaining Welsh players in the tournament in Jamie Jones in another game which offers a big opportunity for the two men involved.
Saengkham went through two of my outright bets on Thursday taking out Zhao Xintong and Jordan Brown and with Jones my other outright bet I’m hoping there isn’t a hat trick completed. To be fair to Saengkham he has played very well this week. He almost made a 147 at the start of it and then make full use of his chances in the two matches he played on Thursday. Jones has also played well this week and has made three breaks of 125 or more in the 12 frames he has won. Jones was a quarter finalist in the European Masters last month so he’s in decent form and I’m hoping he can come out on top in this match.
Ryan Day vs Yuan Sijun
The quarter final over on table two in the evening session presents another huge opportunity for the two players on show as Ryan Day goes up against another Chinese star in the making in the form of Yuan Sijun.
Day had good wins over Jimmy Robertson and Graeme Dott on Thursday, although had he not missed a black of its spot Robertson would have gone 2-2 with Day and that could have been a completely different match. Day didn’t exactly play brilliantly against Dott but he got the job done and were he to win the tournament from here he would be back in the top 16 again. Sijun has played pretty well himself though. He took care of John Higgins earlier in the week and repelled a couple of big centuries from Anthony Hamilton on Thursday night to book his place in this quarter final. Sijun was always seen as a big talent but lost his way a little. His win over Mark Selby at the European Masters shows that he might be getting closer to returning to his best. There hasn’t been much snooker this season but Sijun has beaten Mark Selby and John Higgins already. I think he’s a shade of value to add Ryan Day to his list of victims.
Tips
Back Y.Sijun to beat R.Day for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfred
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