We’re down to the quarter final stage of the Ladbrokes Players Championship which means that two tables have become one now and you get the feel that the profile of the tournament is raised from here on in as well. With six ranking tournament winners still in the event we should get some excellent snooker.
Thursday’s second round was dramatic at times and high quality in others. We saw Judd Trump exit the tournament he was previously the favourite for when he lost to Ali Carter while there was also decent wins for Ding Junhui, Ricky Walden, Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen among others.
The afternoon session sees Ding Junhui taking on Barry Hawkins before Ricky Walden meets Ali Carter. The first match is a big one for Ding and as we’ve backed him outright it is a big one for us too.
Ding needs all the points and pounds he can get in the next 10 days to try and automatically qualify for the Crucible and every round he goes here will make his task that much easier in China next week.
Barry Hawkins has no issues where that is concerned. He’s definitely in Sheffield but this is a big title with a big prize at the end of it so he doesn’t lack for motivation it has to be said. This should be a good game.
Hawkins had to come from 3-2 down to Rob Milkins in the previous round but he did so which will give him some confidence but he’ll need to raise his game here because Ding looks very strong it must be said.
Ding has only lost one frame so far this week and has scored fantastically well. He’s won the last three meetings between these two and I expect him to win again but as a favourite I’ll let him win and enhance my outright rather than have a bet.
Walden has played some lovely snooker this week and has seen off dangerous challenges in Tom Ford and Marco Fu. Ali Carter has beaten Graeme Dott and Judd Trump so both men are in excellent touch right now and I’m expecting a good close match here. I was hoping one of the two would be significantly odds against to justify a value punt but neither are so I’ll sit this one out.
The evening session kicks off with Mark Allen taking on the surprise package of the tournament so far in Mike Dunn. This is beginning to become unchartered territory for Dunn who will be in only his second ever major quarter final and who won’t have played in a one table set up very often.
Allen will be comfortable in this set up and if anything being the centre of attention tends to bring out his best form because there is no other table to distract him and affect his concentration.
Allen hasn’t been fantastic in this tournament yet but he hasn’t done anything wrong either. He looks to have found a cracking spot in the draw in this quarter final and I’m expecting him to win. Bet365’s Asian handicap line has us winning half of our bet if Allen wins this 4-2 and the bet wins fully on 4-0 or 4-1.
That has to be the likely scoreline in this one especially when we highlight how nervy Dunn looked in beating Day on Thursday. Among his nerves he managed a horrible miscue and fell over the line. Allen will ensure he doesn’t fall any further I fancy.
The final match of the round sees our other outright player Ben Woollaston going up against the form horse in Shaun Murphy. Murphy is due a defeat and Woollaston hasn’t got a lot to lose here. I’m not going to bet on the match but it is hard to take Murphy on. I’ll just hope Woollaston wins and sets up a semi-final with potentially lucrative reward.
WON – Back M.Allen (-1.75AH) to beat M.Dunn for a 4/10 stake at 1.78 with Bet365
Back him here:
