The semi-finals of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters take place out in Riyadh on Friday with both matches being played across a couple of tasty looking sessions on what could be a defining day for the four men involved.
There is huge money on the line over the next couple of days and the four players left in the tournament will basically set themselves up for the next two years if they can be the one to come out on top and land the £500,000 first prize.
Afternoon Session
Judd Trump vs Shaun Murphy
The opening semi-final of the tournament will be a repeat of the Shanghai Masters final from earlier in the campaign as Judd Trump, likely to be the new world number one at the end of the week, takes on the man he beat for the Chinese title in Shaun Murphy.
Trump raced into a 7-1 lead in that final before getting over the line 11-5 so Murphy will know that he will have to have a big start here. I hope that he starts well because he is my outright bet so I am effectively already on him at 8/1 to win this match which is a decent position to be in even allowing for Trump rightly being the favourite. Trump has got better the longer this week has gone on but there is an expectation on his shoulders now that Ronnie O’Sullivan has gone out and while he can handle it, he doesn’t always flow with such pressure on him. Murphy has cruised through the draw this week but this will be the first time he has encountered a top 16 player in the tournament so it is a little harder to judge his form. The positive is that he hasn’t been tested at all but now he comes up in class a few levels. I’m hopeful that he’ll win and that outright punt can be my interest in this opening semi-final.
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Evening Session
Si Jiahui vs Mark Williams
The second semi-final is a huge one for the two men involved as Si Jiahui looks for a win which will take him into the top 16 in the world rankings for the first time when he faces a Mark Williams who could basically guarantee a two-year extension to his career if he can go all the way this weekend.
Williams is in no danger of dropping off the tour or anything like that but he would be able to play with even more freedom than he usually does if he can add £500,000 to his ranking which will keep him safely confined in the top 16 for two years and all the add on benefits that come with that. Si is just looking to get to the top 16 so this is a big match for both men. Si has been to a lucrative semi-final like this before and didn’t underperform by any means so that bodes well for him and in the main he has gone pretty well this week. He has seen off the likes of Tom Ford and Ronnie O’Sullivan and looked good in doing so. It has to be said that Williams has had a nice passage through the draw. If he gets there he will make the final having not faced a player in the top 16 in the rankings. That isn’t his fault and you can only beat what is in front of you but without playing his best stuff he has come through the draw nicely. I think we’re in for a tight semi-final here. If I was sure there wouldn’t be a Si comedown from beating O’Sullivan on Thursday I would probably have backed him in this semi-final but Williams rarely goes without a fight these days. These two met in the opening round of the World Championship in April and it went the full 19 frames. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one needing a decider too but I like over 9.5 frames as a bit of a safety net.
Tips
Back S.Jiahui vs M.Williams – Over 9.5 frames for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Sky Bet
