We’re down to the semi-final stage of the Shanghai Masters with all four players looking to secure the biggest title so far over the course of the weekend.
Amazingly both last year’s finalists are still in the tournament as Stuart Bingham and Mark Allen have safely made it to the last four. Judd Trump and the surprise package of the week Kyren Wilson are the men aiming to stop them making the final again.
As has been customary for this tournament another big name fell on Friday when Ding Junhui was dumped out by the fast improving Wilson. That will have been a blow to the home crowds but they look sure to get a couple of good semis over the two sessions on Saturday.
The first semi-final is a repeat of the World Championship semi from last season as Bingham plays Trump. That was over the best of 33 frames and this one will only be over the best of 11. My instinct tells me Trump will win that game but I can’t really find a bet I like in it.
The second semi sees Allen going up against Wilson. This is the furthest Wilson has ever been in a ranking event and he’ll be on a high after taking out Ding in a 5hr marathon on Friday.
A match like that has to take its toll though and Allen, who has pretty much cruised into the semi-final, can be the one to take advantage of that. The Northern Irishman doesn’t always catch the eye with high scoring and dazzling breaks but he has a good all round game and that can serve him well here.
That said Allen has put together some decent runs when he has needed to but his safety game and tactical awareness has largely got him this far. Against a Wilson possibly nervous in the biggest game of his career and maybe jaded after a long match the night before I think Allen will have a bit too much nous at the right times and I fancy him to come through here no worse than 6-4.
Back M.Allen (-1.5 frames) to beat K.Wilson for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Betfred
Blog snooker YTD: +47.49pts
