The opening day in the Shanghai Masters will see three-quarters of the first round of the tournament getting underway out in China on a day where seven home players will be looking to make progress in the first real event of the season.
We have to wait until later in the week for the top eight players in the world to come to the party but we still have two former world champions and two world finalists taking to the baize on a competitive looking Monday.
Morning Session
We have two good looking matches to enjoy in the morning session out in Shanghai and on one of the tables we will see the International Championship winner Zhang Anda looking to pick up a win which will see him collide with Ronnie O’Sullivan in the next round. The amateur Zhou Jinhao stands in his way of that. There has already been one tournament this season which was the Championship League and that was won by Ali Carter who will be on the other table. He faces another Chinese amateur in the form of Qiu Lei.
Afternoon Session
Mark Williams continues to play excellent snooker and he is actually the highest ranked player in the first round of the draw. He will be on one of the tables in the afternoon session on Monday as he looks to set up a second round clash with Judd Trump. The amateur Wang Xinbo will be his opponent. The pick of the matches in the second session of the day though is the one between the two professional players Tom Ford and Si Jiahui with the winner progressing to take on the former world champion Luka Brecel in the next round.
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Evening Session
The last session of the day is all about the professionals with no amateurs involved. John Higgins will look to make progress on one of the tables when he takes on Lyu Haotian in a tasty looking tussle with the winner going through to the second round to face Shaun Murphy. The pick of the two matches in this session though might be the one between Barry Hawkins and Zhou Yuelong where the man who comes out on top will go into the last 16 where a date with the world champion Kyren Wilson awaits whoever it is.
Betting
Barry Hawkins hasn’t really offered a great deal in 2024 and he could be vulnerable in the final session when he takes on arguably the best of the players ranked outside the top 16 in Zhou Yuelong. Hawkins usually finishes seasons well but isn’t known for starting them great and he didn’t enter the Championship League either which might make him even more susceptible to the more competitively sharp Zhou in this encounter.
Zhou did play in the Championship League and while he didn’t progress too far, he has at least had a competitive hit out in the last three months. He is at home so he’ll know the conditions and will probably be motivated to deliver in front of a Chinese crowd. Zhou didn’t do a huge amount in the 2024 part of last season but I suspect some of that was down to the way he lost the Scottish Open final. He should be sharper than Hawkins here though and at the prices I think he’s a solid bet to get the better of the more experienced man.
Tips
Back Z.Yuelong to beat B.Hawkins for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with Unibet
