It is semi-final Saturday in the Shanghai Masters as we edge closer to crowning the 10th champion of the tournament on Sunday evening. The four men who are left in the event will be the centre of attention as the semis are played over two sessions of play with just the one table now in operation and what a cracking couple of matches they should be. Both matches are over the best of 11 frames which should assist the quality.
Stuart Bingham vs Mark Selby
The opening semi-final sees the last two world champions in action as Stuart Bingham takes on Mark Selby for a place in Sunday’s final. Both men have shown some decent stuff at times and come through their parts of the draw relatively comfortably but you get the feeling both will be tested in this match.
You would have to say that Bingham has played the better of the two this week and has had the harder draw too. He is the first seed that Selby will have faced in the tournament while Bingham took care of one in Ali Carter in the previous round.
Matches between these two are usually pretty tight and that might well tempt people in on the over 9.5 frames. I wouldn’t necessarily put people off but given that Selby hasn’t fired on all cylinders this week there is a chance Bingham could run away with this a little. I hope that is the case having backed him outright as he can seal the place part of that bet with a win here. That’s enough for me to sit this one out.
Ding Junhui vs Stephen Maguire
The second semi-final should be a cracker. Stephen Maguire has played the best snooker this week but Ding Junhui is the local hero who will be eager to win and who will have the crowd on his side so this one is nicely set up.
These two both went well at the Six Red World Championship last weekend and are going well here. Ding won that tournament and Maguire made the semi-final and both have carried that form in here too. Maguire has made a 147 this week while Ding has looked very assured too.
The last two meetings between these two have gone to a deciding frame and I wouldn’t rule out this one doing likewise. Both are in good touch and their games generally match up well so I don’t see this one being won easily or without a fight. It has the feel of a match which will have a 6-4 or 6-5 scoreline about it come the end and that attracts me to over 9.5 frames.
Tips
Back D.Junhui vs S.Maguire – Over 9.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 2.15 with Coral
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