The final match of the first round of The Masters takes place inside Alexandra Palace in London on Wednesday evening as the European Masters winner Kyren Wilson meets the former champion Stuart Bingham for a quarter final spot.
Shaun Murphy is waiting for the winner in the last eight and the draw is opening up throughout the draw so whoever comes out on top in this match is going to have the opportunity to go very deep in the event once again.
Kyren Wilson
Whenever you win the first event of a season there is a feeling that things can only go down from there and in a way that is what has happened to Kyren Wilson. Given the amount of tournaments to follow the first one he might feel this is a slightly disappointing campaign if he doesn’t add another piece of silverware to his collection. Since winning that title in Germany, Wilson has made just one other quarter final this season so he’ll be looking to hit top form again.
Wilson has an up and down record at Alexandra Palace. He made the final here in 2018 when he went down to Mark Allen but in the five other visits he has either lost in the first round or the quarter final. He has lost in the last eight in the last three years so will want a good run here to almost announce himself as a man for the big occasion once again. He is the highest ranked player left in the top quarter of the draw which might bring some extra pressure.
Stuart Bingham
Although he was never in danger of missing this tournament, Stuart Bingham has not had a good start to the season and will be hoping that the Christmas break has given him the time to put some work in and find some form. Bingham hasn’t actually gone past the second round of a knockout tournament this season but he did win some matches in the Championship League prior to Christmas which he will hope has restored some confidence.
One thing which will give Bingham confidence is he is returning to the scene of his 2020 success in this tournament. He has also made the semi-finals twice including in 2021, although that was in Milton Keynes because of Covid. Nevertheless, Bingham has never been someone who is shackled by the big stage, the atmosphere or the limelight. He is usually someone who relishes it and he’ll hope that is the case in this one too.
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Head-to-head
These two have faced each other on 10 previous occasions and it is Kyren Wilson who has a narrow 6-4 lead in those games. That translates into a 53-49 advantage on the frame count which suggests that they generally play tighter matches. They have met twice at The Masters. Bingham won a 2020 quarter final 6-4 while Wilson got his revenge in the first round here last year when he won a deciding frame. Bingham leads 2-1 in their matches over the best of 11 in 15 red play and he also won their last meeting in the World Championship last 16 last season.
Betting
The two matches these two have played at The Masters suggest we might get a close conclusion to the first round but I’m not convinced that will be the case. I think Kyren Wilson will dominate this match either through his own good play or just the poor form of Stuart Bingham. You would imagine the first four frames are going to be important here. If Bingham falls behind he could collapse in a heap but if he stays close or gets a lead he might just be able to hang onto it.
I think the former is more likely to happen than the latter. Bingham has done an interview this week where he admits to using contact lenses and glasses in practice in a bid to sort out the sighting issues he is having. That doesn’t scream to me of a player who believes he is going to come here to win. He’ll be trying of course because that is what he does but when the eyes start going there isn’t much you can do. There’s nothing wrong with the peepers of Wilson and I think he’ll come through with more than a bit in hand.
Tips
Back K.Wilson (-1.5 frames) to beat S.Bingham for a 3/10 stake at 1.95 with 888sport
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