The semi-finals of the World Championship get underway inside the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Thursday when the two tables are down to one and each game gets the maximum attention with us three days from knowing who will compete in the final on Sunday and Monday.
After an incredible day of drama and top seeds tumbling on Wednesday, we are left with three qualifiers and just one former champion in the four remaining players with each one having a great chance to change their lives.
Day 12 Recap
It was a day of surprises inside the Crucible Theatre on Wednesday as three former champions got dumped out. The first of those was Judd Trump who offered little resistance in a 13-9 loss to Jak Jones. John Higgins was the next one to bite the dust when he went down to Kyren Wilson 13-8 and then Ronnie O’Sullivan was dumped out by Stuart Bingham 13-10. In between all that Dave Gilbert saw off Stephen Maguire 13-8.
It was an up and down betting day for us with us getting nowhere near to Ronnie O’Sullivan landing the handicap while the balls got scrappy in the second session between Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy which put paid to the centuries in that match. We did get some solace in Wilson coming through and winning that match though and our outright bet Dave Gilbert is now two wins away from providing us with a huge price winner.
Dave Gilbert vs Kyren Wilson (Thursday 1pm, Friday 10am, Friday 7pm & Saturday 2.30pm)
The opening semi-final sees the one remaining seeded player on show as Kyren Wilson looks to justify his new tag as the tournament favourite when he goes up against a man in Dave Gilbert who is competing in the last four for the second time.
Wilson has won a semi-final in the past so he has the confidence of knowing what is possible whereas Gilbert has to forget the fact he went down in agonising fashion in the semi-final which he was involved in. Gilbert has played the better snooker this week and after overcoming Luca Brecel in a deciding frame he has been in control of both matches since then. Wilson has had a tougher route through in that he had to see off John Higgins but he hasn’t had any scares yet so whoever can bring their best form to the table over the three days is likely to be the one to come out on top. Wilson feels a worthy favourite but I’m not giving up on Gilbert yet and we begin this match effectively on Gilbert at 33/1 so that is a position I’m happy with at the minute.
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Jak Jones vs Stuart Bingham (Thursday 7pm, Friday 2.30pm, Saturday 10am & Saturday 7pm)
The second semi-final is always the one which burns slowly with just two sessions over the first two days and it features the one man remaining who has already got his hands on this trophy in Stuart Bingham. He meets the only player who is tasting the one-table setup for the first time this year in Jak Jones.
Both men dethroned one half of the two leading lights of the season each in the quarter final with Jones pulling clear of Judd Trump after the first session and Bingham growing stronger the longer his match with Ronnie O’Sullivan went on to get the better of him in the final session. I think it is fair to say both have improved the longer the tournament has gone on because both struggled to score in the early stages of the event. That wasn’t the case in their quarter finals. They both scored well in that and this should be a really intriguing semi-final as a result of that. Bingham goes in as the favourite and I think that is fair enough having gone the course and distance but he is getting no younger and has played every day since Saturday and it might catch up with him at some point. He was pretty emotional after his win over O’Sullivan on Wednesday evening, understandably so, whereas Jones has been pretty even all tournament so far. I’ve an inkling Jones could well win this match but he has to get off to a decent start so I think the 21/10 on Jones, who might have the edge given that Bingham has to get back down to earth after the high of Wednesday night, winning the first session could be some value rather than backing him to last home if he does get a good start.
Tips
Back J.Jones to win Frames 1-8 vs S.Bingham for a 3/10 stake at 3.10 with Boylesports
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