After a dramatic opening day of the World Championship, which saw the defending champion Stuart Bingham perish at the earliest opportunity, the second day of competition sees the tournament favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan begin his quest for a sixth title.
In all there are four matches setting off on their journey at the Crucible Theatre on Sunday while two matches which didn’t finish on Saturday do so over the course of the day.
Saturday review
Saturday wasn’t a good day for the defending champ but it was a good day for our bets as both bets advised on the opening stanza safely landed. I say safely landed, we did need a deciding frame victory for Ali Carter but he was well ahead for much of the match. We also got the two centuries we needed in the Shaun Murphy vs Anthony McGill match too.
As well as Carter’s win on Saturday, Marco Fu also made it into the last 16 when he drubbed Peter Ebdon 10-2 in a really convincing performance which might just have laid a marker down. Murphy and McGill conclude on Sunday with Murphy picking up 5-4 in front while Stephen Maguire will look to overcome a 6-3 deficit to Alan McManus as he bids to avoid a fourth successive first round defeat.
I’m quite happy with my work in the Murphy vs McGill match so I’ll sit back and hope that the Scot comes through there without getting involved again. The other match is interesting though.
At one stage Maguire led McManus 3-1 but it was a disaster for the seeded player after the interval as the qualifier rattled off the remaining five frames to lead 6-3. I’ve a feeling Maguire isn’t completely finished there yet.
Indeed his last three first round defeats have all been 10-9 and you couldn’t rule out that scoreline here. There’s just a little too much pressure on him to come back here though so I’ll sit this one out.
Ricky Walden vs Robbie Williams
I guess you could say two form horses meet in this match. Ricky Walden has made the final of the last two tournaments while Williams battled through three qualifying matches including an epic deciding frame against Anthony Hamilton in the final one of those.
Walden has plenty of experience here though and that could ultimately be the difference. Another difference could be what Williams has left and you’ve got to think the answer to that isn’t guaranteed to be plenty.
This is the kind of match which could be tight in the early stages but the longer it goes the better Walden should get and he should pull clear as we go along. All in all there isn’t a bet which interests me.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs David Gilbert
All eyes will be on this match in the afternoon session. O’Sullivan will be expected to come through comfortably but Dave Gilbert can definitely play the game. He has made the final of the International Championship this season already and that highlights the quality of his game at its best.
O’Sullivan will need to be at his best from the off and I’m sure he will be but as long as Gilbert doesn’t freeze on the big stage against the big opponent I expect him to give a good account of himself.
I’m not in the business of picking scores by which Ronnie will win by, that is often all about how he is feeling but Gilbert is scoring well enough to lure me in on a bet on him to hit a century in the match.
He nailed four centuries in his three qualifying matches and he put in a 99 break in that tournament too so he’s scoring well at the minute and with O’Sullivan liking to have the balls open a chance for Gilbert to get stuck in could easily present itself and at the price he’s well worth chancing to take it.
Mark Williams vs Graeme Dott
The battle of the former champions gets underway on Sunday evening as Williams and Dott meet in what looks an even sort of a match. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one goes quite close but then I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t either because both are masters of picking off frames that they shouldn’t win.
Williams will have to put a hefty defeat to Matthew Stevens last year to the back of his mind but if he plays well he should be fancied to come through. Dott did well to qualify but you’d be stretching the truth to say he was ever convincing but all the cloudiness and doubts makes this a tough match to bet on.
Michael White vs Sam Baird
I would imagine this will be a good watch as two exciting young talents who like to get the balls open and pot them meet in the opening round.
Michael White needs a big run in a big major to cement his standing in the game and confirm his talent but Sam Baird can deliver the goods when it counts too. The difference between the two is obviously consistency and while you can’t say White’s results are consistent, his performance levels generally are.
I’m sure Baird will give this a good go but this is one of those matches where I expect the levels between the two opponents to show. I’m expecting White to build up a first session lead here and not surrender it in the run for home.
Tips
WON – Back D.Gilbert to hit a century for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with Bet365
Back M.White (-2.25 frames – AH) to beat S.Baird for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
Back them here:
