It is quarter final day at the World Open on Thursday with all four matches played out across two sessions of play in Yushan as we determine which four men will progress to the one-table setup and the business end of the competition.
With only one member of the top 10 in the world left in the tournament there is a huge chance for someone to make a real name for themselves over the weekend and giving their season and their career a huge boost.
Afternoon Session
John Higgins vs Pang Junxu
The main table match in the first session of the day sees the legend of the game John Higgins going up against the last home player carrying the flag for China in the form of Pang Junxu in the pick of the early action.
Higgins has played well this week but probably felt like he was going to be on his way home on Wednesday when he was 4-2 down to Zhou Yuelong but the Chinese ace collapsed at the finish line and Higgins was able to take advantage. Pang has played well so far this week but you wouldn’t say he has done anything out of the ordinary that makes him a huge runner to beat Higgins. He could still beat the Scot but Higgins will know the huge opportunity that is in front of him here and I fancy he’ll get the job done in a tight clash but that is very much how the bookmakers have it priced up and with that in mind I’ll leave this one alone.
Zak Surety vs Tom Ford
The match over on the other side of the divide presents a huge opportunity for the two men involved when Zak Surety competes in the first quarter final of his career when he takes on the Shootout champion Tom Ford for a spot in the semi-final.
This will obviously be the biggest day in the career of Surety as he looks to make it into the last four in a tournament for the first time. He has done really well to get this far but while he has been in the Chinese leg of this event he is yet to face someone in the top 50 in the rankings. He can only beat what is in front of him though and he has done that and done it well. Ford is definitely an upgrade on anything Surety has faced so far though and he has won all three previous meetings between these two and I do think experience and quality will come through here. Ford is my last remaining outright though and I’m starting to get very confident about his chances of landing me a payout. I’ll hope he comes through without getting involved in this match.
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Evening Session
Ali Carter vs Barry Hawkins
There is only one quarter final which involves two top 16 players and it sees Ali Carter going up against the man who was within a frame of winning the German Masters earlier in the month in the form of Barry Hawkins.
Both these men know how to progress to a major semi-final so we should be in for a cracking match here. Carter has looked in solid form in this tournament so far and having made the semi-final in Wales a couple of weeks ago he has clearly brought plenty of confidence into this week with him. Hawkins has also been in top form over the last couple of months so there is likely to be little between these two. I’m really surprised you can get 10/11 on over 7.5 frames in this one because this has a 5-3 or 5-4 feel to it. Both men have come through a deciding frame this week and they have also won a match 5-3 as well. Whoever wins this that can be the score once again.
Joe O’Connor vs Shaun Murphy
Two more men who have shown decent form over the course of the last month or so meet in the other game in this session when Joe O’Connor competes in his second quarter final in as many weeks when he faces The Masters champion Shaun Murphy.
Murphy has looked like he has some of the form he had at Alexandra Palace with him this week having won his opening two matches 5-0 and then disposing of Ding Junhui with plenty in hand but O’Connor has seen off Judd Trump and unlike many who beat the world number one he has followed that up with another victory so he is clearly going well. He didn’t really show up in his quarter final defeat to Ali Carter in Llandudno so he’ll be eager to make up for that here. Murphy is now the overwhelming favourite to win this tournament so he’ll have to carry that pressure into battle with him. On what we’ve seen over the last couple of months I expect Murphy to win this but this has been anything but a good week for the favourites so I’m happy to let him win if he is good enough.
Tips
Back A.Carter vs B.Hawkins – Over 7.5 frames for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
Back it here:
