It is the middle day of the semi-finals at the World Championship on Friday where we will go a little closer to finding out who will compete in the final match of the season inside the Crucible Theatre over the weekend.
We had an intriguing first session in both matches on Thursday and you get the impression we are in for a really good day of snooker as both semi-finals move towards a conclusion. Whoever has a good Friday will be favourites to make the final now.
Day 13 Recap
Both semi-finals are nicely poised after the opening session of each of them. The first match to get going was the one between Zhao Xintong and Ronnie O’Sullivan and they played out a very entertaining eight frames which they shared so that is nicely balanced going into their two sessions on Friday. Judd Trump holds a 5-3 lead over Mark Williams after a scrappier session of their match and it will be interesting to see how that develops in their one session on Friday.
Betting wise it wasn’t the greatest day ever. Zhao Xintong won four frames but couldn’t extend any of his breaks into a century but he did look fluent and you would imagine he will get better for the experience of the setup and everything. In an ideal world Mark Williams would have won the final frame to make it 4-4 against Judd Trump but he is more than in the match and there is still every chance we get to 29 frames in that one before it is done.
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In Play Betting
Both semi-finals are in play but I’m going to focus on the opening one for a bet as it has two sessions on Friday. I’m already kind of invested in a close session in the other match between Judd Trump and Mark Williams on Friday afternoon although even a 4-4 draw would only have it 9-7 and then I’d need Trump to win 8-4 on Saturday to deny us the over there so I’m in a comfortable position in that match which puts the focus on the other game.
This is the day where I fancy Zhao Xintong to take control against Ronnie O’Sullivan. He led 2-0 and while he is 4-4 now he won the last frame to probably come out of the session feeling better about himself. I always though that Zhao would improve as the match would go on because he was experiencing the one-table setup for the first time. This is a long day for both on Friday and that should suit the much younger man so the 13/10 on Xintong to win from here feels big. I expect him to assume control now and if he gets in front I’m not sure O’Sullivan is playing well enough to reel him back in.
Tips
Back Z.Xintong to beat R.O’Sullivan for a 3/10 stake at 2.30 with Bet365
