*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
The Masters continues at The Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes this Tuesday where two leading contenders for the trophy in Neil Robertson & Mark Selby are due to take centre stage.
Paddy Power TV’s Graham Temple has previewed Tuesday’s action, and he expects the big guns to cover the handicap in our value double play.
1pm: Neil Robertson v Yan Bingtao – Robertson (-2.5)
First up at 1pm, Robertson takes on Yan Bingtao. Robertson has had a great season, winning the UK Championship in a final frame decider against Judd Trump while also making the final in the Champion of Champions and the English Open. He looks the bet here to make short work of Bingtao.
The Chinese Tiger is only 20 years old. He was a sensation on the tour last season, winning the Riga Masters and making the final of the Players Championship as well as a few semi-finals. He hasn’t progressed though. The surprise factor he had over his opponents is gone and he hasn’t got past the second round of the four tournaments he’s contested so far this year.
Robertson will be up for this and he won’t be in the mood to put his place in the quarter finals at risk. It’s worth noting that Bingtao knocked Robertson out of the UK Championship last year. However, Robertson is on top of his game at the moment and we expect the Thunder From Down Under to be in an unforgiving mood. His relentless break building should see him overpower Bingtao. We take him to win by a score of 6-3 or better.
Snooker tips for 2021: 15/2 play is our best bet for the World Championship
7pm: Mark Selby v Stephen Maguire: Selby (-2.5)
Mark Selby takes on Stephen Maguire in the Tuesday evening session at Milton Keynes. Maguire beat Selby 6-5 in the quarter-finals of the Players Championships last year and if on top of his game he certainly could put it up to Selby. That’s a big ‘if’ though.
Apart from the Players Championship defeat, other best of 11 head-to-heads – together with Selby’s recent form – points to an easy win for Selby tonight and we expect him to lose no more than 3 frames.
Selby beat Maguire 6-2 at the same stage in this tournament in 2019. He banged in three centuries and a couple of 90 breaks in that victory. Selby won’t have to approach this match with the caution required in the usual first to four frame matches and will relish tonight’s race to six which will allow him to have a more aggressive approach to his shot selection.
Maguire has failed to get further than the third round in six tournaments played this season, while Selby has won both the European Masters and the Scottish Open. Selby has also made three other semi-finals this year. The Jester From Leicester also has the benefit of table time at Milton Keynes last week where he contested the Championship League.
We expect to see the usual disgruntled facial expressions from Maguire as he’s regularly punished for any missed pots by Selby. The brave may plump for a 6-0 Selby win at a huge price. We’re happy enough to have him on our side in the handicap betting.
Tip: Mark Selby (-2.5)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
The Masters bet summary – Tuesday, January 12
Neil Robertson v Yan Bingtao – Robertson (-2.5)
Mark Selby v Stephen Maguire: Selby (-2.5)
Both bets combined in a Double will pay out odds of around 3/1 with Paddy Power
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