Snookers Revolution Continues

When Sir Rodney Walker was in charge of Snooker there was a sense of maintaining the tradition of the sport. Unfortunately tradition came at a price for snooker players and fans as sponsorship proved hard to come by with the image being very boring compared to other sports. When you watch Snooker you must be quiet so the players can concentrate. Barry Hearn has now taken over as Chairman of World Snooker and looks set to push the boundaries further than ever before.

Hearn has shown through the development of PDC Darts that he is not afraid to stir things up. Whilst the crowds are still expected to be quiet during frames we have already seen the players enter Wembley Arena to their own choice of music and Pokerstars is sponsoring the event for the first time. Over time you can expect a change to the dress code and perhaps even frames played with only six or ten red balls, something that is being tried out in some unique events and has proven audience friendly. Perhaps we may even get some audience participation in a Darts type setting.

Unfortunately Jimmy White’s wildcard into the event was not enough to kick start his career and have him progress, he lost his opening round 6-2 to Mark King. With the Masters Snooker now well underway, here are my tips for the Tuesday and Wednesday Snooker matches for all you snooker betting fans.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1.40 versus Neil Robertson 2.70

Interviews with the Rocket are usually downbeat but read the newspaper prior to the event and he sounded positively detached from the game. He says he is playing so bad that he does not even consider himself a professional snooker player anymore. Neil Robertson on the other hand is regularly visiting the business end of tournaments and is standing at a career high ranking of number three in the world, up from number nine. My head says bet on Neil who has a real chance in the first to six frame match. Snooker is a mental game and if Neil plays well the signs are that Ronnie is not up for the fight. Snooker betting is complicated in this match as you need to work out Ronnie’s mental state before deciding who to bet on which is never easy.

Ali Carter 1.60 versus Mark Williams 2.20

Williams is another enigma. He faded from the top of the game and is currently provisionally ranked tenth in the world after being officially ranked 15th at the end of last season, just squeezing back into the top 16. He is vulnerable when playing the very best, I think Carter is at a much better point in his career currently ranked provisional number five in the world. Carter should win this game and these are decent odds. I am a big fan of “Captain” Carter. He is my tip to win this snooker match and could even win the tournament.

John Higgins 1.40 versus Mark Allen 2.70

Mark Allen is scared of no-one, but John Higgins generally beats nearly everyone. Higgins is easily the best match player in the world and the current World Champion. He is going to be tough to beat. John is heavy favourite for this match but Allen could spring a surprise. As part of accumulator bets only, I would back John to win. I would not place a single bet on his due to the short odds and the match will probably be close. I do not believe that Allen can win enough to back him at 2.70 unfortunately and despite enticing odds (well priced in my opinion) I still think John will win this match.

Ryan Day 1.65 versus Joe Perry 2.10

Bwin have rightly noted that Perry is a little like Graeme Dott in snooker. He goes about his business somewhat under the radar and has a good record against higher ranked players. Ryan Day is starting to look like the nearly man of snooker desperately seeking his first major title in snooker but is still dangerous and currently ranked a provisional eighth in the world. Again I think this is good odds compiling as there is little value in either bet, but I fancy Ryan to progress here. That said, if there is going to be an “upset” then this is perhaps where it would be out of all four matches. My tip is a win for Day, but backing Perry is certainly not foolish.

Enjoy all the live snooker this week and make sure you bash the bookie with some savvy snooker betting.

By Malcolm Clarke