World Championship Snooker Quarter Final Tips

Already looking like being a memorable World Snooker championship, we are now up to the quarter final point in the tournament. Using the snooker betting odds from bwin.com here are my thoughts on each of the four quarter final matches scheduled to be played in a race to 13 frames over three sessions. All eight players could win this championship so betting on this snooker tournament offers great entertainment.

Mark Allen 9/20 versus Graeme Dott 7/4

Mark Allen has had two straight forward matches to reach the quarter-finals and is my tip to go on and win the tournament. He has a tricky opponent in Graeme Dott who quietly goes about his work and produces good results. After a period where he suffered depression he looks back to his best and his best was enough to win the 2006 World Snooker Championships. In Mark, however, I think we have a future world champion, possibly even this year. I think the odds are accurate and I would back Mark to win this match. Graeme can do the upset, so backing him at 7/4 would not be a terrible bet; I would rate his chances at more like 5/2 however.

Neil Robertson 3/20 versus Steve Davis 9/2

To make another quarter-final appearance in his 30th appearance at the Crucible, beating current world champion John Higgins in the process is a remarkable achievement in the career of Steve Davis. I think that if Martin Gould had got through against Neil in the second round Davis would have beaten him to reach the semi-finals. Unfortunately for Davis Neil Robertson is young, fit and hungry to win. I believe that Davis will compete in this match and not be blown away, but that in one of the three sessions Neil will pull away. The odds are what I would expect and I would back Neil in an accumulator bet to progress to another semi-final appearance. I think the score will be 13-7 to Neil.

Allister Carter 7/4 versus Shaun Murphy 9/20

Both of these players are two of my favourite players to watch. Shaun has a beautiful cue action and superb temperament. Carter is consistent and at the peak of his career currently ranked third in the world. I would not back Murphy in a singles bet but Carters price has some value in it. This match will be close I think. Five years after winning the World Championships Shaun looks ready to win again and very assured, so he gets the nod as my tip in this match. Captain Carter is a former finalist so 7/4 seems a bit of value for a small bet on the upset. This match could easily be priced at 5/6 each in my view, but Murphy probably has a small edge after a great win over Ding in his second round match.

Mark Selby 7/5 versus Ronnie O’Sullivan 57/100

These two champions have met in a few ranking finals now and this match is a real treat for the quarter final stage. Neither player will feel great about this draw but both players know they can win. O’Sullivan has been critical about Selby in the past but this has fuelled Selby beating him in a major final recently. O’Sullivan is rightly the favourite for this match but Mark can definitely win and their matches are rarely runaway victories for either player. Neither result will be a surprise for me but Ronnie seems deadly at the moment. My dream final is Ronnie versus Mark Allen for this year so hopefully that will come about. The odds for both players offer you the opportunity for a good bet in my opinion. This match is one not to miss.

Visit bwin.com for additional online betting tips via this link and enjoy all of the snooker action from the Crucible in Sheffield. I expect Mark Allen v Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy v Ronnie O’Sullivan for the semi-final line-ups and then Mark Allen v Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final. My mouth is watering at the prospect!

By Malcolm Clarke