In-form Zhou rates best of the day one bankers

At this early, last-64 stage of the event, the betting for many matches is one-sided. Five main contenders – outlined as buying and selling under 25.024/1 for the title – are in motion, at odds starting from 1.11/10 to 1.171/6.

For the document, a Sportsbook acca on Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, Ding Junhui and John Higgins pays 1.758/11. All are anticipated to progress however such bets make no enchantment. Usually, we see at the very least one large upset on this day.

Instead, facet markets are the best manner ahead. First, I believe Dominic Dale can keep away from humiliation towards Trump. Despite a predictable 8-1 head-to-head, solely one of their matches was one-sided. At this precise stage two years in the past, they went to a decider.

Trump’s best performances have tended to come back in the latter phases of occasions lately whereas the Welshman has began the season respectably. Let’s attempt a correct-score combo on 6-3 and 6-4.

I’m additionally having a crack at the following treble of favourites. First at 4/6, Luca Brecel has usually been taking part in significantly better than Xiao Guodong.

Stephen Maguire has a 3-0 head-to-head document over Stuart Carrington and located a wealthy vein of scoring in the first spherical, as he so usually does in the majors.

Finally, I merely can not see Jimmy White beating Zhou Yuelong. Yes it’s nice to see him nonetheless competing at 58 however neglect the fairytale. He misplaced 4-0 to the identical opponent final week.

Indeed the 22 year-old is in cracking kind. Five matches over the previous fortnight yielded 4 wins and a 24-4 body margin. Previously he’d misplaced to Selby in the English Open quarter-finals and reached last days at the Championship League, displaying wonderful kind. Trust him to limit Jimmy to 2 frames or much less, by way of the 3.5 Frame Handicap.

Follow Paul on Twitter @paulmotty