Monday's Masters predictions and snooker betting tips: Take on veteran stars

Free snooker tips, best bets and analysis for day two of the Masters at Alexandra Palace on Monday.

Where to watch

BBC & Eurosport, 1pm & 7pm Monday

Best bets

Luca Brecel to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan
1pm Monday
1pt 9-4 Coral, Lads

Jack Lisowski to beat John Higgins
7pm Monday
1pt Evs Coral, Lads

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Day two preview

Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his tilt at an eighth Masters title with a first-round tie against Luca Brecel on Monday but it could come to a shuddering halt when he takes on the Belgian.

The Rocket has a tremendous record in this competition, as he does in almost every event, but the Chigwell cueman hasn’t won it since 2017 and there have been a few early exits since then.

O’Sullivan has lost in the second round in three of his last four visits to Alexandra Palace and this season’s form isn’t exactly a glowing recommendation of the Rocket’s chances.

The seven-time World Champion played well when lifting the Champion of Champions crown at the start of November, but the season as a whole has been pretty disappointing.

The Northern Ireland, Scottish and English Open have yielded only two victories for the Rocket, and while motivation may not have been at its peak in those low-key events, that has to be taken on trust and the 4-11 on offer about an O’Sullivan victory doesn’t leave much room for manoeuvre.

Brecel has been seen as an inconsistent performer in the past, but in truth the Belgian Bullet hasn’t been good enough. However, that has changed over the course of the last two seasons and the 27-year-old is now a serious contender for major titles.

Brecel has won the Championship League and Scottish Open, as well as finishing runner-up in the UK Championship and English Open in the last two years and that represents a consistent and high-level profile.

As ever, there is a chance that O’Sullivan will blow away Brecel, and of course the Rocket has the game to do that, but offers of 9-4 appear to underplay the chances of the Belgian Bullet.

John Higgins has won only four matches in the five ranking events he has contested this season, the Scot has also failed to qualify for three competitions this term and it’s been a pretty awful campaign for the Wizard of Wishaw.

Of course, the four-time World Champion is a brilliant performer and he could well bounce back to form against Jack Lisowski this evening, but that has been few signs of that happening and Jackpot looks the bet to see off Higgins.

The Scot’s form aside, Lisowksi is a talented performer and this would be a tricky tie for any of the top-16 cueman. Jackpot is a six-time ranking event finalist, he played well when making the semis of the UK Championship in November and at even-money the Gloucester potter looks worth a punt.

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