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Snooker tips

China Open snooker: tournament betting preview, odds & tips

Mark Williams worth keeping onside

Expectations are rightly high for three-time Crucible king Mark Williams
Expectations are rightly high for three-time Crucible king Mark WilliamsCredit: Linnea Rheborg

Starts 2.30am Monday
TV: Eurosport 1 from 7.30am

The China Open is the final tournament to take place before the Betfred World Championship and with the Sheffield showpiece in sight, Mark Williams is a player punters should keep on their side.

Williams claimed his third world title last season having made the last eight in Beijing and his performances have been steadily improving as he approaches the defence of his crown.

The Welsh Wonder suggested his return to the winner’s enclosure could be soon approaching when beaten 9-8 by this season’s form man Judd Trump in the Coral Tour Championship last time out.

Although losing having led 8-5, Williams controlled large spells of the match and it was evidence that his game is in good shape.

Keeping a player of Trump’s magnitude quiet isn’t easy but Williams managed it for long periods and, a week after his narrow loss, the world number three should be even sharper.

Williams is already a three-time winner in China and he was runner-up as recently as 2017. The absence of leading lights Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Allen - the top two on the one-year money list - makes his task easier too.

The Welshman has landed in a soft section of the draw. He should see off Harvey Chandler in his heldover qualifier and would be strongly fancied to dispatch fellow veteran Ken Doherty after that.

Ding Junhui could be lurking in the last eight, but the Chinese ace has struggled for consistency this season and he was a third-round casualty 12 months ago.

Market leader Trump may be the biggest obstacle before the final but Williams should fancy his chances of exacting his revenge following their recent meeting and 12-1 represents excellent each-way value.

At bigger odds, punters could do worse than back brilliant Belgian Luca Brecel.

Brecel has found winning hard to come by since claiming the China Championship two years ago, but he looks a more complete and mature player now.

The Belgian has bags of ability and he has landed in the easiest of the four quarters with Scottish duo John Higgins and Stephen Maguire and local lad Xiao Guodong his biggest dangers.

Brecel can beat anyone on his day and he should be able to outrun his odds.

Recommendations
M Williams
1pt each-way 12-1 Sky Bet
L Brecel
0.5pt each-way 100-1 Coral, Ladbrokes


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Aaron AshleyRacing Post Sport

Published on 30 March 2019inSnooker tips

Last updated 19:25, 30 March 2019

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