Betfred Masters predictions: betting preview, free snooker tips & TV details

Free snooker tips, predictions, best bets and analysis for the Betfred Masters in Milton Keynes on Friday.

Where to watch

BBC2/BBC iPlayer & Eurosport 1, 1pm & 7pm Friday

David Clark's best bets

Stephen Maguire to beat Yan Bingtao
2pts 10-11 BoyleSports

Ronnie O'Sullivan to hit highest break & beat John Higgins
2pts Evs Coral, Ladbrokes

Preview

Two titans of the snooker world clash on Friday night at the Marshall Arena as world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on old foe John Higgins.

Seven-time Masters champion O'Sullivan is now a short-priced favourite for the £250,000 title and is a strong fancy to emerge victorious from the quarter-final showdown with 45-year-old Higgins.

The Rocket put in a classy performance to come from behind to overcome an in-form Ding Junhui on Wednesday, before Higgins was far less convincing when holding off Mark Allen 6-5.

Both players have performed at the highest level on the green baize for decades, but time appears to have caught up with Higgins marginally more than it has with O'Sullivan, who is still going deep in tournaments.

Four-time Crucible king Higgins last lifted a trophy three years ago when he won the Championship League and is bidding to reach only his second Masters semi-final in eight years.

He produced a sublime break of 59 to see off Allen on Wednesday, but only after some uncharacteristic nervy play had presented the Northern Irishman with a great chance which he was unable to convert.

O'Sullivan, who has reached two ranking event finals this season, remains as clinical and composed as ever.

He has revealed that plenty of hard work went in on the practice table over the festive break in preparation for this tournament, which was evident in his play earlier this week.

His last Masters success was in 2017, but O'Sullivan looked in tidy form when putting together runs of 103, 100, 85 and 75 in his 6-5 win over Ding Junhui.

He is generally 4-9 or 1-2 to progress, but should be backed to compile the highest break and emerge victorious at a much more appealing price.

Stephen Maguire has beaten Yan Bingtao in all three of their meetings and is fancied to win again in their quarter-final on Friday afternoon.

Bingtao was excellent in his defeat of Neil Robertson in the first round and rates a star of the future, but Maguire was equally impressive in sending Mark Selby home early.

The 39-year-old Scot jumped up in the rankings after his lucrative Tour Championship success in June and has appeared relaxed and focused this week.

Maguire, who is a four-time Masters semi-finalist, is expected to outscore Bingtao and should be backed to book his place in the final four.

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